Mandailing Culture (1)

MANDAILING CULTURE: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

By Edi Nasution

PROLOGUE

Mandailing people or tribes living in the interior of the west coast of Sumatra Island. According to folklore is still alive in the midst of society until now, the origin of ‘Mandailing’ word is derived from the ‘Mande Hilang’ word (Minangkabau language) which means ‘missing mom’. Yet another version says that the name ‘Mandailing’ is derived from the ‘Mandala Holing’ word, is a kingdom which is estimated to have existed since the 12^th century. At that time, coverage ‘Mandala Holing’ empire stretching from ‘Portibi’ in ‘Padang Lawas’ to ‘Pidoli’ in ‘Mandailing Godang’. Related to this, people often refer to ‘Mandailing’ also said that for those ‘holing’ may have a significant sense, as stated in the following expression:

“… muda tartiop opat na

ni paspas naraco holing

ni ungkap buntil ni adat

ni suat dokdok ni hasalaan

ni dabu utang dohot baris …”

The traditional phrase on a more or less means, that to judge someone based upon the four conditions. If the four conditions have been met then ‘naraco holing’ (an emblem of the legal considerations fairest) cleared, subsequent visits customary provisions, measured the severity of the error, and then then punishment can be decided.

In addition, there are also ‘holing’ word in the phrase "surat tumbaga holing na so ra sasa", which means: "holing tumbaga letter which will never be delete". Perhaps the intent of the traditional expression is that the customs provisions (‘Surat Tumbaga Holing’) will remain a role model Mandailing people's lives forever.

In this connection, the terminology of ‘Mandailing’ contains two kinds of understanding are not the same, but the two are binding and integral, namely the sense of 'culture’ and 'region'. In terms of culture, ‘Mandailing’ is one ethnic group or tribe. As stated by Koentjaraningrat (1986), 'tribal' is a class of people who are bound by the consciousness and identity will be 'one culture’, while consciousness and identity was often (but not always) amplified by the 'unity of language’. While in terms of territory, ‘Mandailing’ is one particular area that is located in the District of Mandailing Natal (often called 'MADINA') - Province of North Sumatra. Region ('banua') Mandailing has certain limits and the majority of the population is tribal Mandailing. In line with the times and government in Indonesia, now covers only the area Mandailing 18 (eighteen) sub-districts, namely Batahan, Batang Natal, Bukit Malintang, Kotanopan, Gunung Sorik Marapi, Lingga Bayu, Muara Batang Gadis, Muarasipongi, Naga Juang, Panyabungan, Panyabungan Barat, Panyabungan Selatan, Panyabungan Timur, Panyabungan Utara, Siabu, Ulu Pungkut, Pakantan, Gunung Sorik Marapi, Ranto Baek, Sinunukan, Tambangan, and Huta Bargot.

Traditionally the ‘Mandailing’ divide their territory (often called ‘Tano Rura’ or ‘Tano Sere’) into two main parts, namely ‘Mandailing Godang’ (includes districts Panyabungan, Batang Natal, and Siabu), and ‘Mandailing Julu’ (includes Katanopan and Muarasipongi). Despite Mandailing zoning has traditionally been a major part of the two, but it may be said that the people who live in ‘Mandailing Godang’ and ‘Mandailing Julu’ still have mores (culture) are relatively similar. In the period before the independence of Indonesia on August 17, 1945, ‘Mandailing Godang’ region was under the rule of kings surnamed Nasution, while ‘Mandailing Julu’ territory ruled by kings surnamed Lubis.

Region (‘banua’) Mandailing now bounded with Angkola on the north by the border lies somewhere in the village named Simarongit in Sihepeng (Siabu). While its border with alternating Padang Bolak region was in a place called Rudang Sinabur. In the west lies Batang Natal border region is located in a place called Lingga Bayu. Mandailing southern region bounded by the borders Pasaman (Minangkabau) located in a place called Ranjo Batu. However, Mandailing borders with east region is unknown because people rarely mentioned.

No exaggeration to say that in fact very difficult to get past the history of tribal Mandailing. In this case, cultural Z. Pangaduan Lubis (1986) there explained, that although the tribal Mandailing have traditional script called 'surat tulak tulak' and is used to write the ancient scriptures called 'pustaha', but in 'pustaha' it general does not contain a historical record but rather on traditional medicine, the occult sciences, predictions about the good and bad times, as well as predictions about the dream. A number of 'pustaha' is stored Mandailing people as their ancestral heritage.

One of the ancient historical sources mention ‘Mandailing‘ is ‘Negarakertagama’ book written by Mpu Prapanca to record the Majapahit empire expansion into several regions outside Java. In the Canto (‘Kakawin’) XIII to the book noted that the expansion of Majapahit Mandailing to the ground around 1287 Saka (1365 AD). In the poem to the Kakawin XIII noted: "Lwir ning pranusa sakahawat ksoni ri Malaya, Ning Jambi mwang Palembang karitang i Teba len Dharmacraya Tumut, Kandis Kahwat Manangkabwa Siyak i ri i mwang Fellow Kampar Pane, Kampe Harw athawe Mandahiling i Tumihang parlak mwang i Barat" (word 'Teba' is written in the Kakawin not 'Toba' but 'Muara Tebo' in Jambi). In addition, there are also notes on genealogical descent (called 'tarombo') is probably the only source of historical origins Mandailing people in the past. In general, the Mandailing classify themselves into some 'marga' (clan), and each clan has always put themselves as descendants of an ancestor figure (called 'Ompu Parsadaan') of different origin. Ancestral figures a 'marga' are usually legendary, and they always put at the beginning of the genealogy ('tarombo'), respectively. With the 'tarombo', then any 'marga' in Mandailing can find out the origin and their descendants number to the present. In this case, the term 'marga' can be defined as "a group of people descended from a common ancestor and lineage reckoned through the male or father (patrilineal)". ‘Lubis’ and ‘Nasution’ clan has the largest number of people when compared with 'marga' another in Mandailing. ‘Lubis’ clan has a grandfather named with ‘Na Mora Pande Bosi’, who according to the legend was the grandson of a sea captain named ‘Angin Bugis’ from Sulu Island. While the grandfather of the clan Nasution with named ‘Si Baroar’. According to legend, ‘Si Baroar’ was baby found by ‘Sutan Pulungan’, was a king of Huta Bargot in Mandailing Godang. Another version of the story in the clan Nasution said that the first was the son of Raja Iskandar Muda of Pagaruyung, which in the past was the center of the 'Minangkabau kingdom'.

