{"id":5744,"date":"2026-10-19T06:50:46","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T06:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/?p=5744"},"modified":"2026-10-19T06:50:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T06:50:52","slug":"barong-dance-bali","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/barong-dance-bali\/","title":{"rendered":"Barong Dance: Bali&#8217;s Story of Barong, Rangda and the Kris"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"aob-custom-article\">\n\n<div class=\"definition-box\"><p>Barong dance is a Balinese dance-drama in which Barong, the lion-like king of the spirits, fights Rangda, the demon queen of the leyaks. Wikipedia describes it as the eternal battle between good and evil, and the best-known staging includes a kris scene where entranced dancers turn their blades on themselves. This guide covers the characters, the story in order, the kris scene, the types of Barong, the costume, and how Barong paintings and masks in our gallery relate to the dance.<\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"highlight-inline\"><p><strong>Points cl\u00e9s \u00e0 retenir<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"quality-list\">\n<li>Per Wikipedia, the cast is Barong, Rangda, two playful monkeys, a priest, and male dancers who stand for King Airlangga&#8217;s soldiers.<\/li>\n<li>The story runs in four beats: monkeys tease Barong, Rangda casts black magic, the soldiers turn their kris on themselves, and Barong drives Rangda away.<\/li>\n<li>Britannica says two dancers bring Barong to life inside an ornately decorated harness, and that the figure&#8217;s magic is believed to sit in its beard, hung with frangipani flowers.<\/li>\n<li>Barong Ket, the lion form from the Gianyar region, is the most common type. Wikipedia lists five other Barongs, including the doll-like Barong Landung.<\/li>\n<li>Our gallery lists a Barong Dancing Painting (acrylic on velvet, 30 \u00d7 40 cm, Rp850,000) and a hand-carved Barong mask (20 cm, Rp1,850,000).<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"img-block\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/barong-ceremony-narrative-large-painting-bali-gallery-seminyak.webp\" alt=\"Barong dance scene in a painting: the lion Barong at the center of a crowded ceremony, in a white and gold frame\" width=\"1266\" height=\"704\" loading=\"eager\" title=\"- Arts of Bali\"><div class=\"img-meta\"><p class=\"caption\">A large traditional painting of a Barong ceremony crowd, shown as installed in the Arts of Bali gallery in Seminyak, in an ornate white and gold carved frame.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">The Basics<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">What Is Barong Dance? The King of Spirits Against the Witch Queen<\/h2>\n\n<p>Barong dance is the performance most visitors mean when they say they saw the Barong and Rangda in Bali, yet search for barong dance Bali and many results are tour operators and resort blogs. We carry Barong paintings and masks in the gallery, so we wanted the story on one page with every source named.<\/p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Barong_(mythology)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wikipedia&#8217;s Barong entry<\/a> describes Barong as a panther-like creature in Balinese culture, the king of the spirits and leader of the forces of good. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Barong-Balinese-mythology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Britannica<\/a> is more cautious about the animal: it says the masked figure usually represents an unidentified creature called keket. So the sources do not agree on what Barong is, and that is a useful warning for the rest of this guide.<\/p>\n\n<p>On the Barong meaning, Wikipedia says the word may come from the local <em>bahruang<\/em>, which matches the Indonesian <em>beruang<\/em>, bear. It also says Barong&#8217;s origins are far back and uncertain, possibly in animist worship before Hinduism. In Balinese belief, the spirit that animates Barong is Banas Pati Raja, the fourth spirit brother who accompanies a person through life, which Wikipedia compares to a guardian angel.<\/p>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">The Cast<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">Who Is Who: Barong and Rangda, the Monkeys, the Priest and the Soldiers<\/h2>\n\n<p>Wikipedia&#8217;s account of the dance names five groups of characters. If you only remember one pairing, make it Barong and Rangda, because the whole drama is built on their opposition.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cultural-cards\">\n<div class=\"cultural-card\"><h3>Barong<\/h3><p>The guardian figure, danced by two people inside one costume. Britannica calls him a symbol of health and good fortune.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"cultural-card\"><h3>Rangda<\/h3><p>The demon queen of the leyaks. Wikipedia says her name means widow in Old Javanese and links her to the witch Calon Arang.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"cultural-card\"><h3>The two monkeys<\/h3><p>Playful figures who open the story by teasing Barong in a peaceful setting, according to Wikipedia.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"cultural-card\"><h3>The priest<\/h3><p>Wikipedia says the priest joins Barong in casting the protective magic that keeps the entranced dancers safe.