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Jailangkung is a traditional Nusantara game. This supernatural game is commonly used as a ritual to summon or communicate paranormal entities. The medium used to hold the spirit is a tabo (usually made from coconut shell) that is dressed and has a wooden handle attached underneath the tabo to resemble a doll.

The term is suspected to be related to extinct Chinese folk religion. This practice is about the existing power of Cay Lan Gong ("菜篮公", basket deity) and Cay Lan Tse, also known as "Poyang" and "Moyang", who are believed to be children guardian. This game is known to be played by teenagers during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

History
In the ritual, players summoned the spirits of "Poyang" and "Moyang" into the doll whose hands could be moved. By the end of the doll's wooden hands were tied with a writing implement, usually chalk. The doll is also dressed in human's clothing, wrapped with a key, faced towards a writing board whilst an incense is lit throughout the game. It is also believed that when the doll becomes heavier, it has been possessed and will nod to sign that it is ready or not to converse. The spirits would write answers onto the board provided.

This practice of Cay Lan Gong itself is already extinct in China. However, the name and ritual are then absorbed into the Indonesian language as Jailangkung and. It remains alive until this day because of Nusantara and China's relationship that has been going on for thousands of years. In Nusantara, still as gameplay for children, Jailangkung is usually held by two children and guided by a diviner to summon the spirit using chants. This ritual in Indonesia's development began to be used for things other than mere games, such as to seek information about disease diagnosis and treatment by non-conventional health practitioners.

Java Version
The Jailangkung game is known as “Nini Thowong” or “Nini Thowok” by the Javanese. Not only is it known as a traditional children's game, but it is also done as an effort to protect the village's safety and Wuku (Balinese Calendar) rejection. For this purpose, this ritual is performed by adults, not small children. This Javanese version of Jailangkung can also be played using a pair of compasses. Especially on the island of Java, this version of the game was previously played on villages using a scarecrow as the medium to summon the spirits.

Minangkabau Version
A similar ritual known to the Minangkabau people is called "Lukah Gilo". This game developed as an art performance in Lumpo Timur Village, Ampel Balai Juran District, South Pesisir Regency. A diviner plays this show or commonly referred to as "Dukun Lukah", with one to four people holding onto the "lukah".

"Lukah" is a tool for catching freshwater fish made of woven bamboo, which resembles a flower vase. This vase is then used for Lukah Gilo's performances by dressing him as a puppet as in Cay Lan Gong's play. Its hands are made of straight wood or bamboo, and the head is made of pumpkin or coconut shell. The "Lukah" is also dressed in clothes, shawl, corset, and the face is painted like a woman.

The diviner will then whisper a spell on the "Lukah" that causes him to go "mad" as he will not be able to stand still, moving here and there. The movement intensifies each time the diviner casts a spell. The spectacle of the show is the players who hold the knot. They will be carried away here and there as the "Lukah" gets "crazier", Audience will cheer on the players to enliven the atmosphere. Its movement will only stop only when the diviner stops chanting or if someone attaches the "Ijok", which is inside the lukah's tail.

This "Lukah Gilo" performance is usually performed at weddings or special events held by the local Minangkabau community. Performing times are generally performed at night which is believed to be easier to summon spirits.

Gameplay
Usually, Jailangkung needs three people to perform the game: two people holding the Jelangkung doll and a diviner reading a spell. This game takes place in dust in areas that are believed to be haunted. Like the original Cay Lan Gong, this game is commonly played in groups during the bright moon. When the spirit comes, the entity will introduce itself and converse with writing instruments. Questions asked vary, such as the ghost's identity, what year it died and the cause of death, even often about future fortunes and lucky numbers in gambling.

In its development, the game becomes simpler. It can be done simply using a compass with a drawing of a circle and alphabet letters drawn on the paper, accompanied by a simple mantra.

This game also has various language versions, the indonesian version of the spells are:"Jelangkung jelangsat, Di sini ada pesta, Pesta kecil-kecilan, Jelangkung jelangsat, Datang tidak diundang, Pergi tidak diantar." These words are pronounced many times, and after spirits are believed to have entered the doll, the player can ask whatever they want. The question will be answered with the stationery tied under the doll.

Because of its nature in the form of a ritual that calls and communicates with spirits, Jailangkung which initially is just a mere game then develops into ghost myths or possessions as revenge for people playing it. These myths generally are if the game ends without the player taking off or bidding goodbye to the spirits that enter the doll, the spirits will be angry and cause troubles for the players.

Adaptation
The uniqueness of Jailangkung has been adapted as a theme of fiction, such as:


 * Jelangkung (2001)
 * Tusuk Jelangkung (2003)
 * Jelangkung 3 (2007)
 * Kalung Jailangkung (2011)
 * Tumbal Jailangkung (2011)
 * Jailangkung (2017)