Java island is administratively divided into 3 sections. Each of these parts is called the province of West Java, Central Java, and East Java. West Java is geographically the land can not be separated from the island of Java as a whole. Based on the study of prehistoric relic, the origins of the first inhabitants in the West Java with fossils found in the layers of limestone and in the layers of the sea in the days Pliocen (120,000 years - 600,000 years ago). Although the presence of early humans in West Java is still an estimate, but it is reinforced by the discovery of evidence of historical objects such as tools are also estimated from the same era. The objects come from parigi near Pangandaran, Tasikmalaya and in the beard area. West Java region at the same time has been inhabited by humans Pithecanthropus Erectus da offspring. However, the possibility is certainly not closed, that this area has been inhabited by humans other types.
Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age)
Culture using stone axes handheld called paleolithic culture. In addition to his tools are simple, human life is very simple. They do not have a permanent residence. They get food depends on the natural results. As such they are the gatherers of human nature (food gathering) or human gatherers.
People living in this time may have been wearing their clothes but clothes that kind of material is very simple and mainly made from wood or animal skin.
Mesolitik times according to estimates developed since approximately ten thousand to four thousand years ago. Kind of man who lived at the time consisted of a kind of human misolitik Austro-melanesoid.
Mesolitik era have been found stones small utensils like knives piercer, scraper and others. They lived in caves and maybe they did it live on the beach or lakeside. They have started a sedentary life even in the transitional stage.
Neolithic (New Stone Age)
This age reckoning began in Indonesia in the 1500 years before masei.
Semi-sedentary life, hunting and fishing after a long time passed people began to be abandoned. But this incident force gradually and gradually, not all at once. After the men began to sedentary life, and they begin to grow a garden. At this time people have to know hoe, pickaxe or perimbas, blincung, and chisel. The objects of the neolithic era species there are 3 kinds, namely: Axe oval, square ax, and ax shoulder. Human life has settled in the Neolithic era, settlement and therefore to have been a society in an orderly arrangements.
Metal era
New stone age eating Wakyu thousands of years, then move the new kezaman who knew the use of metal objects. Transition that occurs due to increased human knowledge and understanding.
Metal era in our country starting with the Bronze Age. In the Bronze Age man has had a knack of western Java beans pouring the metal into objects and tools desired. Objects produced in the form of a funnel and candrasa ax. Bronze pouring technique that there are 2 kinds bevalve and acire perdue casting.
Development of human culture and art in the past West Java Prehistoric depicted in some of the following:
A rock climbing wall there is a painting of scratches toes resemble animals.
Jewelry and art objects rub utensil people have started doing well, despite the power of art is still shrouded by a state secret, occult and magical.
Cast bronze art, bronze metal which is converted into an object desired jewelry.
Decorative art, decorative art has developed since the actual scratch man acquainted with the West Java objects pottery.
Prehistoric societies have known the days of dance - dance.
Art up.
Humans in West Java in Prehistoric times have been sedentary and cultivate the land. Farming life bring people closer to their faith. Because they expect to get good results. Expectations was addressed to supernatural spirits.
The times of metal in Indonesia, especially in West Java has brought the history of human West Java towards more advanced life gate. relics that are sacred which includes building the temple, the art of making sculpture or statue both ciwa, Vishnu and Buddha and others. Relics are scattered in several places throughout West Java, although not evenly spread. Such relics indicate that various streams of a belief system, in this case Hindu religious beliefs that have developed in West Java.
In the 16th century in the growing West Java towns of Cirebon Islamic rule, and cirebon jayakarta. These towns act as the ports that make up the fabric of the most important shipping transportation, economy, and politics with Demak as the largest Islamic power center of Java. At the time of the influence of Islam, the king regarded as a figure who controlled the lives and can relate with supernatural community. In terms of political and economic position of the king occupies the highest place in social status. Classification of the city in the time of growth and development of the Islamic kingdom in West Java were divided into: group kings and their families, b. Elite c. Non-elite groups and d. Slave class. Religion of Islam spread through the education and teaching, which is tailored to the circumstances and customs prevailing in West Java (adjusted with Hindu culture that had previously been influential) religion of Islam and readily accepted by the people of West Java. Islamic religious instruction in force in the land of Java, particularly in West Java can be divided into two kinds of teaching is being violated-violated and dipesantren-boarding.
About art, in West Java has its own properties and gives a distinctive pattern in the field of architecture, sculpture, and other art branches. The results of structural art form masji masji-fashioned, palaces and tombs of sultan. In addition to the art of building, in the fields of art such kasustraan Chronicle, rhymes, folk tales, horoscope and others. Regarding the education system, it can be said that in the early colonial government initially only concerned with matters relating to benefits and do not pay attention to the progress of the nation Indonesia. In general pendidika center just around the break and boarding.
New at the beginning of the 19th century, the Dutch government began to think about education and teaching in Indonesia. Religious movement began a wide variation in the shape and direction of conflict with social institutions which have long been established.
Developments in the 20th century West Java especially Bandung lot of interesting people from outside the West Java because people can take advantage of all the means and facilities to achieve a good standard of living. Schools began to be established so that the people of West Java in particular became acquainted with Latin letters. Latin letters slowly began generally accepted, so as Sunda and urged the use of the Arabic alphabet script.
Japanese occupation period in force for about three and a half years was not great influence on the arts in general and West Java, Indonesia in particular. But the theater arts are evolving during the Japanese occupation. West Javanese art and culture flourished in the time of life or liberty is largely a continuation of previous cultural arts. Advances in technology also give an opportunity to the people of West Java to perform more intensive communication, both with the public entities and community baratsendiri Java which is beyond.