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"cultural-card\"><h3>The soldiers<\/h3><p>Male dancers who represent King Airlangga&#8217;s soldiers and become the targets of Rangda&#8217;s black magic.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Rangda deserves her own guide, and we wrote one. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/calon-arang-bali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Calon Arang<\/a> article tells the legend of the widow of Girah who became Rangda, and describes the trance ritual that grew out of it. Here we stay with Barong and the shape of the performance. For the wider set of sacred stories that painters draw on, see our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/peinture-de-la-mythologie-balinaise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Balinese mythology painting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">The Story<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">The Barong Dance Story, Scene by Scene<\/h2>\n\n<p>Performances differ from village to village, but Wikipedia gives a clear outline of the dance-drama.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"table-wrap comparison-table\"><table>\n<thead><tr><th>Scene<\/th><th>What happens<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>1. The opening<\/td><td>Two playful monkeys tease Barong in a peaceful setting.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>2. Rangda arrives<\/td><td>Rangda casts black magic on the male dancers, the soldiers of Airlangga.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>3. The kris dance<\/td><td>The entranced dancers stab at their own chests with their kris. Barong and the priest cast protective magic that makes them invulnerable.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>4. The finale<\/td><td>Barong defeats Rangda, who runs away, and the celestial order is restored.<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<p class=\"table-note\">Source: Wikipedia&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Barong_(mythology)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Barong (mythology)<\/a> entry, which also notes that the dance drama is called Calon Arang.<\/p>\n\n<p>One reading note. In this staging Rangda runs away, which sounds like a clean win. Our Calon Arang guide describes the confrontation as a balance that stays unresolved, not a victory. Both readings exist in the sources, so we present both.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"img-block portrait\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/barong-kris-devotee-scene-traditional-canvas-painting-bali.webp\" alt=\"Traditional painting of a red-faced Barong in gold ornament, a seated man at its side and a wild-haired figure behind\" width=\"896\" height=\"1057\" title=\"- Arts of Bali\"><div class=\"img-meta\"><p class=\"caption\">A traditional painting of Barong with attendants, from the Arts of Bali collection. Painters often show the dance as a crowded scene, not a single portrait.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">The Kris Scene<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">Kris Dance: The Scene Where the Blades Turn Inward<\/h2>\n\n<p>Search for kris dance, also spelled keris dance, and you will land on this moment. Britannica says the Barong dance-drama includes the famous kris dance, in which entranced performers turn their swords on themselves but emerge unharmed. Wikipedia places it in the middle of the story, right after Rangda&#8217;s magic takes hold of the soldiers and right before Barong&#8217;s protective magic answers it.<\/p>\n\n<p>We do not describe the trance itself, because we are not performers and the details belong to the people who carry them. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/calon-arang-bali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Calon Arang guide<\/a> covers what Balinese sources say about the ritual form, including the priest and holy water. For the blade itself, see our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/tumpek-landep-bali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tumpek Landep<\/a>, the holy day when keris are blessed.<\/p>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">The Types<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">The Balinese Barong Is Not One Animal: Six Forms<\/h2>\n\n<p>The lion-like Barong Ket is the most common, but a Balinese Barong can be several different creatures. Wikipedia lists the following, each modeled on a different animal or figure.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"table-wrap comparison-table\"><table>\n<thead><tr><th>Type<\/th><th>What Wikipedia says<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>Barong Ket (lion)<\/td><td>The most common type, from the Gianyar region. Headdress of carved leather, sliced with gold leaf and set with small mirrors.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Barong Bangkal<\/td><td>An old pig, a mythical animal of strength, made of velvet fabric. Paraded on Galungan and Kuningan.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Tiger Barong<\/td><td>A forest-dwelling tiger with velvet fur, linked to the Balinese tantri stories.