10 Objects of Cultural Advancement
Choose a code to read its explanation and cultural-work examples. These categories follow Indonesia’s national framework in Law No. 5 of 2017.
Oral traditions
Spoken expression passed down through generations, including oral history, tales, incantations, pantun, and folktales.
Examples: Pantun, NandongManuscripts
A text and all information contained in it that have cultural and historical value; examples include serat, babad, hikayat, and kitab.
Examples: La Galigo manuscript NBG-Boeg 188, Babad Diponegoro (Chronicle of Diponegoro)Customs
A custom grounded in particular values, practiced continuously by a community and passed to succeeding generations; examples include environmental governance and dispute resolution.
Examples: Sasi laut, Awig-awig of SubakRites
A procedure for a ceremony or activity grounded in particular values, practiced continuously by a community and passed to succeeding generations; examples include celebrations, customary ceremonies, and rituals.
Examples: Rambu Solo’, Seren Taun (Cigugur)Traditional knowledge
Community ideas and knowledge embodying local values, arising from lived interaction with the environment, continually developed and passed to the next generation.
Examples: Jamu, Kaili Rai community knowledge of medicinal plantsTraditional technology
Products, skills, and know-how used to provide what is needed for human survival or comfort, developed through practical interaction with the environment and passed to later generations.
Examples: Ambai, Traditional sago graterArts
Individual, collective, or communal artistic expression based on cultural heritage or new creation, embodied in performing, visual, literary, film, music, or media arts.
Examples: Saman dance, Indonesian AngklungLanguages
A means of communication among people, whether spoken, written, or signed; examples include Indonesian and regional languages.
Examples: Sundanese language, Javanese languageFolk games
Games based on particular values, practiced continuously by a community and passed to the next generation for recreation.
Examples: Dakon (Congklak), Gobak Sodor (Galah Asin)Traditional sports
Physical and/or mental activities to promote health and stamina, grounded in particular values, practiced continuously by a community, and passed to succeeding generations.
Examples: Pasola, Stone jumping (Hombo Batu)Codes 0–9 follow Indonesia’s national grouping under Law No. 5 of 2017; they are not UNESCO codes or certifications. Examples are illustrative, not exhaustive or official designations, and a cultural practice may overlap with more than one category.