Adaptation Strategies and Habituation of Traditions: Chinese Ethnic Death Rituals within the Framework of Javanese Syncretism
Keywords:
Adaptation Strategy, Habituation, Death Tradition, Javanese Syncretism, Chinese EthinicityAbstract
Death traditions are arguably one of the most preserved cultural aspects of the Chinese ethnic group. Surakarta City has a significant Chinese population, making their funerary traditions an integral part of the city's cultural landscape. However, in Surakarta, these practices undergo unique dynamics due to intense interaction with local culture. The phenomenon of Javanese-Chinese syncretism has emerged as a sign of a complex identity negotiation process. This study aims to explore socio-cultural adaptation strategies and the process of habituation in Chinese ethnic death traditions that have undergone syncretism with local Javanese values. This phenomenon is compelling to study because death traditions, which are fundamentally sacred and rigid, have proven capable of transforming into a fluid space for identity negotiation [1]. This research employs a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach [2]. Data were sourced from cemetery observations, in-depth interviews, and documentary studies of the Chinese community's history in Surakarta. This study dissects how traditional Chinese elements (such as ancestral veneration and the use of ritual symbols) blend with Javanese traditions (tahlilan or death feasts in the context of Peranakan Chinese). The adaptation strategies of the Chinese ethnic group in Surakarta are evident in three main stages: (1) ritual compromise, (2) symbol reinterpretation, and (3) spatial habituation. Syncretism serves not only as a form of cultural preservation but also as a social defense mechanism to minimize ethnic exclusivity. Consequently, this study concludes that the habituation of death traditions based on syncretism serves as strong evidence of cultural integration that transcends theological boundaries, creating a new, inclusive identity known as "Chinese-Javanese”.
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