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Dog Barong (asu)<\/td><td>A sacred form in Pacung, Tabanan, paraded mainly on Galungan and Kuningan.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Elephant Barong<\/td><td>Said to resemble an elephant from India, paraded around the village on Galungan and Kuningan.<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Barong Landung<\/td><td>Not worn by two dancers. A male and female doll, Jero Gede and Jero Luh.<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<p class=\"table-note\">Source: Wikipedia&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Barong_(mythology)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Barong (mythology)<\/a> entry. Other sources may name additional forms, and we only list what we could check.<\/p>\n\n<p>Two of these tie into pages we already have. The parades on Galungan and Kuningan are part of the festival we cover in our <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/galungan-bali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Galungan guide<\/a>, and the lion form ties into the wider story of the winged singa in our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/lion-symbolism-in-art\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">lion symbolism in art<\/a>. About Barong Ket specifically, Wikipedia adds that it has a red head, thick white fur, and gilded jewelry decorated with mirror pieces, and that it is often accompanied by two monkeys.<\/p>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">The Costume<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">Barong Ket and the Mask: Beard, Harness and Carved Face<\/h2>\n\n<p>Britannica gives the most useful single description of the costume. Two dancers bring Barong to life from inside an ornately decorated harness, and the mask has a beard of human hair decorated with frangipani flowers, which is where the figure&#8217;s magic power is believed to reside.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"img-block portrait\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/balinese-wood-carving-mask-barong-guardian-face.webp\" alt=\"Hand-carved natural wood Barong mask with fangs, bulging eyes and a tall carved crest, mounted on a black stand\" width=\"817\" height=\"1109\" title=\"- Arts of Bali\"><div class=\"img-meta\"><p class=\"caption\">A hand-carved Barong mask in natural wood, mounted on a stand, from the Arts of Bali collection.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<p>A decorative Barong mask like this one is a different object from the ceremonial costume. Ours is a collector&#8217;s piece, listed as an antique-style Barong Mas wooden mask, 20 cm, at Rp1,850,000. For how Barong faces are carved and what to look for, see our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/masque-balinais-sculpte-dans-le-bois\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Balinese wood carving masks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">Sacred or Show<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">Is Barong Dance Sacred or Entertainment?<\/h2>\n\n<p>Both, depending on the occasion. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Balinese_dance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wikipedia&#8217;s Balinese dance entry<\/a> sorts Balinese dance into three categories: wali for sacred dances, bebali for semi-sacred ones, and balih-balihan for entertainment dances. It lists Barong Ket Kuntisraya, from Badung, under balih-balihan, and says new choreographies have been created because of demand from tourists.<\/p>\n\n<p>The parades of Barong Bangkal, the dog Barong and the elephant Barong on Galungan and Kuningan are a different setting again. Britannica says Barong appears at times of celebration in Bali. So the same figure can appear in a staged show, in a festival parade, and in a ritual, and what you are watching depends on where you are standing.<\/p>\n\n<p>If Barong is your first Balinese dance, three others make good company. <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/kecak-dance-bali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kecak<\/a> is a chanting circle, <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/legong-dance-bali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">legong<\/a> is two dancers and a condong, and <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/baris-dance-bali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">baris<\/a> is a warrior in stance.<\/p>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">From Our Side<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">What We Know and What We Defer On<\/h2>\n\n<p>We are a gallery, not a dance school or a ticket desk. What we write here comes from the sources named in this post and from the pieces in our own collection. We do not list venues, times or ticket prices, because we could not verify them from the sources above and they change. On points of ritual and technique, we defer to the performers and teachers who carry the dance. If you spot something we should correct, tell us and we will fix it.<\/p>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">In the Gallery<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">The Barong Dancing Painting and Other Barong Pieces<\/h2>\n\n<p>The Barong Dancing Painting is listed as a 100% original artwork on velvet, painted with professional-grade acrylic using a texture technique, 30 \u00d7 40 cm, at Rp850,000. The listing does not name the painter, so we do not either. In the photograph, the gold-ornamented Barong with pale fur at both sides is set against a black velvet ground in a wooden frame.