Kul-kul

The bale kulkul or bale kul-kul (Balinese "drum pavilion") is a Balinese pavilion where a slit-log drum (Balinese kulkul) is placed. It is essentially a drum tower or a watch tower. A bale kulkul can has a civic function, such as those used in villages as a mean of communication; or for religious function, an integral part of Balinese temple architecture.

Bale kulkul is a watchtower-like structure. It consists of a base and topped with a wooden structure where the kulkul is hanged. A roof canopy provides shelter for the kulkul. The kulkul itself is basically a slit drum: a percussive device consisting of a hollow piece of timber with a slit in one side, a common device in Southeast Asia. Different rhythms indicate the particular reason for the summons, for example, a meeting of household heads at the bale agung ("great pavilion", a pavilion for congregation), a wedding, death of a person, etc. In the past, the kulkul was also sounded as a call to arms. A bale kulkul varies in design according to the wealth of the builder.

There are many kinds of bale kulkul. A bale kulkul used for civic function is usually found in Balinese villages (banjar). The kulkul of this kind of bale kulkul is known as Kulkul Manusia ("kulkul of human"). Kulkul Manusia can be constructed of any type of wood, usually teak wood or wood of a jackfruit tree. In its simplest construction, this bale kulkul consists of a plinth-base of hardened earth, topped with a wooden structure which provides the height, topped with a pavilion where the kulkul is kept. In a village, this bale kulkul is built in a strategic area where the villagers can be summoned.

In Balinese temples, the bale kulkul usually found straddling onto a wall corner. It is usually constructed of masonry structure and heavily decorated with mythic figures. The base of a temple bale kulkul reaches significant height, and is divided into three levels from bottom to top: tepas, batur, and sari. The tepas level represents the underworld realm bhur (Sanskrit bhurloka) and is decorated with figures of giant creatures. The batur level represents the realm of the human bhuwah (Sanskrit bhuvarloka) and is decorated with animals. The sari level represents the realm of gods swah (Sanskrit svarloka) and is decorated with birds and other celestial figures. On top of the swah level is the wooden pavilion where the kulkul is kept. A large bale kulkul in Mengwi subdistrict is constructed of ochre-colored brickwork with paras stone ornamentation, and decorated with mythic figures such as the head of Bhoma, celestial goddesses, and lion-like effigies. There are two kinds of kulkul the temple's bale kulkul, Kulkul Dewa ("kulkul of the gods") and Kulkul Bhuta ("kulkul of the bhutas"). Kulkul Dewa is always made of the wood of jackfruit tree and is struck in a very slow rhythm to call the gods. Kulkul bhuta is made of bamboo and is struck to summon the Bhuta kala (demons).

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Wikipedia