ᬳᬦᬓ᭄ᬩᬮᬶ,Anak Bali(in theketah register) ᬯᭀᬂᬩᬮᬶ,Wong Bali(in themadia register) ᬓ᭄ᬭᬫᬩᬮᬶ,Krama Bali(in thesinggih register)[1] | |
|---|---|
 Balinese couple during their wedding with their friends | |
| Total population | |
| 3,946,416 (2010 Indonesian census)[2] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Indonesia | 3,946,416[3] |
 Bali | 3,336,065 |
 West Nusa Tenggara | 119,407 |
 Central Sulawesi | 115,812 |
 Lampung | 104,810 |
 Southeast Sulawesi | 49,411 |
 South Sumatra | 38,552 |
 South Sulawesi | 27,330 |
 West Java | 20,832 |
 East Java | 20,363 |
 Jakarta | 15,181 |
 West Sulawesi | 14,657 |
 North Sulawesi | 14,347 |
 South Kalimantan | 11,999 |
| Diaspora: | 14,804+ |
 Malaysia | 6,600[4] |
 Australia | 5,529[citation needed] |
 Turkey | 1,375[5] |
 Germany | 700[6] |
 China | ~ 500[note 1] |
 Netherlands | 350[9][10][11] |
 United States | 200[citation needed] |
 Singapore | 100[citation needed] |
| Languages | |
| Native: Balinese Dialects: [12] Also: Indonesian,Kawi andSanskrit (religious andceremonial)[note 2] Others: English,Dutch (historical) | |
| Religion | |
Majority Hinduism (95.22%)Minorities  Islam (3.24%) •  Christianity (1.26%) • .svg) Buddhism (0.26%) • Other (0.02%)[13] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Balinese Chinese | |
TheBalinese[note 3] (Balinese:ᬳᬦᬓ᭄ᬩᬮᬶ,romanized: Anak Bali(in theketah register),ᬯᭀᬂᬩᬮᬶ,Wong Bali(in themadia register),ᬓ᭄ᬭᬫᬩᬮᬶ,Krama Bali(in thesinggih register);[1]Indonesian:Orang Bali) are anAustronesianethnic group native to theIndonesian island ofBali and the surrounding islands. The Balinese population of 4.2 million (1.7% ofIndonesia's population) live mostly on the island ofBali, making up 85% of the island's population.[15] The Balinese are distinctive amongst theethnic groups of Indonesia for their adherence toBalinese Hinduism rather thanAbrahamic religions such asIslam orChristianity.
There are also significant populations on the island ofLombok and in the easternmost regions ofJava (e.g. the regency ofBanyuwangi), most of them are descendants of Balinese since thekingdoms era who once controlled the region. Some Balinese can also be found in Balinese migrant areas such asLampung andSulawesi regions, mainly due to the migration following the eruption ofMount Agung in 1963 as well as thetransmigration program enacted by theIndonesian government.[16]
The Balinese stand out within modern-day Indonesia because they continue to follow Balinese Hinduism rather than the Abrahamic religions that predominate elsewhere in the country. This situation emerged in part because theDutch colonial administration restricted both Islamisation and Christian missionary activity on the island in order to preserve the already present religious traditions, and in part because the Balinese themselves maintained a strong commitment to their inherited cultural and religious practices. EarlierHindu–Buddhist traditions had long been predominant in the region. TheOrientalist colonial policy that sought to protect and codify Balinese customs later became known asBaliseering (Balinization [id]).[17]
The Balinese originated from three periods of migration. The first waves of immigrants came from Java andKalimantan in prehistoric times and were of Proto-Malay stock.[18] The second wave of Balinese came slowly over the years from Java during theHindu period. The third and final wave came from Java, between the 15th and 16th centuries, about the same time as the conversion toIslam in Java, causing aristocrats and peasants to flee toBali after the collapse of the JavaneseHindu Majapahit Empire to escapeMataram's Islamic conversion. This in turn reshaped the Balinese culture into asyncretic form of classicalJavanese culture mixed with many Balinese elements.[19]
A DNA study in 2005 by Karafet et al., found that 11% of BalineseY-chromosomes are of likely Austroasiatic origin, while 84% are of likelyAustronesian 1% of likely Indian origin and 2% of likelyMelanesian origin.[20] According to a recent genetic study, the Balinese, together with theJavanese andSundanese, have a significant admixture ofAustroasiatic andAustronesian ancestries.[21]
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Balinese culture is a mix of Balinese Hindu-Buddhist religion and Balinese customs. It is perhaps most known for its dance, drama, and sculpture. The island is also known for itsWayang Kulit orShadow play theatre. Even in rural and neglected villages, beautiful temples are a common sight; and so are skilful gamelan players and talented actors.[22] Even layered pieces of palm leaf and neat fruit arrangements made as offerings by Balinese women have an artistic side to them.[23] According to Mexican art historianJosé Miguel Covarrubias, works of art made by amateur Balinese artists are regarded as a form of spiritual offering, and therefore these artists do not care about recognition of their works.[24] Balinese artists are also skilled in duplicating artworks such as carvings that resemble Chinese deities or decorating vehicles based on what is seen in foreign magazines.[25]
The culture is noted for its use of thegamelan in music and various traditional events of Balinese society. Each type of music is designated for a specific type of event. For example, music for apiodalan (birthday celebration) is different from music used for ametatah (teeth grinding) ceremony, just as it is for weddings,Ngaben (cremation of the dead ceremony),Melasti (purification ritual), and so forth.[26] The diverse types ofgamelan are also specified according to the different types of dance in Bali. According toWalter Spies, the art of dancing is an integral part of Balinese life as well as an endless critical element in a series of ceremonies or for personal interests.[27]
Traditionally, displaying female breasts is not considered immodest. Balinese women can often be seen with bared chests; however, a display of the thigh is considered immodest. In modern Bali, these customs are normally not strictly observed, but visitors to Balinese temples are advised to cover their legs.