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"img-block portrait\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/barong-1.webp\" alt=\"Barong Dancing Painting, acrylic on velvet in a wooden frame: gold-ornamented Barong with white fur on a black ground\" width=\"1512\" height=\"1512\" title=\"- Arts of Bali\"><div class=\"img-meta\"><p class=\"caption\">The Barong Dancing Painting, original acrylic on velvet, 30 \u00d7 40 cm, at Arts of Bali.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"table-wrap comparison-table\"><table>\n<thead><tr><th>Piece<\/th><th>Details from the listing<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/galerie\/peinture-representant-une-danse-du-barong\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tableau repr\u00e9sentant la danse du Barong<\/a><\/td><td>Acrylic on velvet, texture technique, 30 \u00d7 40 cm, Rp850,000<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/galerie\/balinese-barong-mask-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Balinese Barong Mask<\/a><\/td><td>Hand-carved wood, antique-style Barong Mas, 20 cm, Rp1,850,000<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/galerie\/the-majestic-barong-sacred-guardian-spirit-palette-painting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Majestic Barong<\/a><\/td><td>Palette knife on marsoto canvas, 100 \u00d7 120 cm, Rp7,000,000<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/galerie\/the-mystic-barong-majesty-painting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">La majest\u00e9 mystique du Barong<\/a><\/td><td>Traditional palette technique on velvet, 85 \u00d7 135 cm, Rp8,000,000<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<p class=\"table-note\">Details are from the product listings, checked on 19 October 2026. Each is a single original piece, so price and availability can change. For how Barong is treated across styles, see our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/barong-painting-bali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Barong painting in Bali<\/a>, and for the wider tradition our <a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/peinture-de-la-mythologie-balinaise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Balinese mythology painting<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"cta-block\"><h3>Ask About a Barong Piece<\/h3><p>Tell us the wall or shelf you have in mind and we will send close-up photos, the exact size, and shipping options for the Barong Dancing Painting or the Barong mask. We ship worldwide.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/6285237454011\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"cta-btn\">Discuter sur WhatsApp<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/galerie\/peinture-representant-une-danse-du-barong\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"cta-btn outline\">View the Barong Dancing Painting<\/a><\/div>\n\n<span class=\"section-label\">Questions<\/span>\n<h2 class=\"section-h2\">Barong Dance FAQ<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"faq-section\">\n<details class=\"faq-item\"><summary class=\"faq-q\">What is the Barong dance?<\/summary><div class=\"faq-a\">The Barong dance is a Balinese dance-drama in which Barong, the king of the spirits and leader of the forces of good, fights Rangda, the demon queen of the leyaks. Wikipedia describes it as the eternal battle between good and evil. The story also includes monkeys, a priest, and soldiers.<\/div><\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\"><summary class=\"faq-q\">What is the story of the Barong dance?<\/summary><div class=\"faq-a\">Per Wikipedia, two playful monkeys tease Barong, then Rangda casts black magic on male dancers who stand for King Airlangga&#8217;s soldiers. In the kris dance they stab at their own chests while Barong and a priest protect them. Barong then defeats Rangda, who runs away, and order is restored.<\/div><\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\"><summary class=\"faq-q\">Who are Barong and Rangda?<\/summary><div class=\"faq-a\">Barong is the guardian king of the spirits, a lion-like or panther-like figure depending on the source. Rangda is the demon queen of the leyaks, whose name means widow in Old Javanese, according to Wikipedia. Wikipedia also links Rangda to the legendary witch Calon Arang. Together they form the central opposition of the dance.<\/div><\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\"><summary class=\"faq-q\">What happens in the kris dance?<\/summary><div class=\"faq-a\">In the kris dance, entranced performers turn their swords on themselves but emerge unharmed, according to Britannica. Wikipedia places it after Rangda&#8217;s black magic takes hold of the soldiers, with Barong and the priest casting protective magic that makes them invulnerable. We do not describe the trance beyond what these sources say.<\/div><\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\"><summary class=\"faq-q\">What is Barong Ket?