The Sublimation Power of Hwan le Wah: The Study of Chinese-Javanese Women and Its Relevance in Socio-Environment Harmony

Abstract

This paper examines Hwan Le Wah as the warrior princess and traditional Javanese woman based on Sik Jin Kwi text of the Chinese-Javanese manuscript belonging to the Library of Universitas Indonesia (NR 142). The text is written in Javanese script, around the beginning of the 20th century. The methods applied reveal the woman studies which represent the power of sublimation in Chinese-Javanese traditions. As a warrior princess, Hwan Le Wah was tough, brave, and having magic or divine power, loved by Gods and Goddesses. It means that she has a power as a man to be a war commander. On the other hand, as a traditional Chinese- Javanese woman, she has also tenderness of woman's attitude. The conclusion is, as a human being, Hwan Le Wah has represented masculinity and femininity, in order to balance her life into the social harmony and universe.