{{Short description|Cultural region in West Java, Indonesia}} {{About|the cultural region in West Java|the train|Parahyangan (train)}} [[File:Gezicht op een waterval en landweg in Preanger op Java In het Sumandansche. (Preanger regentschappen.) (titel op object), RP-P-1975-211.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A view of a waterfall and country road in Preanger (Parahyangan) region near [[Sumedang]], 1869]]
The '''Parahyangan''' ({{langx|nl|Preanger}}) or '''Priangan''' ([[Sundanese script]]: {{Script/Sundanese|ᮕᮛᮂᮚᮍᮔ᮪}}) is a cultural and mountainous region in [[West Java]] province on the [[Indonesia]]n island of [[Java]]. Covering a little less than one-sixth of Java, it is the heartland of [[Sundanese people]] and their culture.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lentz |first=Linda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WmxAjwEACAAJ |title=The Compass of Life: Sundanese Lifecycle Rituals and the Status of Muslim Women in Indonesia |date=2017 |publisher=Carolina Academic Press |isbn=978-1-61163-846-2 |pages=49 |language=en}}</ref> It is bordered to the West by [[Banten]] province, to the North by the northern coast region of [[Subang Regency|Subang]], [[Cirebon]], and [[Indramayu]] (former residencies of Batavia and Cheribon), to the east by [[Central Java]] province (former residencies of Banyumas and Pekalongan), and to the south by the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Stockdale|first1=John J.|title=Island of Java|date=2011|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|location=London|isbn=9781462902156}}</ref>
==Etymology== [[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Thee-tuin Preanger TMnr 10012073.jpg|thumb|right|Tea plantation in [[Sukabumi Regency|northern Soekaboemi]] in 1923]] The name "Parahyangan" has its origins in [[Sundanese language|Sundanese]] words that mean "the abode of [[hyang]]s (gods)". Parahyangan is a mountainous region, and ancient Indonesians believed that the gods resided on the mountaintops.
A [[Sundanese people|Sundanese]] legend of [[Sangkuriang]] contains the memory of the prehistoric ancient lake in the Bandung basin highland, which suggests that the Sundanese had already inhabited the region since the Stone Age era. Another popular Sundanese proverb and legend mentioned about the creation of Parahyangan highlands is: "When the [[hyang]]s (gods) were smiling, the land of Parahyangan was created".
The train serving [[Jakarta]] and [[Bandung]] was called ''[[Parahyangan (train)|Kereta Api Parahyangan]]'' ({{lit|the Parahyangan train}}). Since April 2010, it is merged with Argo Gede to become Argo Parahyangan.
===Mapping of Sundanese Culture=== The Sundanese cultural area in the western part of Java can be divided into several parts, which consist of:
* ''Banten Sundanese'' (''Sunda Pakulonan'') ; contained the Sundanese cultural area in the west ([[Banten]] Province and also [[Lampung]] in Sumatra). * ''Priangan Sundanese'' (''Sunda Pakidulan'') ; contained the Sundanese culture in the central and southern highlands. * ''Jalawastu Sundanese'' (''Sunda Pawetanan'') ; contained the Sundanese culture in the east (e.g. [[Brebes Regency|Brebes]] and [[Cilacap Regency|Cilacap]] regencies), located within the province of [[Central Java]]. * ''Pantura Sundanese'' (''Sunda Pakaleran'') ; contained the Sundanese culture in the lowlands of the North Coast region of West Java (including [[Cirebon Regency|Cirebon]] and [[Indramayu Regency|Indramayu]] regencies).
