Comparative study of inheritance system in Korean and Javanese societies

Abstract

Inheritance in the family is the common process happening in all societies. Patriarchal and matriarchal societies have their own rule in the allotting family properties. This research examined the characteristics of the male-dominated society, in Korean and Javanese societies with purpose to find the similarities and dissimilarities between two societies that have different backgrounds and different culture, but still connected with the same factor, male-dominated societies. With purpose to find it, field research was conducted in some places in Korea and Yogyakarta, Indonesia by interviewing the people in two societies. Confucianism is deeply rooted to the Korean society especially in rural area, the eldest son gets the priority in the allotment of inheritance properties. But, the Korean civil law regulates that all of heirs of the family get the same right in the family. On other side, Javanese society with its long history has been experiencing culture changes. In the inheritance system, Javanese people have common pattern in the allotting inheritance fortunes in the family based on Islamic law, which is the concept of “sepikul segendongan”. But as a part of Indonesian citizen, Javanese also must consider Indonesian civil law as official law in Indonesia, in term of inheritance allotment. It seems that in the allotment of the inheritance fortunes, people in those societies follow the pattern mentioned above. Still, male heirs have more advantages than female heirs. It is understandable that in male-dominated family, male is more superior to female.