Kampung Adat Kuta Rancah: Melestarikan Warisan Budaya dalam Era Modern

Abstract

Kuta Traditional Village, located in Karangpaningal Village, Tambaksari District, Ciamis Regency, West Java, is one of the Sundanese cultural enclaves that still maintains local wisdom amidst the onslaught of modernization. This study aims to analyze the forms of cultural heritage preservation carried out by the people of Kuta Traditional Village and examine the dynamics of their adaptation to the development of the times. Using a qualitative approach with descriptive methods and case studies, data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews with traditional elders (kuncen) and the community, and documentation. The results of the study indicate that the preservation of cultural heritage in Kuta Traditional Village is carried out holistically covering four main dimensions: (1) preservation of intangible heritage through the consistent implementation of annual rituals such as the Nyuguh Ceremony (which has been designated as an intangible cultural heritage), Seren Taun, and Hajat Lembur; (2) preservation of tangible heritage by maintaining the architecture of traditional wooden and bamboo stilt houses and caring for ancestral heirlooms; (3) preservation of traditional arts such as Gondang Buhun and Rengkong which are present in every traditional ceremony; and (4) strengthening the value system through the concept of taboos, which has proven effective in preserving the Leuweung Larangan (sacred forest), resulting in the awarding of the Kalpataru award. Furthermore, the community demonstrated a high adaptive capacity by responding to the modern era by developing the concepts of wellness tourism and visibility tourism without abandoning the essence of traditional values. The conclusion of this study confirms that the cultural resilience of the Kuta Traditional Village lies in its ability to dynamically negotiate between upholding the principles of pikukuh (life guidelines) and selectively filtering external influences, making it a living museum relevant as a model for sustainable cultural preservation in the modern era.