==History== The region has been home to early humans since the prehistoric era (at least since 9,500 BCE).<ref>{{cite news | title = Tulang jari di Goa Pawon berumur 9.500 tahun lebih | newspaper = Sindo News | author = Oris Riswan | date = 1 March 2014 | url = http://daerah.sindonews.com/read/840201/21/tulang-jari-di-goa-pawon-berumur-9-500-tahun-lebih-1393608090 | language = id}}</ref> There have been some prehistoric archaeological findings of early human settlements, in Pawon cave in the Padalarang karst area, West of Bandung, and around the [[Lake Bandung|old lake of Bandung]].<ref name=brief>{{cite web| title = An Extremely Brief Urban History of Bandung| publisher = Institute of Indonesian Architectural Historian| url=http://www.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~fujimori/lsai/bandung.html| access-date = 2006-08-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Brahmantyo|first=B. |author2=Yulianto, E. |author3=Sudjatmiko |title=On the geomorphological development of Pawon Cave, west of Bandung, and the evidence finding of prehistoric dwelling cave |journal=JTM |year=2001 |url=http://www.geocities.com/ekoy001/PawonJTM-web.htm |access-date=2008-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021170802/http://geocities.com/ekoy001/PawonJTM-web.htm |archive-date=October 21, 2009 |url-status=unfit }}</ref> [[File:Candi Bojong Menje.jpg|thumb|Stones of [[Bojongmenje]] temple ruins]] The ruins of [[Bojongmenje|the Bojongmenje]] temple were discovered in the Rancaekek area, [[Bandung Regency]], east of Bandung. The temple is estimated to be dated from the early 7th century CE, around the same period — or even earlier than [[Dieng temples|the Dieng temples]] of Central Java.<ref>{{cite web | title = Candi Bojongmenje | work = Perpustakaan Nasional Indonesia | url = http://candi.perpusnas.go.id/temples/deskripsi-jawa_barat-candi_bojongmenje | language = id | access-date = 2016-06-27 | archive-date = 2017-05-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170508131941/http://candi.perpusnas.go.id/temples/deskripsi-jawa_barat-candi_bojongmenje | url-status = dead }}</ref>
The oldest written historical reference to the Parahyangan region dates back to circa 14th century, found in Cikapundung inscription, where the region was one of the settlements within the [[Sunda Kingdom|Kingdom of Pajajaran]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Prasasti Bertuliskan Huruf Sunda Kuno Ditemukan di Bandung | date = 9 October 2010 | author = R.Teja Wulan | newspaper = VOA Indonesia | url = http://www.voaindonesia.com/a/prasati-bertuliskan-sunda-kuno-ditemukan-di-cikapundung-104635514/84657.html | language = id}}</ref> Parahyangan is a part of the former [[Sunda Kingdom]]. The inland mountainous region of Parahyangan was considered sacred in the [[Sunda Wiwitan]] beliefs. The ''kabuyutan'' or ''mandala'' (sacred sanctuary) of Jayagiri was mentioned in ancient Sundanese texts and is located somewhere in Parahyangan highlands, probably north of modern-day Bandung on the slopes of [[Tangkuban Perahu|Mount Tangkuban Perahu]].
After the fall of the Sunda Kingdom in the 16th century, Parahyangan was administered by the nobles and aristocrats of [[Cianjur]], [[Sumedang]], and [[Ciamis]], centered in [[Sumedang Larang Kingdom]]. These princes claimed as the rightful heir and descendants of the Sunda kings lineage, [[Prabu Siliwangi|King Siliwangi]]. Although the dominant power at that time was held by [[Banten Sultanate|Banten]] and [[Sultanate of Cirebon|Cirebon]] Sultanates, the Sundanese aristocrats of Parahyangan highland enjoyed relatively internal freedom and autonomy.
In 1617, [[Sultan Agung of Mataram|Sultan Agung]] of [[Mataram Sultanate|Mataram]] launched a military campaign throughout Java and vassalized the Sultanate of Cirebon. In 1618, Mataram troops conquered Ciamis and Sumedang and ruled most of the Parahyangan region. In 1630 Sultan Agung deported the native population of Parahyangan after he quashed rebellions in the area.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kiernan |first=Ben |title= Blood and Soil: Modern Genocide 1500-2000|year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R5p7cRyK748C |page=142|isbn=9780522854770 }}</ref> The Mataram Sultanate was involved in a power struggle with the [[Dutch East India Company]] (VOC) centered in [[Jakarta|Batavia]]. Mataram was gradually weakened later through a struggle for succession of Javanese princes and Dutch involvements in internal Mataram court affairs. To secure their positions, later Mataram kings had made significant concessions with the VOC and had given up many of its lands originally acquired by Sultan Agung, including the Parahyangan. Since the early 18th century, the Parahyangan was under Dutch rule.