<\/summary><div class=\"faq-a\">Barong Ket is the lion form of Barong and the most common type, from the Gianyar region, according to Wikipedia. It has a red head, thick white fur, and gilded jewelry set with small mirrors, and is often accompanied by two monkeys. The other types include the pig, tiger, dog, elephant, and the doll-like Barong Landung.<\/div><\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\"><summary class=\"faq-q\">Is the Barong dance sacred or entertainment?<\/summary><div class=\"faq-a\">It can be either. Wikipedia lists Barong Ket Kuntisraya under balih-balihan, the entertainment category, and notes new choreographies for tourists. Britannica says Barong appears at times of celebration, and some Barongs are paraded on Galungan and Kuningan. The same figure appears in staged shows, festival parades, and rituals.<\/div><\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\"><summary class=\"faq-q\">Who dances inside the Barong?<\/summary><div class=\"faq-a\">Two dancers, according to Britannica, who bring Barong to life from inside an ornately decorated harness. The mask has a beard of human hair decorated with frangipani flowers, where the figure&#8217;s magic power is believed to reside. The exception is Barong Landung, which Wikipedia describes as a male and female doll.<\/div><\/details>\n<details class=\"faq-item\"><summary class=\"faq-q\">Does Arts of Bali sell Barong paintings and masks?<\/summary><div class=\"faq-a\">Yes. The Barong Dancing Painting is an original acrylic on velvet, 30 \u00d7 40 cm, at Rp850,000, and the hand-carved Barong mask is 20 cm at Rp1,850,000. Larger Barong paintings are also listed. Each is a single original piece, so message us on WhatsApp to confirm availability. We ship worldwide.<\/div><\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"tag-row\"><a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/etiquette\/bali-culture\/\" class=\"tag\">Bali Culture<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/etiquette\/balinese-tradition\/\" class=\"tag\">Balinese Tradition<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/etiquette\/peinture-de-la-mythologie-balinaise\/\" class=\"tag\">Balinese Mythology Painting<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/etiquette\/barong-dance\/\" class=\"tag\">Barong Dance<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/#article\",\n            \"headline\": \"Barong Dance: Bali's Story of Barong, Rangda and the Kris\",\n            \"description\": \"Barong dance is Bali's dance-drama of Barong against Rangda. Learn the story scene by scene, the cast, the kris scene, Barong types and the costume.\",\n            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-10-20T00:00:00+00:00\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-10-20T00:00:00+00:00\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n            \"image\": {\n                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/#primaryimage\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/barong-ceremony-narrative-large-painting-bali-gallery-seminyak.webp\",\n                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/barong-ceremony-narrative-large-painting-bali-gallery-seminyak.webp\",\n                \"description\": \"Barong dance scene in a painting: the lion Barong at the center of a crowded ceremony, in a white and gold frame\",\n                \"name\": \"Barong ceremony painting in the Arts of Bali gallery, Seminyak\",\n                \"caption\": \"A large traditional painting of a Barong ceremony crowd, shown as installed in the Arts of Bali gallery in Seminyak.\",\n                \"creditText\": \"Arts of Bali\",\n                \"width\": 1266,\n                \"height\": 704,\n                \"representativeOfPage\": true\n            },\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Person\",\n                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/#herry\",\n                \"name\": \"Herry\",\n                \"jobTitle\": \"Content Team, Arts of Bali\",\n                \"description\": \"Member of the Arts of Bali team, Seminyak, researching and writing about Balinese art, mythology, and the gallery's collection.\",\n                \"worksFor\": {\n                    \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/#organization\"\n                }\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/#organization\",\n                \"name\": \"Arts of Bali\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\",\n                \"logo\": {\n                    \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/arts-of-bali-branding-identity-traditional-frangipani-logo.webp\",\n                    \"width\": 1600,\n                    \"height\": 480\n                }\n            },\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n                \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/\"\n            },\n            \"about\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Barong dance\",\n                    \"description\": \"A Balinese dance-drama in which Barong, the king of the spirits, fights the demon queen Rangda, with a kris scene in which entranced dancers turn their blades on themselves.\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Barong\",\n                    \"description\": \"The guardian king of the spirits in Balinese culture, danced by two people inside one costume.