| Damar Wulan and Menak Jinggo |
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Damar Wulan was a young handsome gardener of Majapahit vizier, Patih Loh Gender. He was very diligent and smart. Patih Loh Gender liked him very much and so did his daughter, Anjasmara. Anjasmara apparently fell in love with Damar Wulan. Patih Loh Gender decided to match his daughter with Damar Wulan. They soon got married and Patih Loh Gender appointed him as his assistant. One day, Damar Wulan was assigned by his father in law, Patih Loh Gender, to go to Blambangan*, a regency of Majapahit Kingdom. This difficult assignment based on the request of the ruling queen of Majapahit, Ratu Kencana Wungu. Previously the queen summoned Patih Loh Gender to discuss the vision she received that a young man could defeat Menak Jinggo, the ruler of Blambangan regency, who rebelled against Majapahit. Menak Jinggo was also considered as the cruel regent by his people. She was very desperate after her huge army she sent to vanquish Menak Jinggo was wiped out easily.
In this mission, Damar Wulan passed himself off as a gardener in the palace of Blambangan regency. He previously had been informed that Menak Jinggo had a magical powered mace weapon called Wesi Kuning or golden steele. This weapon had helped him overcome all his enemies. Once again he showed his smartness and his good looking had attracted people in the palace. Especially Menak Jinggo's mistresses, Waeta and Puyengan. He succeeded manipulating them to steal Wesi Kuning from Menak Jinggo. When Damar Wulan thought the time has come to challenge Menak Jinggo, he appeared before him and induced him to fight one by one. Menak Jinggo was really angry knowing that the gardener who he trusted betrayed him. He accepted Damar Wulan's challenge and they fought at the palace square. Menak Jinggo, who underestimated Damar Wulan's fight skill, apparently experiencing difficulty in fighting with this young man. Damar Wulan was very powerful. But when Menak Jinggo wanted to use his ultimate weapon, Wesi Kuning, he was very surprised that he couldn't find it. He was even more surprised when he saw Damar Wulan drawing his Wesi Kuning to his side. Damar Wulan stroke him with Wesi Kuning instantly and Menak Jinggo finally died. People of Blambangan cheered the victory of Damar Wulan. They regarded him as hero after defeating Menak Jinggo. He then was enthroned as the regent of Blambangan by the Queen of Majapahit, Ratu Kencana Wungu, and married Waeta and Puyengan as his mistresses. He also brought his wife, Anjasmara, to Blambangan Palace. * Blambangan currently known as Banyuwangi, the regency in East Java province. People of Banyuwangi still regard Menak Jinggo was not as bad as the story told. In wayang Banyuwangi, Menak Jinggo is described as a good looking, kind and wise regent. He rebelled after Queen of Majapahit, Ratu Kencana Wungu departed from her word to marry him after he successfully defeated Kebo Marcuet, an anarchist in Majapahit. Even though Menak Jinggo finally killed by Damar Wulan, he is still respected by people of Banyuwangi (the source). (Javanese Folk Tale) |
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