Barong
Barong is the lion-like guardian spirit of Bali, embodiment of protective goodness. In ritual dance he battles the witch Rangda, showing cosmic balance between harm and harmony as villagers join in trance to maintain order.
Story beats
- 1) Villagers summon Barong with gamelan music and offerings; masked dancers bring him forth.
- 2) Rangda, plague-bringing witch, unleashes chaos; Barong blocks her spells and keris-wielding followers enter trance.
- 3) Neither side wins outright—the dance ends in stalemate, maintaining balance between destructive and protective forces.
- 4) Processions carry Barong through villages for blessing and cleansing, renewing communal ties.
Context & symbolism
Barong vs. Rangda dramatizes Rwa Bhineda, the Balinese principle of duality. Protection requires ongoing ritual, not permanent victory; community participation keeps harmony alive.
The lion-barong mask and costumes root the spirit in place and craft, each village tending its own Barong lineage.
Motifs
- Furred lion-dragon mask and long body
- Gamelan-driven trance dance
- Stalemate with Rangda as cosmic balance
- Processional blessings through town
Use it in play
- Escort a Barong procession threatened by outsiders; keep the rhythm unbroken.
- Appease a Rangda-like curse by restoring Barong’s lost mask.
- Join a trance dance to repel a plague spirit; success depends on shared focus.
- Balance forces: neither kill the witch nor neglect ritual, but maintain harmony.