The Busty Ghost Of Nusantara (Hantu Kopek)

 

An illustration of Hantu Kopek

 

In old Malay folk beliefs, the Hantu Kopek is a type of ghost that likes to disturb human beings especially the kids. The word ‘kopek’ itself refers to ‘breasts’. So this would be a ‘sexy’ and ‘busty’ ghost literally. Before your imagination run wild, please keep cool and let me finish the story.

 

Legend has it that Hantu Kopek normally appear in the form of an old lady who has a liking to hide kids who refuse to go home during Maghrib time at the back of her pair of big and dangling breasts. In another version of story, Hantu Kopek is described as having a grayish body and fond of blood and children! Some of the tales linked Hantu Kopek to be an old witch known as Rangda in Balinese folklore:

 

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It is said that the victims hide by Hantu Kopek can see their rescuers but not the other way round. In old days, old folks always advise the young, especially the handsome lads not to wander outside of the house when the weather is a little misty or at dusk because the chances for rediscover them would be quite slim.

 

Yet another story I heard is that Hantu Kopek has the appearance of an extremely ugly naked old long hair lady with black and white complexion who like to hide behind a huge tree beside small lane in the dead of the night. It also has long and sharp nails holding a piece of white ‘kafan’ cloth in its hands signifying death. It is also said that the Hantu Kopek’s breasts dangle down to its navel while some people believe Hantu Kopek’s breasts are actually situated at its back!

 

Whatever the case may be, Hantu Kopek likes to hide behind a large tree beside a lonely lane in the mid of the night waiting for its victims whoever they may be. When an unlucky person passes by the tree where Hantu Kopek is hiding, it will swing her pair of large breasts to knock the victim down to ground. If that is not enough to knock the person out cold, the ghost will strike with its huge breasts again until the person fell unconscious.

 

According to old folks, if children are believed to fall victim to Hantu Kopek, the best way to find them would be by striking gongs loudly. It is believed that by doing so, the Hantu Kopek would start dancing to the rhythm and this cause the victims who are hid behind the Hantu Kopek’s breasts to fall onto the ground. In this case, victims would normally appear as if from nowhere such as behind doors, behind trees and in dimly lighted places.

 

The above method has undergone some changes with the spread of Islam in Nusantara, instead of hitting gongs; Muslims would perform Azan calls three to seven times to force Hantu Kopek to release the victims from its hideout in swampy areas or bamboo bush.