Timun Emas Story An Indonesian Folk Tale

TIMUN EMAS STORY AN INDONESIAN
FOLK TALE
Long time ago in the Island of Java, Indonesia, lived a couple of farmer. They
had married for some years but they had no children. So they prayed to a monster
called Buta Ijo to give them children. Buta Ijo was a ferocious and powerful monster.
He granted their wish on one condition. When their children had grown up, they had
to sacrifice them to Buta Ijo. He liked eating fresh meat of human being. The farmers
agreed to his condition. Several months later the wife was pregnant.

She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. They named her Timun Emas. The farmers
were happy. Timun Emas was very healthy and a very smart girl. She was also very
diligent. When she was a teenager Buta Ijo came to their house. Timun Emas was
frightened so she ran away to hide. The farmers then told Buta Ijo that Timun Emas
was still a child. They asked him to postpone. Buta Ijo agreed. He promised to come
again. The following year Buta Ijo came again. But again and again their parents said
that Timun Emas was still a child.
When the third time Buta Ijo came their parents had prepared something for him.
They gave Timun Emas several bamboo needles, seeds of cucumber, dressing and
salt.
Timun, take these things
What are these things?
These are your weapons. Buta Ijo will chase you. He will eat you alive. So run as fast
as you can. And if he will catch you spread this to the ground. Now go!
Timun Emas was scared so she ran as quickly as she could. When Buta Ijo arrived she
was far from home. He was very angry when he realized that his prey had left. So he
ran to chase her. He had a sharp nose so he knew what direction his prey ran.
Timun Emas was just a girl while Buta Ijo was a monster so he could easily catch her
up. When he was just several steps behind Timun Emas quickly spread the seeds of
cucumber. In seconds they turned into many vines of cucumber. The exhausted Buta
Ijo was very thirsty so he grabbed and ate them. When Buta Ijo was busy eating
cucumber Timun Emas could run away.
But soon Buta Ijo realized and started running again. When he was just several steps
behind Timun Emas threw her bamboo needles. Soon they turned into dense bamboo
trees. Buta Ijo found it hard to pass. It took him some time to break the dense bamboo
forest. Meanwhile Timun Emas could run farther.
Buta Ijo chased her again. When he almost catch her again and again Timun Emas
threw her dressing. This time it turned into a lake. Buta Ijo was busy to save himself
so Timun Emas ran way. But Buta Ijo could overcome it and continued chasing her.
Finally when Timun Emas was almost caught she threw her salt. Soon the land where
Buta Ijo stood turned into ocean. Buta Ijo was drowned and died instantly. Timun
Emas was thankful to god and came back to her home.
Timun Emas narrative populace of central java (INDONESIA)
Long time ago, lived an old women named Mbok Sirni. She lived by herself because her husband had
long passed away and she had no children. Every day, she prayed so God would give her a child. One
night, when she was praying, a giant passed her house and heard her pray. I can give you a child on
one condition, the giant said to Mbok Sirni, You must give the child back to me when it is six years
old. Mbok Sirni was so happy; she did not think about the risk of losing the child later and agreed to
take the giants offer. The giant then gave her a bunch of cucumber seeds. Plant it around your
house. The giant then left without saying anything else. In the morning, Mbok Sirni planted the
seeds. The seeds grew within mere days, and blossomed plentifully.Not longer after that, a big golden
cucumber grew from plants. Carefully, Mbok Sirni plucked the golden cucumber and carried it home.
With caution and care, she sliced the cucumber. She was very surprised to see a beautiful baby girl
inside the cucumber. She then named the baby Timun Emas (it means Golden Cucumber).
Years passed by and Timun Emas has grew to become a lovely and beautiful little girl. She was also
smart and kind. Mbok Sirni loved her very much. But she kept thinking about the time the giant would
take Timun Emas away from her. One night, Mbok Sirni had a dream. In order to save Timun Emas
from the giant, she had to meet the holy man who lived in Mount Gundul. The next morning, Mbok
Sirni took leave of Timun Emas to go to Mount Gundul. The holy man then gave her four little bags,
each one containing cucumber seeds, needles, salt, and shrimp paste. Timun Emas can use these to
protect herself, said the holy man to Mbok Sirni.
A few days later, the giant came to see Mbok Sirni about her promise. Mbok Sirni! Where is Timun
Emas? shouted the giant. "My daughter, take these bag with you. It can save you from the giant.
Now, run through the back door," said Mbok Sirni. But the giant saw Timun Emas running to the
woods. The giant was angry. Starved and enraged, he rushed toward Timun Emas. Mbok Sirni tried to
stop him, but the giant was unstoppable.
The giant was getting closer and closer, so Timun Emas opened the first bag she got from Mbok Sirni.
Inside the bag were cucumber seeds. She threw the seeds, and instantly they grew into large
cucumber field. But the giant ate them all, giving him more strength. As the giant was getting close,
Timun Emas took the second bag with needles inside and spilled the content behind her. The needles
turned into bamboo trees, sharp and thorny. The giants body was scratched and bled. Aaargh, Ill
get you, Timun Emas! shouted the giant as he tried to get himself out from the bamboo field. He
made it and still chasing Timun Emas.
Timun Emas then reached the third bag and spilled the salt inside. The ground which the salt touched
turned into a deep sea. The giant almost drown and had to swim to cross the sea. After some time, he
managed to get out from the water. Timun Emas saw the giant coming, so she reached for the last
bag. She took the shrimp paste and threw it. The shrimp paste became a big swamp of boiling mud.
The giant was trapped in the middle of the swamp. The mud slowly but surely drowned him. Helpless,
he roared out, Help! Heeeeelp! Then the giant drown and died. Timun Mas then immediately went
home. Since then, Timun Emas and Mbok Sirni live happily ever after.***

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TIMUN EMAS STORY AN INDONESIAN

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