Page 77 - E-BOOK SEJARAH DAN BUDAYA INDONESIA

HISTORY OF SUNDA TRIBES

Sundanese women tea pickers during the Dutch East Indies period

The Sundanese (Sundanese: Urang Sundanese, Sundanese script) is an ethnic group
originating from the western part of the island of Java, Indonesia, with the term Tatar Pasundan
which includes the administrative regions of the provinces of West Java, Banten, Jakarta and the
western region of Central Java (Banyumasan). The population of the Sundanese tribe can also be
significantly found on the territory of other provinces of Indonesia, and abroad such as in Japan,
Taiwan and other countries as a place for the Sundanese diaspora.

The identity that unites the Sundanese is their language and culture. Sundanese are known
to be optimistic, friendly, polite, carefree, and unpretentious. The Portuguese recorded in the Suma
Oriental that the Sundanese were honest and brave. The Sundanese were also the first ethnic group
to conduct diplomatic relations on an equal footing with other nations. Sang Hyang Surawisesa or
King Samian was the first king in the archipelago to conduct diplomatic relations with other
nations in the 15th century with the Portuguese in Malacca. The results of his diplomacy are set
forth in the Inscription of the Treaty of Sunda-Portugal. Several Sundanese figures also served as
Ministers and had been Vice Presidents in the Indonesian cabinet.

In addition to achievements in the fields of politics (especially at the beginning of Indonesia's
independence period) and economics, quite proud achievements are in the cultural field, namely
the number of singers, musicians, actors, and actresses from the Sundanese ethnicity who have
achievements at the national and international levels.

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