In the eleventh century, a woman named Calon Arang lived on the Island of Bali. She had once been a queen and was said to possess powerful magic.

However, her husband, the king, eventually discovered that she was a sorceress and consequently banished her to the forest. Following his death, Calon Arang was left a widow.

While living in the forest, she gave birth to a daughter. The girl grew into a beautiful young woman, but no one asked for her hand in marriage because people feared she was the daughter of a witch.

"Why does no one come? My daughter is so beautiful."

Her sadness slowly turned to anger, and her anger became hatred. Calon Arang gathered her followers and sent disease across the kingdom of Java.

"My son... I will destroy your kingdom."

Disease spread through the villages, and people began to die. Backed into a corner, the son sought the assistance of a high priest. Following a fierce confrontation, the high priest invoked the power of an incarnation and ultimately defeated Calong Arang.

That is the story told in the Calon Arang play.

During the performance, Calon Arang transforms into the terrifying witch known as Rangda.

Although Rangda is defeated, her story continues in another performance: the Barong dance.

Please direct your attention to the masks displayed before you. These are the two masks used in that dance.

The two masks before you are used in that dance. On the left is Barong, the sacred creature, with his golden, lovable lion-like face and gentle expression. Beside him is Rangda, with long black hair, cascading like a waterfall—an unsettling witch who has a flame-like tongue.

Barong is a symbol of the power that protects people. In contrast, Rangda has long been feared as a malevolent force, associated with illness, death, terror, and calamity.

Barong represents the power that protects people. Rangda represents disease, death, fear, and disaster.

Yet the people of Bali do not see Rangda as an embodiment of evil.

Although she is feared for bringing sickness and death, she is also believed to have the power to heal and protect.

She embodies both fear and salvation, as well as destruction and renewal.

This may seem contradictory, but in the Balinese view of the world, it is perfectly natural.

Perhaps the same is true of the human heart. We all carry kindness and anger, compassion and jealousy.

No one lives only in the light, and no one can completely erase their own shadows.

That is why the Barong dance has no final winner. The struggle itself is part of the balance of the world.

The battle between Barong and Rangda is not simply an old story from a distant island. Perhaps it instead symbolizes an enduring struggle that continues within every one of us.

Audio provided by: Sayaka Inaba