In some Javanese families, the calculation of fate does not begin with constellations, but with the day of birth. When important plans are discussed, the question that arises is not about zodiac signs, but rather, “What is their weton?”
This question refers to the combination of the weekday and the pasaran (the five-day market cycle) on which a person was born. This information is usually recorded early in life and carefully preserved in family records. For many families, these numbers serve as a reference when determining the timing of certain events, ranging from ceremonial occasions to family moments considered significant.
The practice takes place within the domestic sphere, passed down across generations, and continues even though modern calendars have long become the general standard.
Numbers Recorded from Birth
Weton is calculated by adding the numerical value of the weekday and the numerical value of the pasaran in the Javanese calendrical system. These values are called neptu, fixed numbers assigned to each day of the seven-day week and each pasaran in the five-day cycle. The numbers never change and form the basis of all calculations.
Neptu of Weekdays
| Day | Value |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 5 |
| Monday | 4 |
| Tuesday | 3 |
| Wednesday | 7 |
| Thursday | 8 |
| Friday | 6 |
| Saturday | 9 |
Neptu of Pasaran
| Pasaran | Value |
|---|---|
| Legi | 5 |
| Pahing | 9 |
| Pon | 7 |
| Wage | 4 |
| Kliwon | 8 |
The calculation is straightforward: the value of the weekday is added to the value of the pasaran. If someone was born on Monday Pahing, the result is 4 + 9 = 13. If born on Saturday Legi, the result is 9 + 5 = 14. This total is what is called the weton.
Weton data is usually recorded alongside the birth date. In many families, this information is kept as part of domestic archives and passed down from one generation to the next.
Many parents and grandparents can remember the names of family members without consulting written records. As the values are consistent, the system can be referenced easily whenever needed.
The structure is fixed: Sunday is always 5, Pahing is always 9. There are no adjustments or changes. This certainty is what allows weton to remain relevant as a traditional reference, even as global calendrical systems have become the administrative standard.
Consulted When Discussing Important Moments
The use of weton typically emerges when families discuss the timing of an event. The pre-calculated values are then matched against proposed dates. This process becomes part of a family discussion rather than a unilateral decision.
In some families, certain dates are avoided if they are considered misaligned with a person’s weton. When the calculation is deemed unfavorable, another day is usually chosen instead. Dates regarded as unsuitable are not used to initiate activities considered important, while days seen as harmonious are prioritized.
Even as daily life now runs on digital calendars and global dating systems, the recording of weekdays and pasaran is still maintained. Two systems coexist: the Gregorian calendar for administrative needs, and weton for traditional considerations.
