Jinah Bolong or a perforated coin is a circular metal coin, while at its midpoint occurs a square hole. Both sides contain Chinese characters. Originally, the perforated coins in China were used as a medium of exchange and then turned to valuable articles in Bali today.
There is a scripture mentioning that the coins existing in Bali were originated from China, imported by Majapahit Kingdom (a Hindu kingdom in Java) and in distribution around the year 1300s. According to I Nyoman Terima, Msi, a researcher from Klungkung, says that the coins were diffused in bali by R. Goris around 1882. Goris did it fiirst at Sangsit Village – Singaraja as medium of commercial exchanges. Afterwards, he spread this coin to Tegal Village – Denpasar and then to Gianyar at Blahbatuh Village.
According to the faith of Balinese people, the perforated coin is believed to have magic power, notably when one of its sides has rerajahan or sacred engravings in the form of particular figures like Arjuna, Bima, Krishna, Sangut, Tualen, Hanuman, Horse and Net.
Perforated coins like these have also been discovered in several cities in Java such as Pati Kudus, Kendal, Cilacap, temanggung, Purworjo and Blora. Geographically, these cities are situated at the coastal territory and were under rule of Majapahit Kingdom (11th to 14th century). Other researchers of Balinese culture also mention that these perforated coins were once applied as official medium of exchange in the economy of Bali.
The times increasingly developed, the status of these coins shifted into cultural articles and mens of religious paraphernalia. In Bali, the use of perforated coins highly varies, mainly for the needs of Pancha Yajna (five holy sacrifices). For the rituals, it is earmarked as sesari (money as an ingredient of oblation). In the rituals like Mendem Pedagingan, Mapekelem, Pecaruan and Ngaben many perforated coints are burnt, buried and swept away. This causes the existence is turning towards the threshold of extinction.
News by International Bali Post
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