The Story of Timun Emas, an Indonesian folk tale
76
THE STORY OF TIMUN EMAS, AN INDONESIAN FOLK TALE
Long time ago in the island of Java, Indonesia, lived a couple of farmer. They had married for some years but they had no children. So they prayed to a monster called Buta Ijo to give them children. Buta Ijo was a ferocious and powerful monster. He granted their wish on one condition. When their children had grown up, they had to sacrifice them to Buta Ijo. He liked eating fresh meat of human being. The farmers agreed to his condition. Several months later the wife was pregnant.
She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. They named her Timun Emas. The farmers were happy. Timun Emas was very healthy and a very smart girl. She was also very diligent. When she was a teenager Buta Ijo came to their house. Timun Emas was frightened so she ran away to hide. The farmers then told Buta Ijo that Timun Emas was still a child. They asked him to postpone. Buta Ijo agreed. He promised to come again. The following year Buta Ijo came again. But again and again their parents said that Timun Emas was still a child.
When the third time Buta Ijo came their parents had prepared something for him. They gave Timun Emas several bamboo needles, seeds of cucumber, dressing and salt.
‘Timun, take these things’
‘What are these things?’
‘These are your weapons. Buta Ijo will chase you. He will eat you alive. So run as fast as you can. And if he will catch you spread this to the ground. Now go!’
Timun Emas was scared so she ran as quickly as she could. When Buta Ijo arrived she was far from home. He was very angry when he realized that his prey had left. So he ran to chase her. He had a sharp nose so he knew what direction his prey ran.
Timun Emas was just a girl while Buta Ijo was a monster so he could easily catch her up. When he was just several steps behind Timun Emas quickly spread the seeds of cucumber. In seconds they turned into many vines of cucumber. The exhausted Buta Ijo was very thirsty so he grabbed and ate them. When Buta Ijo was busy eating cucumber Timun Emas could run away.
But soon Buta Ijo realized and started running again. When he was just several steps behind Timun Emas threw her bamboo needles. Soon they turned into dense bamboo trees. Buta Ijo found it hard to pass. It took him some time to break the dense bamboo forest. Meanwhile Timun Emas could run farther.
Buta Ijo chased her again. When he almost catch her again and again Timun Emas threw her dressing. This time it turned into a lake. Buta Ijo was busy to save himself so Timun Emas ran way. But Buta Ijo could overcome it and continued chasing her.
Finally when Timun Emas was almost caught she threw her salt. Soon the land where Buta Ijo stood turned into ocean. Buta Ijo was drowned and died instantly.
Timun Emas was thankful to god and came back to her home.
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (9)
- Funny (4)
- Awesome (8)
- Beautiful (5)
- Interesting (4)
CommentsLoading...
This is a very good story. It's like a "salt-of-the-Earth-type" story. Thanks for writing it.
Thanks Hello, hello and Tina Irene for visiting and commenting. I am happy that you enjoyed it.
Thank you for the story Pak, this story has brought me back to my childhood remembrance.
Thanks for sharing this folk tale.
Thank you Pak Agus and Satomko. Hope you enjoy it.
thanks very much
sir cause the story that you write is help me to finish my homework
Julia, I am glad that my hub is useful for you. Thanks for reading it.
why did you didnt make dialog
Lolo, I did make a dialog but only a short one. May be I will make it longer next time. Thanks Lolo.
hi do you have any more stories because i am doing a asiment
on indonesia and we have to make a Traditional story page aany ideas would help. Thank-you
I have more stories but now I'm busy working on my book. Next time I will write again stories from Indonesia.
Thank's pak Budoyono, that's a good idea writing a tale of indonesia here, I have a homework for my english class about a story of indonesia, I'll give this story to my teacher here in madrid.
My pleasure mafa. I am happy that my hub is useful for you.
Very good story Pak. It helped me with my Reach Out to Indonesia Project. I hope you write more stories.
CodyParky, thanks for your comment. I am happy that my hubs are useful to you.
Thanks Sir.It helps me to do my HW...^^
Webtoy , thanks for reading.
Sharon, you're welcome. I am happy my hub helps you.
This story I also used for my homework.
I had to change it into a cartoon strip.
It seems that there are lots of assignments on Indonesia.
Thank's pak Budoyono it really helps e in my HW.....:)
thanks for u'r tale,
because i can do my homework..
fighthing indonesia folktale! :)
Josh, Nicole and Reiny, I am happy that my hub is useful for you.
Josh, Nicole and Reiny, I am happy that my hub is useful for you.
I am looking for the indonesian folk but with its pictures like the western. so, my students will enjoy their narrative class
good job sir. n it seems that some people needs the cartoon version, any one can help? :)
Baiq, thanks a lot.
Hanabob, that' a good idea. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, sir. my homework finished now. :)
Anes, My pleasure.
like it....:)
llike this
Thank you very much.
x
Terimakasih pak, Saya menceritakan legenda2 menarik yang bapak tulis kepada murid2 saya yang sedang belajar bahasa Inggris. Story telling tidak pernah membosankan. Sekali lagi terimakasih.
can i copy it for my story telling?
Nisa, Abdul Rozaq, Miss O and atik, thanks a lot. I am happy that you like my hub.
glo, yes you can. I hope it will be useful to you.
That was AWESOME story, my fam likes it too ^-^
thanks you are so help me to doing my task, in story telling :)
I love to read folk tales that tell stories of how someone being chased is helped by nature to outwit their pursuer. This story has great visions . . . especially bamboo needles turning into a bamboo forest.
Thank you for telling us this tale, Bbudoyono. I hope you post many more!
i love these folk tales... it brings me to my sma remeberance.... we had the competition to show our tallent.. hohohoh thank ....
thanks for the story this help me win the story telling competention!
It could finish my homework
hello is this a real story and this is for my S.O.S.E project I'm doing Indonesia and I need a story.
bk muze, my pleasure.
Eggz,
this is a well known folk tale from Indonesia. Every body knows it in Indonesia.
thankyou i need this for my sose project and im in the same class as eggz10!!!
Hi,
I am in the same class as Eggz, and I am doing the smae thing! I am using this story to help me with my school work! It is a very nice story too :)
Hi i'm in the same class as this person called Eggz.this story is a real help with our S.O.S.E project so thanks
Hello,
this story is very insperashional and it will help me and all my class mates with our S.O.S.E project thankyou for putting it on the internet.
this is a great story of the kind and domonic creatures in this world
sorry about my friend marcus hardwood
 | Amazon Price: $1.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $1.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $1.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $7.74 |
Related Blog
- House of Glass
Book review of an Indonesian novel. The novelist is one of the most well known Indonesian writer. - http://www.squidoo.com/treasure-hunt-in-jakarta
Hello, hello, 2 years ago
What a love story. Thank you, I enjoyed it so much.