MANAGING AND SUSTAINING
THE SUBAK SYSTEM IN BALI
Wayan Windia
Subak Research Centre
Udayana University
Subak Jatiluwih, that is recognized by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage
CULTURE LANDSCAPE OF BALI PROVINCE: The Subak System as an Manifestation of the
Tri Hita Karana
Subak Tample Rice Field
Dam/
Water- Subak A Subak B1, B2, & B3
Source
Subak :
•Water user association/ Village
Farmers manage irrigation
system.
•Managing a certain
rice fields.
•Managing at least one
water source.
•Managing at least one
subak tample.
•Autonomous.
•Hydrological/natural border.
•Sub-subak (if needed)
RICE FIELDS, CALM AND QUIET, MANAGED BY SUBAK SYSTEM.
WILL THEY BE SUSTAINABLE?
WHAT SUBAK IS?
• Subak is a group of farmers, which is managing water
irrigation at a certain rice fields, getting water from a
certain source, managing at least one subak-temple,
and internally-externally autonomy.
• Several subaks which is getting irrigated water from
one water division building (water divider), named
subak-gde (subaks coordination body) (eg. Subak B1,
B2, and B3, in previous slide).
• Several subaks which is getting irrigated water from
one or more rivers, is called subak-agung (subak
federation), (and yet one of them has to be in form
of subak-gde).
(Continued…1)
• There is no structural relationship between
subak and village. But there is coordinal
relationship between two those institutions.
• The area of one subak could be in one village/
one sub-district/one district or more.
The Role/Function of Subak
• Water distribution.
• Maintenance (canal, tample, etc).
• Mobilization of resources (contribution of
rice/money, manpower, etc)
• Conflicts solution.
• Ritual activities.
RULE IN USE/REGULATION (AWIG-AWIG)
CONDITIONS FOR DEVELOPING SUBAK IN BALI
• The slope of Bali Island ‘s topography (toward north
and south). Mountains are in central of Bali Island.
Therefore, there are potential condition for flowing
water to irrigate a certain rice fields (subak site). And
then water will flow out to the other canal/channel
or river, to irrigate the other subak at downstream.
• One inlet and one outlet system at every plot of rice
field, that is owned by subak members.
(Continued …1)
• The one inlet and one out system at subak
site, are potential for farmers to do
diversification in the field, and also borrowing
water among subak members.
SUBAK VILLAGE
Hydrological border Administrative border
THREE DIMENSTION OF SUBAK
SYSTEM
1. PHYSICAL ASPECT
(PALEMAHAN ASPECT)
CEMENTED WATER DIVISION (NUMBAK SYSTEM)
TRADITIONAL WATER DIVISION (NUMBAK SYSTEM)
2. SOCIAL ASPECT
(PAWONGAN ASPECT)
Pekaseh/ Klian Subak
(Head of Subak)
Penyarikan (sekretaris)
Juru raksa/petengen (bendahara)
Beberapa orang juru arah
(Secretary, treasury, and massager)
Klian tempek/munduk
(head of sub-subak)
Krama tempek/munduk
(semua anggota tempek/munduk adalah
anggota subak)
(Subak members)
3. SPIRITUAL ASPECT
(PARHYANGAN ASPECT)
A TEMPLE IN BERATAN LAKE, AS A WATER SOURCE IN CENTRAL BALI
WATER IS REACHING A RICE FIELD.
A MOTHER IS GIVING OFFERING PRIOR HARVEST TIME
No. Name of ritual Period Purpose
1. Ngendagin/ Starting to flow rice field To have permission from the God (Fertility God living on
memungkah/nuasen the ricefield) that farmer is preparing the land for
tedun planting
2. Pengwiwit/ngurit Preparing seedling work To wish to the God for having good seedling before
transplanting process
3. Nuasen nandur Transplanting of seedlings To wish to have good transplanting and good growth of
seedlings transplanted
4. Ngulapin After transplanting of seedling To wish to the God in order that the rice crop will grow
and there are seedling damage well
5. Ngeroras After 12 days transplanting To wish to the God in order that the rice crop will grow
well
6. Mubuhin After 15 days transplanting To wish to the God in order that the rice crop will grow
well
7. Neduh/Ngebulanin After 35 days transplanting To wish to the God in order that the rice crop will grow
well
8. Nyungsung/ngiseh/ After 42 hari transplanting To wish to the God in order that the rice crop will grow
ngelanus/dedinan well
9. Biukukung/miseh/ngiseh Starting flowering of rice To wish to the God in order that the rice crop will grow
well
10. Nyiwa Sraya After flowering To wish to the God in order that the rice crop will grow
well and bring good yield
11. Ngusaba/ngusaba After the rice mature To wish to the God in order that the rice crop will grow
nini/mantenin Dewi Sri. well and bring good yield
12. Mebanten manyi. Preparing harvest To wish to the God in order that the harvest bring good
yield
13. Ngerasakin After finishing harvest To say thanksgiving to the God in which his harvest is
good and prepare to have further planting
14. Mantenin After storaging harvested rice To say thanksgiving to the God in which farmer could
storage the harvested rice
15. Ngerestiti/Nangluk If there is vulnerable diseases To wish the God in order that there is no past and
merana diseases any more
SUBAK RITUALS
• Farmer level
• Subak level (picking-up water ceremony,
subak-temple anniversary ceremony)
• Connecting with source of water level (lake,
weir).
PHILOSOPHY OF SUBAK AS
THE BALI CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
• Tri Hita Karana (THK) is a philosophy
foundation of subak system in Bali.
• Tri Hita Karana means, three factors of
the happiness of human beings.
Tri = three;
Hita = happiness ;
Karana = the caused factor.
SUBAK AS WORLD CULTURAL
HERITAGE
(1) Subak is a cultural tradition that makes up the landscape of
Bali. Subak has been present in Bali since the 11th century,
and is a traditional institution that implements the
philosophy of Tri Hita Karana in their activities.
(2) Subak system is a democratic and egalitarian system.
Since the 11th century has been managing a network of
subak temples, social, ecological environment terraced rice
fields, which includes all of the watershed in Bali.
(3) Subak temple is a unique institution as an inspiration of
ritual tradition which has been done since the past
centuries in Bali. Various rituals are performed at subak
temple. It is a manifestation of the implementation of the
philosophy of Tri Hita Karana.
SUBAK PROBLEMS
• Land tax system
• Land conversion
• Water competition, pollution, and limitation
• Climate change
• Low agricultural income
• Limited land holding
• Others.
SUBAK INCOME
• Contribution from subak members
• Punishment payment
• Duck owners that release ducks after
harvesting
• Grant from government
• Others
