Bali, Sekala and Niskala, Vol. 1: Essays on Religion, Ritual, and Art [Paperback]

Fred B. Eiseman Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1996

In Bali, what you see—sekala—is a colorful world of ceremony, ritual, dance, and drama. What you don't see—niskala—is the doctrine underlying the pageants, the code underlying the rites, and the magic underlying the dance. Bali: Sekala & Niskala explores both tangibles and intangibles in the realm of Balinese religion, ritual and performing arts.

“The best book on Bali for the serious visitor …”
“Has the freshness of personal experience.”
— Dr. Hildred Geertz, author of Kinship in Bali and professor of anthropology at Princeton University

“The editor can cheerfully recommend this book, which are absolutely crammed with unusual lore and information.”
— Dr. Frederick E. deBoer, editor of Bali Arts and Culture News

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Fred Eiseman's 28 years of experiences in Bali and his love of Balinese culture prompted him to write this book.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: Periplus Editions (December 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945971036
• ISBN-13: 978-0945971030
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #781,767 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The devil's in the detail, August 23, 2003

By 

[e-mail] (Ubud, Bali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bali, Sekala and Niskala, Vol. 1: Essays on Religion, Ritual, and Art (Paperback)

I am Balinese and live in Ubud in the cultural center of Bali.

In the Eighties I used to see Fred Eiseman, with a notebook and pen in his hand, at temple ceremonies all over the island, and in my restaurant, taking voluminous notes. I often wondered what he was up to.

Now I know. He has produced the most detailed descriptions yet of most aspects of Balinese life and culture. He lives down in Jimbaran on the south coast, so many of his descriptions relate particularly to that area - practices change a bit in different places.

He understands the Balinese language, which is not the case with many academics, who visit Bali briefly and write learned treatises, and don't always get it right.

Fred's book is extremely well researched, and my only criticism is the detail (in places) and the repetition. That is because the book is a collection of essays. It does mean, however, that you can dip in and out of any chapter. They are self-contained, and that is useful.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exhaustive Explanations of Balinese Thought, June 17, 2000

By 

Renee Thorpe (Karangasem, Bali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bali, Sekala and Niskala, Vol. 1: Essays on Religion, Ritual, and Art (Paperback)

A compilation of essays about Balinese religion and culture, author sometimes ends up repeating himself (though he does warn the reader of this, right off the bat). But it's really a wonderful volume for anyone who wants an in-depth understanding of the Balinese.

Eiseman is thorough in his detail, but the style is not at all dry and academic. There are lovely little personal anecdotes, and it really comes from the heart of a man who has spent much of his life in Bali.

Cosmology and religion are covered in this volume, such as an explanation of how a home is built with respect to cosmic forces and directions. There is a valuable guide to festivals, complete with calendar. Especially fun is Balinese astrology, and the author writes extensively about this.

A possible approach: read the Lonely Planet cultural section first, then go to Bali, then read Eiseman.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The better of a 2-part series on Balinese daily life., May 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bali, Sekala and Niskala, Vol. 1: Essays on Religion, Ritual, and Art (Paperback)

Although it won't tell you where to stay or which restaurant to visit, the book is a great, unpretensious guide to the elaborate daily rituals of the Balinese, written by an American who's developed something of an obsession with Bali. It offers the clearest descriptions available of mask making, Balinese dance, temple rituals and offerings. The book is so good you'll find it on every coffee table in Bali.