The Story of Sangkuriang

What You Need to Know About the Story of Sangkuriang

Sangkuriang is a famous legend from West Java, Indonesia, that explains the origin of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano. The story revolves around a young boy named Sangkuriang who unknowingly falls in love with his mother, Dayang Sumbi. Upon realizing the truth, Dayang Sumbi sets a series of impossible tasks for Sangkuriang to prevent their marriage. Despite his efforts to complete these tasks, Sangkuriang’s actions ultimately lead to the creation of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano. This tale explores themes of fate, identity, and the natural world.

The Story

Once upon a time, in the lush forests of West Java, there lived a beautiful and intelligent woman named Dayang Sumbi. She lived alone with her faithful dog, Tumang, who was actually a cursed deity. One day, while weaving cloth, Dayang Sumbi accidentally dropped her weaving tool. Frustrated, she exclaimed that she would marry anyone who retrieved it for her. To her surprise, Tumang brought the tool back. True to her word, Dayang Sumbi married Tumang, and they soon had a son named Sangkuriang.

Sangkuriang grew up to be a strong and adventurous boy, unaware of his father’s true identity. One day, while hunting in the forest, Sangkuriang accidentally killed Tumang, thinking he was a wild boar. When he returned home and told his mother what had happened, Dayang Sumbi was devastated. In her grief, she struck Sangkuriang on the head with a rice ladle, leaving a permanent scar. She then banished him from their home.

Years passed, and Sangkuriang became a powerful and skilled warrior. During his travels, he returned to his homeland, where he met and fell in love with a beautiful woman. He had no idea that this woman was his own mother, Dayang Sumbi, who had remained youthful due to her divine heritage.

Dayang Sumbi eventually recognized Sangkuriang by the scar on his head. Horrified by the realization, she tried to dissuade him from marrying her by revealing the truth. Sangkuriang, however, refused to believe her. Desperate to prevent the marriage, Dayang Sumbi set a series of impossible tasks for Sangkuriang, hoping he would fail.

The first task was to dam the Citarum River and create a vast lake. Sangkuriang, using his supernatural powers, managed to complete the task overnight. Dayang Sumbi then asked him to build a large boat to sail on the lake by the break of dawn. Sangkuriang worked tirelessly, using the trunks of massive trees to construct the boat.

Seeing that Sangkuriang was about to succeed, Dayang Sumbi prayed to the gods for help. Just as Sangkuriang was about to finish, the gods answered her prayers by making the eastern horizon glow, creating the illusion of dawn. Believing he had failed, Sangkuriang kicked the unfinished boat in frustration. The boat overturned and became the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, which means “upturned boat” in Sundanese.

Heartbroken and defeated, Sangkuriang wandered the land, while Dayang Sumbi continued her life, grateful that the gods had prevented the unnatural union. The legend of Sangkuriang remains a powerful tale in West Java, symbolizing the importance of understanding and respecting the natural order of life.