\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Rangda\",\n                    \"description\": \"The demon queen of the leyaks in Balinese mythology, linked to the legendary witch Calon Arang.\"\n                }\n            ],\n            \"mentions\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Place\",\n                    \"name\": \"Gianyar\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Place\",\n                    \"name\": \"Tabanan\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Place\",\n                    \"name\": \"Badung\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Barong Dancing Painting\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/gallery\\\/barong-dancing-painting\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"Balinese Barong Mask\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/gallery\\\/balinese-barong-mask-2\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"The Majestic Barong: Sacred Guardian Spirit Palette Painting\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/gallery\\\/the-majestic-barong-sacred-guardian-spirit-palette-painting\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n                    \"name\": \"The Mystic Barong Majesty Painting\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/gallery\\\/the-mystic-barong-majesty-painting\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Balinese Mythology Painting: Barong, Ramayana & Sacred Stories\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/balinese-mythology-painting\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Calon Arang: The Witch of Girah Behind Bali's Rangda and the Calonarang Dance\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/calon-arang-bali\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Barong Painting Bali: The Sacred Guardian Who Belongs on Your Wall\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-painting-bali\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Balinese Mask: Barong, Deity & Relief Panel Wood Carvings\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/balinese-wood-carving-mask\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Lion Symbolism in Art: Bali's Winged Singa and the Barong\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/lion-symbolism-in-art\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Galungan in Bali : The Festival Behind the Island's Most Recognizable Art and Symbols\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/galungan-bali\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Tumpek Landep: The Balinese Holy Day for Blessing Keris and Metal Tools\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/tumpek-landep-bali\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Kecak Dance: Bali's Ramayana Chant, Origins and Fire Scene\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/kecak-dance-bali\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Legong Dance: Bali's Classical Dance, Story and Costume\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/legong-dance-bali\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"CreativeWork\",\n                    \"name\": \"Baris Dance: Bali's Solo Warrior Performance\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/baris-dance-bali\\\/\"\n                }\n            ],\n            \"citation\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n                    \"name\": \"Barong (mythology), Wikipedia\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/en.wikipedia.org\\\/wiki\\\/Barong_(mythology)\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n                    \"name\": \"Rangda, Wikipedia\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/en.wikipedia.org\\\/wiki\\\/Rangda\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n                    \"name\": \"Balinese dance, Wikipedia\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/en.wikipedia.org\\\/wiki\\\/Balinese_dance\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n                    \"name\": \"Barong, Balinese mythology, Britannica\",\n                    \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.britannica.com\\\/topic\\\/Barong-Balinese-mythology\"\n                }\n            ],\n            \"articleSection\": \"Painting\",\n            \"keywords\": \"barong dance, barong dance bali, barong and rangda, balinese barong, kris dance, barong ket, barong meaning, barong mask\"\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/#faq\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What is the Barong dance?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"The Barong dance is a Balinese dance-drama in which Barong, the king of the spirits and leader of the forces of good, fights Rangda, the demon queen of the leyaks. Wikipedia describes it as the eternal battle between good and evil. The story also includes monkeys, a priest, and soldiers.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What is the story of the Barong dance?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Per Wikipedia, two playful monkeys tease Barong, then Rangda casts black magic on male dancers who stand for King Airlangga's soldiers. In the kris dance they stab at their own chests while Barong and a priest protect them. Barong then defeats Rangda, who runs away, and order is restored.