The Sundanese are an Austronesian-speaking ethnic group native to the western third of the Indonesian island of Java whose identity is built from a long history, distinctive language and script, rich arts, and a strong regional culture that remains visible in both villages and cities. Geographically they are concentrated in what today is West Java (and parts of Banten), with major urban centers such as Bandung serving as cultural and economic hubs; historically they trace their roots through pre-modern polities such as the Sunda Kingdom and centuries of interaction with other Javanese and maritime Indonesian societies. Linguistically they speak Sundanese (a language in the Austronesian family) in a number of regional dialects; while everyday writing now commonly uses the Latin alphabet, an indigenous Sundanese script survives in historical inscriptions and has seen cultural revival efforts. Religion is predominantly Sunni Islam, but local adat (customary) practices and pre-Islamic beliefs have left durable marks on social rituals, life-cycle ceremonies, and village governance. Sundanese social values emphasize harmony, modesty, and mutual care—expressed in sayings and communal forms of assistance—and family and neighborhood networks remain important, even as many Sundanese move to cities for education and work. Their material culture and economy are mixed: traditional livelihoods center on rice and vegetable agriculture, tea and coffee in highland plantations, and small-scale crafts, while modern Sundanese increasingly work in industry, services, and the creative sectors (textiles, design and culinary businesses) especially around Bandung. The arts are a particularly visible trait—Sundanese music uses bamboo instruments (most famously the angklung), the plucked zither (kacapi) and bamboo flute (suling), and gamelan degung ensembles; dance forms such as jaipongan and theatrical traditions like wayang golek (rod puppetry) are both popular local entertainment and vehicles for storytelling and social commentary. Cuisine leans toward fresh, vegetable-forward dishes and bold condiments: salads like karedok and lotek (raw or blanched vegetables with peanut sauce), nasi timbel and simple grilled meats such as sate maranggi, plus fermented snacks like peuyeum reflect local tastes and agrarian ingredients. Architecturally and aesthetically there are vernacular building styles, bamboo and weaving crafts, and a visual culture that prizes understated elegance. Contemporary Sundanese identity is dynamic—rooted in village adat and regional language yet adaptive in urban, national, and transnational contexts—so you’ll find traditional ceremonies and folk arts thriving alongside modern education, political participation, and cultural entrepreneurship, making the Sundanese a living, evolving people whose local customs and creative expressions continue to shape Indonesia’s broader cultural landscape.
