A Brief Introduction to

Bali’s ‘Subak’ System:

A World Heritage
Agricultural System
I N D I R A D W I I M A R A / 2 1 H M 5 4 0 1

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Bali, the Island of Paradise
• Bali is an island in Indonesia that still upholds
traditional customs, derived from the ancestors. Hindu is
the belief of the majority, affecting many of the customs
of the people.

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 Savanti (2019)
Introduction of ‘Subak’ Kec. Buleleng (2021)

• ‘Subak’ is taken from Balinese language, which basically means

a system to manage water in the form of irrigation.

• It is also considered as the manifestation of Balinese’s way of

life, a philosophy called ‘Tri Hita Karana’.

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Tri Hita Karana (THK) Concept
• Consisted of 3 words, “Tri” (three), “Hita”
(happiness/prosperity), and “Karana” (cause).

• Rosilawati et. al (2020): THK provides

guidance for human behaviors in three
important relationships in their lives.

• This concept is adapted inside the traditional

rules called Awig-awig:

1. How Subak is managed and utilized,

2. How the farmers of Subak behave (krama).

Image credit: Rosilawati et. al (2020)

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 Kec. Buleleng (2021):
“Pura Ulun Carik” or “Pura Bedugul”: built to
worship Dewi Sri (goddess of fertility and
prosperity).

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The ‘Subak’ Irrigation System Image credit: Suputra (2008)

• The whole system ensures that every farmer gets the

same amount of water for their field.

• The irrigation system (based on Suputra 2008) is

consisted of:
1. Empelan/empangan: source of water (dams, lakes)

2. Bungas/buka: intakes

3. Aungan: tunnels

4. Telabah aya (gede): main stream

5. Tembuku aya (gede): a water-divider building.

6. Stream branches:

1. Telabah tempek (munduk/dahanan/kanca)

2. Telabah cerik

3. Telabah panyacah (tali kunda) Image credit: id.hotels.com

Image credit: kniu.kemdikbud.go.id Image credit: buleleng.bulelengkab.go.id

Image
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credit: id.hotels.com
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UNESCO’S Heritages of Subak
1. Pura Ulun Danu Batur
(a water temple). 1

2. Subak landscape at the

Pakerisan watershed.

3. Subak landscape at the

Catur Angga Batukaru,
Jatiluwih.

4. Pura Taman Ayun (a

water temple).

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UNESCO’S Heritages of Subak
1. Pura Ulun Danu Batur
(a water temple). 2

2. Subak landscape at the

Pakerisan watershed.

3. Subak landscape at the

Catur Angga Batukaru,
Jatiluwih.

4. Pura Taman Ayun (a

water temple).

Image credit: republika.co.id

UNESCO’S Heritages of Subak
1. Pura Ulun Danu Batur
(a water temple). 3

2. Subak landscape at the

Pakerisan watershed.

3. Subak landscape at the

Catur Angga Batukaru,
Jatiluwih.

4. Pura Taman Ayun (a

water temple).

Image credit: netralnews.com

UNESCO’S Heritages of Subak
1. Pura Ulun Danu Batur
(a water temple). 4

2. Subak landscape at the

Pakerisan watershed.

3. Subak landscape at the

Catur Angga Batukaru,
Jatiluwih.

4. Pura Taman Ayun (a

water temple).

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 THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING!

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Bibliography
• Kecamatan Buleleng (Kec. Buleleng). 2019. Sistem irigasi Subak Bali, Indonesia, metode pengairan
sawah tradisional di Bali yang terkenal dan ditetapkan oleh UNESCO sebagai warisan budaya dunia.
http://buleleng.bulelengkab.go.id.

• Rosilawati Y. 2020. The role of local Balinese culture amongst sustainable communities in preservation
efforts of Ayung River. International Journal of Sustainable Society XII(2): 93-109.

• Savanti D. 2019. Manifestasi filosofi Tri Hita Karana dalam system Subak Bali sebagai warisan dunia.
http://kniu.kemdikbud.go.id.

• Suputra, IK. 2008. Efektivitas Pengelolaan Sumber Air untuk Kebutuhan Air Irigasi Subak di Kota
Denpasar [Thesis]. Bali (ID): Universitas Udayana.