Cirebon

Cirebon (, formerly rendered Cheribon or Chirebon in English) is a port city on the northern coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is the only coastal city of West Java, located about 40 km west of the provincial border with Central Java, approximately east of Jakarta, at . It had a population of 296,389 at the 2010 census and 333,303 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 344,851 (comprising 173,052 males and 171,799 females). and is the seat of a former Sultanate.

Etymology

Being on the border of Sundanese (i.e., Western Java) and Javanese (i.e., Central Java) cultural regions, many of Cirebon's residents speak a dialect that is a mix of Sundanese and Javanese, known as Jawareh. It is thought that the word "Cirebon" derives from the Javanese word, caruban, meaning "mixed": a reference to the city's mix of Sundanese, Javanese, Chinese, and Arabic cultural elements. Alternatively, it could be derived from the Sundanese words "ci" (water or river) and "rebon" ("shrimp"). Cirebon was an independent sultanate under the leadership of Sunan Gunungjati in the early 16th century. After the Sunda Kingdom collapsed, the Sultanates of Banten and Mataram fought over control of Cirebon, which declared its allegiance to Sultan Agung of Mataram, whose grandson Amangkurat II ceded the city to the Dutch in 1677. In 1705, a treaty saw the Cirebon area west of Cisanggarung River become a Dutch protectorate jointly administered by three sultans whose courts rivalled those of Central Java.

thumb|right|200px|The coat of arms of Cirebon during the Dutch colonial era, granted in 1930

During the time of the Dutch "Culture System" a flourishing trade in colonial cash crops attracted many Chinese entrepreneurs and that influence is still evident in the batik for which Cirebon is famous.

Administrative divisions

The city of Cirebon is divided into five administrative districts (kecamatan), listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2011 census The official estimate as at mid 2024 was 344,851. Significant suburbs lie within densely populated Cirebon Regency, and the official metropolitan area encompasses this entire regency as well as the city.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"

! Administrative division

! Area (km2)

! Pop'n (2010 census)

! Pop'n (2015 census)

! Pop'n (2020 census)

! Pop'n mid 2024 estimate

! Pop'n density 2024 (per km2)

| style="text-align:left;"| Cirebon City

| 39.48

| 296,389

| 307,319

| 333,303

| 344,851

| 8,735

| style="text-align:left;"| Cirebon Regency

| 1,076.76

| 2,067,196

| 2,124,866

| 2,270,621

| 2,387,961

| 2,218

| style="text-align:left;"| Greater Cirebon

| 1,116.24

| 2,363,585

| 2,432,185

| 2,603,924

| 2,732,812

| 2,448

Although surrounded by Sundanese-speaking areas in West Java, linguists have stated that Cirebon (and the historically related region of Serang city in Banten Province) are inside its own Cirebonese language area. In addition, this is supported by a large portion of the Cirebon people referring to themselves as "Wong Cirebon" ("Cirebonese people"), and to their language as "Basa Cirebon" ("Cirebonese"). Cirebonese language is related to Javanese and Banyumasan with dialects such as the Jawareh (half-Javanese half Sundanese), Plered, and Dermayon. There are also native Sundanese speakers in the city, who speak a local dialect known as Bahasa Sunda Cirebon (Cirebonese Sundanese language) which contains unique words not found in its Priangan counterpart.

Campaign for Cirebon Province

In the modern era, some of the local political elite in Cirebon and surrounding regencies have campaigned for Cirebon city, together with the regencies of Cirebon, Indramayu, Kuningan and Majalengka to be established as a new province (Provinsi Rebana) - in the same way as Banten Province was formed in 2000 by splitting it away from West Java. To be a new province it is required that it should be proposed by at least five regencies. Leaders from four of these administrations have given their consent, but Majalengka Regency has turned down the idea and indicated that it would prefer to stay part of West Java. However, the lack of support from the Majalengka area does not preclude Cirebon city and the other three regencies from continuing to promote the idea.

The potential size and population of this possible Province would be as follows:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-bottom: 0;"

! Name !! Capital !! Area in km2 !! Pop'n 2010 census !! Pop'n 2020 census

| Cirebon City || Cirebon || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" |

| Cirebon Regency || Sumber || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" |

| Indramayu Regency || Indramayu || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" |

| Kuningan Regency || Kuningan || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" |

| Majalengka Regency || Majalengka || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" |

| Totals || || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" | || align="right" |

Economy

Cirebon City's economy is influenced by its strategic geographical location and by the characteristics of natural resources. Thus, the structure of its economy is dominated by manufacturing, trade, hotels and restaurants, transport and communications, and service sectors. Tomé Pires in the Suma Oriental around the year 1513 mentioned Cirebon was one of the trade centers on the island of Java. After Cirebon was taken over by the Dutch East Indies government in 1859, it was designated as a transit port for import-export goods and as a communications route to the political control center for the region in the interior of Java.

