Gugon Tuhon in Serat Tata Cara: The Myth of Dietary Recommendation and Restrictions for Pregnant Women

Abstract

During pregnancy, women are likely to gain knowledge on recommended and restricted foods, called as gugon tuhon, ruled according to the cultural environment. Several of the recommendations and restrictions are considered irrational in modern society. This article is aimed at revealing the meaning of gugon tuhon for pregnant women in the form of dietary recommendations and restrictions written in Serat Tata Cara by Ki Padmasusastra. The analysis combines qualitative method with Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutics theory and the concept of myth by Mircea Eliade to interpret messages embedded in literary works by cultural approach. Analysis results show that there are several dietary recommendations and restrictions for pregnant women in Javanese society. Gugon tuhon is constructed by the Javanese as a form of traditional surveillance. It represents some aspects of Javanese traditions still maintained until today. This article concludes that the dietary recommendations and restrictions for pregnant women are cannot be considered as mere myth as it can be explained in rational sense or read as the rationalization of the Javanese philosophy.