[[File:KITLV A290 - Grand Hotel Preanger, Bandoeng, KITLV 79538.tiff|thumb|Grand Hotel Preanger, [[Bandung|Bandoeng]] circa 1930, located in front of Java's [[Great Post Road]]]]
The area was known as ''De Preanger'' during the Dutch colonial period. Its capital was initially located in Tjiandjoer (Cianjur) and later moved to [[Bandung]] which gradually developed into an important settlement. By the 19th century, the Dutch had established its hold over most of Java. Moreover, through the construction of [[Herman Willem Daendels|Daendels]]' Java [[Great Post Road]] that connected the Preanger plantation area with the port of Batavia and many other parts of Java, the Preanger was open for investment, exploitation, and business. [[Preanger Regencies Residency]], which was founded in 1818, became an essential and productive plantation area during the [[Dutch East Indies]] era that produced [[coffee]], [[tea]], [[quinine]], and many cash crops that benefited many wealthy Dutch plantation owners. The [[Coffee production in Indonesia#Java|Java coffee]], promoted worldwide by the Dutch, was the coffee grown in Preanger. In the early 20th century, Bandung grew into a significant settlement and a planned city. The pre-war Bandung was designed as the new capital of the Dutch East Indies, although [[World War II]] brought this plan to an end. After Indonesian independence, the Parahyangan is considered the romantic historical name for the mountainous region of West Java surrounding Bandung.{{fact|date=July 2019}}
==Geography== [[File:Geocultural regions of West Java.svg|thumb|300px|Geocultural regions of West Java<br>{{Legend|#FF926E|Bodebek}} {{Legend|#FF6EDC|Purwasuka}} {{Legend|#946EFF|Rebana}} {{Legend|#DCFF6E|West Parahyangan}} {{Legend|#6EFF94|Central Parahyangan}} {{Legend|#6EDCFF|East Parahyangan}}]] The area of ''Parahyangan Tengah'' ([[Central Parahyangan]]) covers the following regencies ([[Regency (Indonesia)|kabupaten]]), together with the independent cities of [[Bandung]] and [[Cimahi]], which are geographically within these regencies although administratively independent. * [[Bandung Regency|Bandung]] * [[West Bandung Regency|West Bandung (''Bandung Barat'')]] * [[Subang Regency|Subang]] (southern part) * [[Garut Regency|Garut]] (northern part) * [[Purwakarta Regency|Purwakarta]] (southern part) * [[Sumedang Regency|Sumedang]]
Other than central Parahyangan, there is also an area known as ''Parahyangan Timur'' ([[Eastern Parahyangan]]). Together with the independent cities of [[Tasikmalaya]] and [[Banjar, Indonesia|Banjar]], which are geographically within these regencies although administratively independent, this area covers the regencies of: * [[Garut Regency|Garut]] (southern part) * [[Ciamis Regency|Ciamis]] * [[Tasikmalaya Regency|Tasikmalaya]] * [[Kuningan Regency|Kuningan]] (southern part) * [[Majalengka Regency|Majalengka]] (southern part) * [[Pangandaran Regency|Pangandaran]]
While in the west, the area known as ''Parahyangan Barat'' ([[Western Parahyangan]]) covers: * [[Cianjur Regency]] * [[Sukabumi Regency]] and City of [[Sukabumi]] The Western Parahyangan area is occasionally mentioned as ''Bogor Raya'' (Greater Bogor) if grouped with [[Bogor Regency]] and the City of [[Bogor]].
==See also== * [[Prabu Siliwangi|King Siliwangi]] * [[Pakuan Pajajaran|Pajajaran]] * ''[[Carita Parahyangan]]'', a [[Sundanese language|Sunda]] text on [[Galuh Kingdom|Galuh]] and other kingdoms of Sunda
==Further reading== * Frederik De Haan, 1910, ''[https://www.cortsfoundation.org/news/180-november-2019-four-volumes-priangan-digital-available Priangan: de Preanger-Regentschappen onder het Nederlandsch bestuur tot 1811]'', Batavia * A. Sabana Harjasaputra, 2004, ''Bupati di Priangan : kedudukan dan peranannya pada abad ke-17 - abad ke-19'', Bandung * ''Pusat Studi Sunda'', 2004. ''Priangan dan kajian lainnya mengenai budaya Sunda'', Bandung * Ajip Rosidi et al., 2000, ''Ensiklopedi Sunda'', Jakarta
{{coord missing|Indonesia}}
==References== {{Wikivoyage|Parahyangan}} {{Commons category|Parahyangan}} {{EB1911 Poster|Preanger}} {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Geography of West Java]] [[Category:Highlands]] [[Category:History of West Java]] [[Category:Sunda Kingdom]]