Sumatra
Jembalang
Elemental / Demonic Danger 4 of 5 · Dangerous
- Form
- Earth demon
- Origin
- Malay earth demon of wild places, the untamed counterpart invoked when land is cleared; a jembalang tanah must be propitiated before any digging or building.
- Behavior
- Attacks or sickens those who clear land, dig wells or build without permission.
- Deterrents and vulnerabilities
- Permission rites and offerings led by a pawang before work begins.
- Diet
- Non-consumptive
- Culture
- Malay
- Region
- Sumatra
- Sampling
- Added in dataset v3–v5; first placed on a tree here.
Coded characters
◆ New entry coded by folklore synthesis. Sex: Unspecified.
| Human-like | Humanoid, witch, or human spirit |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male, unspecified, or variable |
| Death or birth origin | Not death or birth related |
| Incorporeal | Ghost, spirit, or undead |
| Flight | Grounded |
| Burial | None or weak |
| Children | None |
| Blood and organs | Targets blood, flesh, or organs |
| Theft and mischief | None |
| Hair or fur | None |
| Animal form | None |
| Detached head | None |
| Fire or light | None |
| Water | None |
| Forest | None |
| Settlement | Village, house, hospital, or road |
| Black magic | Black magic or witchcraft central |
| Widespread | Localized |
| Body plan | Humanoid spirit |
| Diet | Non-consumptive |
Nearest on the tree
Identical coding to Jin Tanah, Hantu Yauw, Setan Gundul, so the tree cannot separate them.