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Who are Barong and Rangda?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Barong is the guardian king of the spirits, a lion-like or panther-like figure depending on the source. Rangda is the demon queen of the leyaks, whose name means widow in Old Javanese, according to Wikipedia. Wikipedia also links Rangda to the legendary witch Calon Arang. Together they form the central opposition of the dance.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What happens in the kris dance?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"In the kris dance, entranced performers turn their swords on themselves but emerge unharmed, according to Britannica. Wikipedia places it after Rangda's black magic takes hold of the soldiers, with Barong and the priest casting protective magic that makes them invulnerable. We do not describe the trance beyond what these sources say.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What is Barong Ket?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Barong Ket is the lion form of Barong and the most common type, from the Gianyar region, according to Wikipedia. It has a red head, thick white fur, and gilded jewelry set with small mirrors, and is often accompanied by two monkeys. The other types include the pig, tiger, dog, elephant, and the doll-like Barong Landung.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Is the Barong dance sacred or entertainment?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"It can be either. Wikipedia lists Barong Ket Kuntisraya under balih-balihan, the entertainment category, and notes new choreographies for tourists. Britannica says Barong appears at times of celebration, and some Barongs are paraded on Galungan and Kuningan. The same figure appears in staged shows, festival parades, and rituals.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Who dances inside the Barong?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Two dancers, according to Britannica, who bring Barong to life from inside an ornately decorated harness. The mask has a beard of human hair decorated with frangipani flowers, where the figure's magic power is believed to reside. The exception is Barong Landung, which Wikipedia describes as a male and female doll.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Does Arts of Bali sell Barong paintings and masks?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Yes. The Barong Dancing Painting is an original acrylic on velvet, 30 \\u00d7 40 cm, at Rp850,000, and the hand-carved Barong mask is 20 cm at Rp1,850,000. Larger Barong paintings are also listed. Each is a single original piece, so message us on WhatsApp to confirm availability. We ship worldwide.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n            \"itemListElement\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n                    \"position\": 1,\n                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n                    \"position\": 2,\n                    \"name\": \"Blog\",\n                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/blog\\\/\"\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n                    \"position\": 3,\n                    \"name\": \"Barong Dance\",\n                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/\"\n                }\n            ]\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/\",\n            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/\",\n            \"name\": \"Barong Dance: Bali's Story of Barong, Rangda and the Kris\",\n            \"description\": \"Barong dance is Bali's dance-drama of Barong against Rangda. Learn the story scene by scene, the cast, the kris scene, Barong types and the costume.\",\n            \"isPartOf\": {\n                \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/#website\",\n                \"name\": \"Arts of Bali\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\"\n            },\n            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/#primaryimage\"\n            },\n            \"breadcrumb\": {\n                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/artsofbali.com\\\/barong-dance-bali\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n            }\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Barong dance is a Balinese dance-drama in which Barong, the lion-like king of the spirits, fights Rangda, the demon queen of the leyaks. Wikipedia describes it as the eternal battle between good and evil, and the best-known staging includes a kris scene where entranced dancers turn their blades on themselves. This guide covers the characters, [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4755,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[161,225,160,336],"class_list":["post-5744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-painting","tag-bali-culture","tag-balinese-mythology-painting","tag-balinese-tradition","tag-barong-dance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5744"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5745,"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5744\/revisions\/5745"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsofbali.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}