In the Balinesenaming system, a person's rank of birth or caste is reflected in the name.[28] Balinese are generallypatrilineal, but in the case where a family only has daughters, they can decide if a daughter is the confirmed heir (sentana rajeg). She will then have the same status as if she were a son. Themarriage proposal will be carried in reverse; she will be considered the husband (meawak muani) and he the wife (meawak luh), and the children are considered to be part of their mother's family.[29]
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Apuputan is an act of mass suicide through frontal assaults in battle and was first noted by the Dutch during the colonization of Bali. The latest act of puputan was during the Indonesian War of Independence, with Lt. ColonelI Gusti Ngurah Rai as the leader in theBattle of Margarana. Theairport in Bali is named after him in commemoration.[30]
| Religions | Total |
|---|---|
| Balinese Hinduism | 3,736,993 |
| Islam | 127,274 |
| Christianity | 49,385 |
| Buddhism | 10,378 |
| Others | 615 |
| Overall | 3,924,645 |
The vast majority of the Balinese believe inAgama Tirta, the "holy-water religion". It is a part ofHinduism. Traveling Indian priests are said to have introduced the people to the sacred literature of Hinduism and Buddhism centuries ago. The people accepted it and combined it with theirpre-Hindu mythologies.[32] The Balinese from before the third wave of immigration, known as theBali Aga, are mostly not followers of Agama Tirta but retain theiranimist traditions.[citation needed]
Wet rice agriculture is a mainstay of Balinese food production. This system of agriculture is extremely water-intensive and requires a substantial network of irrigation to be effective as a subsistence strategy in Bali.[33] A system of irrigation networks (subak) exists to redistribute access to water in Bali. This network of both underground tunnels (weirs) and canals diverts water from natural water sources into the wet-rice cultivation fields utilized by Balinese farmers to grow their staple crops.[12]
The system of cooperative water redistribution is tied to religious and cultural practices among the Balinese and represents an economic system based on mutual obligation, and managed by the personnel of the water temples (Pura Tirta). Religious officials from these water temples exert spiritual and cultural pressure on the participants in this system and ensure its continuation.[34] These water temples are largely located at the loci of the irrigation networks and manage the distribution of water from the mountainous water sources of the island to lowland areas where water is too scarce for the natural cultivation of rice.[35]
There is evidence this system developed as early as the 11th century CE and has been in continuous use since that time.[36] Genetic evidence indicates that this system spread along kinship lines as the original farming villagers of Bali spread from areas where wet-rice farming originated to less climatically favorable areas of the island.[12] The cultural prestige of certainPura Titra largely correlates to their position within thesubak system, with temples located at major water sources having significant cultural influence. Royalty has associated themselves with major temples of this type, to link their prestige with that of thePura Titra, and have taken part in the operations of water temples as a means of gaining influence in society.[37]
This system of physical infrastructure represents a durable network of belief that encourages its continuation by the people who participate and provides a levelling mechanism where people who would otherwise be incapable of participating in wet-rice agriculture to take part in the same subsistence activities as those who live in regions more naturally supportive of water-intensive crop growth.
Balinese people celebrate multiple festivals, including the Kuta Carnival, the Sanur Village Festival, and theBali Kite Festival,[38] where participants fly fish-, bird-, and leaf-shaped kites while an orchestra plays traditional music.
