Hikayat Bunga Kemuning

Summary

In this poignant Indonesian folk tale, a wise but busy king has ten daughters, with the youngest, Princess Kuning, being kind and humble. While her older sisters are spoiled and unruly, Princess Kuning remains virtuous. When the king asks for their wishes, the older sisters request lavish gifts, while Princess Kuning simply asks for his safe return. After the king gives her a green gemstone necklace, the jealous sisters plot to steal it, leading to a tragic confrontation in which Princess Kuning is killed. The king, devastated by the loss, learns the importance of raising his daughters with care. A flower named *Kemuning* grows from her grave, symbolizing her pure spirit and the king's redemption.

Takeaways

• 😀 A wise and just king has ten daughters, each named after a color.
• 😀 The youngest daughter, Putri Kuning (Princess Yellow), is kind-hearted and virtuous, unlike her lazy and spoiled older sisters.
• 😀 The king, due to his busy schedule, is unable to properly raise his daughters after the queen passes away.
• 😀 The king asks his daughters what gifts they would like when he goes to visit another kingdom, and all except Putri Kuning request extravagant presents.
• 😀 Putri Kuning simply wishes for her father's safe return, showing her humility and love for him.
• 😀 In the king's absence, the older sisters become more disobedient and treat the palace and servants poorly.
• 😀 Putri Kuning diligently cleans the royal garden, while her sisters mock and criticize her efforts.
• 😀 Putri Kuning is gifted a green gemstone necklace by the king, which causes jealousy among her older sisters.
• 😀 The older sisters, led by Putri Hijau (Princess Green), eventually kill Putri Kuning in a fit of envy and bury her in the palace garden.
• 😀 When the king returns and cannot find Putri Kuning, he orders a search, but it is in vain as her body is well-hidden. He regrets not guiding his daughters better.
• 😀 After sending his daughters away to learn virtues, a plant grows on Putri Kuning's grave, and the king names it 'Bunga Kemuning' (Kemuning flower), symbolizing her purity and goodness.

Q & A

Why was Putri Kuning different from her sisters?

Putri Kuning was different because she was kind, humble, and dedicated to doing good deeds, unlike her older sisters who were spoiled, lazy, and mischievous.

What did the king ask his daughters when he was about to leave for another kingdom?

The king asked his daughters what gifts they wanted him to bring back from the neighboring kingdom.

How did Putri Kuning respond to her father's question about the gifts?

Putri Kuning simply asked for her father to return safely, expressing love and concern for his well-being rather than material goods.

How did the other princesses react to the king's return and the gifts?

The other princesses were disappointed and ungrateful when they saw that Putri Kuning was the only one to receive a gift. They continued to behave selfishly and showed no interest in the king’s return.

What tragic event occurred between the princesses while the king was away?

The princesses fought over a green necklace that the king had brought back for Putri Kuning. This led to a violent confrontation in which Putri Kuning was killed by her sisters.

What did the sisters do to cover up their actions after Putri Kuning's death?

The sisters decided to bury Putri Kuning’s body in the royal garden and hid the incident from their father, hoping he would never find out.

How did the king react when he returned and discovered Putri Kuning was missing?

The king was deeply worried and ordered a search throughout the kingdom. His sadness grew as his other daughters remained silent, refusing to reveal the truth about Putri Kuning.

What happened to Putri Kuning's grave after the sisters left the kingdom to learn humility?

A remarkable plant grew from Putri Kuning's grave, a *bunga Kemuning*, with flowers that resembled her gentle and good nature, symbolizing her legacy.

What was the significance of the *bunga Kemuning* flower?

The *bunga Kemuning* symbolized Putri Kuning's kindness and purity. Its fragrant flowers and green leaves represented the virtues she embodied, and the plant had various beneficial uses.

What lesson did the king learn from the tragedy involving his daughters?

The king learned the importance of guiding his children with care and the consequences of neglecting their upbringing. He regretted not having taught them better values.