Until 2001, the economic contribution to the City of Cirebon was characterized by processing industry (41.32%),

followed by trade, hotels and restaurants (29.8%), transport and communications sector (13.56%), and services sector (6.06%). Other sectors (9.26%) included mining, agriculture, construction, electricity, and gas. Aside from fishery, its harbor, Tanjung Emas, on the Java Sea has been a major hub for timber from Borneo.

Culture

Cirebon itself is known as Grage in the Cirebon dialect of Javanese language, which came from the words "Negara Gede", meaning "Great Kingdom." As a port city, Cirebon attracts visitors and settlers from elsewhere in Indonesia and from other nations as well. Cirebon culture was described as Java Pasisiran (coastal) culture, similar to the cultures of Banten, Pekalongan, and Semarang, with notable mixtures of Sundanese, Chinese, Arabic-Islamic, and European influences.

Arts and crafts

thumb|150px|right|A Megamendung batik motif from Cirebon.

Batik textiles from Cirebon, especially Cirebon batik with vivid colors with motifs and patterns, that demonstrate Chinese and local influences, are well known. Chinese influences can be seen in Cirebon's culture, most notably the Cirebon batik Megamendung pattern that resembles Chinese cloud imagery. The Trusmi area is the production center of Cirebon batik. Cirebon Glass Painting is another aspect of Cirebon arts and crafts. The imagery in glass painting is usually derived from wayang theme to Islamic calligraphy.

Performing arts

thumb|150px|left|[[Cirebon mask dance]]

The Tari Topeng Cirebon, or Cirebon mask dance, is a dance style peculiar to the city. Topeng Cirebon mask dance, inspired by Javanese Panji cycles is one of notable Cirebon traditional dance and quite famous within Indonesian dances.

Cirebon culture is also influenced by Islamic Middle Eastern culture, such as the Burokan tradition where people exhibit the image of buraq — traditionally made from the bamboo frame and paper skin, or other materials — in processions around the village accompanied with music. The traditions of the bamboo statues borne in these processions are similar to Sundanese Sisingaan, Betawi Ondel-ondel, or Balinese Ogoh-ogoh processions, yet differ in their Islamic theme. Burokan are usually held during festive occasions such as circumcision or marriage, and are accompanied by popular Cirebon folk songs, such as tarling.

Tarling is a musical tradition reminiscent of Bandung's kecapi suling music with except that it features guitar, suling (bamboo flute) and voice.

Wali Songo, especially Sunan Gunung Jati, is known to have influenced the city's history. Sunan Gunung Jati's grave is located several kilometers outside the city in the Gunung Jati district. There are two temples and a cave system built by two Chinese architects around the 1880s, decorated by Chinese and Western porcelain. The village of Trusmi, about five kilometers outside of Cirebon, has been noted for batik production. Plangon is a habitat of monkeys.

Mt Ceremai, the highest peak in West Java, is a large volcano situated about to the south of Cirebon. Parks and other tourist spots on the slopes of Mt Ceremai are popular places for groups from Cirebon to visit during weekends to escape from the hotter climate on the coast. The village of Linggajati, near the town of Cilimus, (where the Linggadjati Agreement was signed) is one such place. Public transportation brings tourists and visitors here.

Cityscape

Transportation

Airport

Cirebon residents are now using Kertajati International Airport, serving the Greater Cirebon metropolitan and surrounding area.

Health

Since the Dutch East Indies government, Cirebon City has had a hospital named Orange, which unveiled its use on August 31, 1921, and commenced operations from September 1, 1921. Currently the name of Orange Hospital become Gunung Jati Hospital.

In 2009 in the city of Cirebon has been available about 6 general hospitals, four maternity hospitals, 21 health centers, 15 health centers Maid, 20 Mobile Health Center, and 81 Pharmacies and Drug Stores 31. With the number of medical personnel such as specialist doctors about 94 people, and 116 general practitioners, 37 dentists, 847 nurses, and 278 midwives.

Notable people

Gallery

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Prent voorstellende Cheribon in de zeventiende eeuw gezien vanaf de rede TMnr 60034631.jpg|The port of Cirebon in the 17th century

File:Taqwa.1.jpg|At-Taqwa Mosque

File:Cirebon City Hall.JPG|The main building of the Cirebon City Hall

File:DPRD_Kota_Cirebon-Jie.jpg|The building of Cirebon City Legislatures (DPRD)

File:Building in Keraton Kasepuhan.jpg|Building inside Keraton Kasepuhan complex

File:Symbol Keraton Kasepuhan.jpg|Sculpture in Keraton Kasepuhan

File:Sunyaragi2.jpg|Sunyaragi meditation caves

File:Klenteng_Kwan_Im,_Cirebon_2_-_panoramio.jpg|Guanyin Temple in Cirebon

File:Gedung BAT -Jie73.jpg|Former building of the British-American-Tobacco

File:Cirebonese Art Batik - Mahabharat Scene with Arjun & Krishna in Chariot - Gita.jpg|Cirebonese Batik Art depicting Hindu Gods Arjuna and Krishna in their chariot in Mahabharata

</gallery>

Footnotes

External links

Official site