Chanting Manuscript: Positions, Functions, and Virtue Values of Lontar Yusup in Banyuwangi

Abstract

Ancient manuscripts still alive in the community are both tangible and intangible cultural heritages since they take form of manuscripts and oral tradition. Lontar Yusup in Banyuwangi manifests as a wealth of manuscript and a ritual of the mocoan (chanting) Lontar Yusup which is a cultural representation of the Osing community. This paper aims at identifying the roles, functions, and virtue values of Lontar Yusup and the accompanying oral tradition. The results of this study indicate that Lontar Yusup and the traditional ritual of mocoan have positions and functions that is full of virtue values. The values can generally be categorized into two, namely virtues related to human relations with God and those related to human relations with others and the environment. This positions, functions, and virtues make Lontar Yusup and the ritual of mocoan a representation of the cultural identity of the Osing community in Banyuwangi.