As has been pointed out above, that any 'marga' usually have a 'Ompu parsadaan' (ancestors) are the same. But there are also some 'marga' whose name is different, but have 'Ompu parsadaan' the same. Like Rangkuti and Parinduri clan have a common ancestor that is Mangaraja Sutan Pane, temporal Pulungan, Lubis and Harahap clan, their ancestors is Namora Pande Bosi. While clan Matondang, Daulae and Batu Bara have ancestors that as many as two siblings (brother and sister), ie Matondang and Daulae clan the lower by Parmato Sopiak, temporal Bitcu Raja was the ancestor of the Batu Bara clan. As for the names of the 'marga' in Mandailing people are: Hasibuan, Dalimunte, Mardia, Pulungan, Lubis, Nasution, Rangkuti, Parinduri, Daulae, Matondang, Batu Bara, Tanjung, Lintang, Mardia, and so on.

Temple ruins around Simangambat in Siabu are remnants of ancient history Mandailing. The old temple may include the remains of the oldest buildings in northern Sumatra Island because supposedly from the 8th and 9th century AD, which resembles the shape and ornamentation of the temple in Central Java native style. In addition, there are somewhere around in Pidoli (Panyabungan) called Saba Biara (biara-vihara). These monasteries in the present only a foundation course, which is buried in the rice field population. Meanwhile on the Sorik Marapi mountain in Maga advance, there are several pieces of ‘stone pillars’ that reads ancient Javanese script dated 9-9-1242. In ancient burial area called 'lobu' or 'huta lobu' can be found a stone sculpture called 'tagor'. According to old beliefs, 'tagor' can give a sign with a roar when something important happens in the royal family, for example if there is a ‘Raja’ (king) who will be death. In addition, in the four corners 'huta' (royal village area is also called 'banua') are usually ancient statues called 'pangulu balang', which in the past believed to maintain territorial integrity 'huta' ('banua') and will give a sign if there is anything that would disrupt the community.

Mandailing Godang region surrounded by mountains towering. In the middle of a convoy of several mountain was spread fairly extensive lowland temperate and hot. River called 'Batang Gadis', which is in the upper reaches Mandailing Julu across the region ('banua') Mandailing ranging from the southern and western parts down towards the north. Because the river water ('Batang Gadis' ) was once often hindered the flow towards the estuary called 'Singkuang' in the Indonesian Ocean, so that cause wetlands in lowland surrounded by the mountains. Mandailing Godang population then process them into rice fields are quite extensive and fertile, so the area (Mandailing Godang) is a granary in Mandailing. In addition to produce rice, the region also produces coconuts because much of the population utilizing the garden soil that is wide enough and the surrounding environment by planting coconut trees. While in the legs of the mountain and lands that are not used for rice fields planted with rubber trees populated. A few kilometers to the north, along the stream Batang Gadis found many banana trees and tubers belonging residents Huta Bargot, Saba Jior and Jambur Padang Matinggi.

Panyabungan long ago regarded as a fairly important place in Mandailing Godang. Panyabungan located in the middle of the fertile lowlands, thus attracting the interest of other villagers to move to Mandailing Godang in search of a better life as a farmer or trader. Such removals of people with the surname Lubis who founded a new settlement called Huta Lubis place about half a kilometer from Panyabungan. Until now, the Panyabungan consists of three main parts, namely upstream Panyabungan Julu, Panyabungan Tonga-Tonga in the middle, and Panyabungan Jae downstream. Panyabungan zoning as it adjusted to the direction of flow of a river named Aek Mata transverse direction Panyabungan, from east to west and empties into the Batang Gadis. In this connection, the Mandailing have a habit to divide and label the parts of a residential place them according to the direction of flow of the river that crosses their village.

Panyabungan Tonga-Tonga is a most important part in Mandailing Godang because Nasution clan groups believe that their ancestors Si Baroar first settled in the area. After being crowned the population becomes king, where Si Baroar given the title of Sutan Diaru. Until now there are 'Bagas Godang' (the royal palace) and 'Sopo Godang' (customary convention center) in Panyabungan Tonga-Tonga. From Panyabungan Tonga-Tonga, Si Baroar descent is then spread into the kings of the few 'huta' in Mandailing Godang region, among other things: Panyabungan Julu, Panyabungan Jae, Huta Siantar, Kayu Laut, Maga, and others.

In contrast to the region Mandailing Godang, although the area Mandailing Julu natural air cool, but this region is flanked by mountains that reach a height of 700 meters partly above sea level, so that the population can only cultivate paddy fields in the legs at the edge of the mountain and along the flow both Batang Gadis and Aek Pungkut river. Limitations of the paddy fields causing residents only can make rice plots are small and the stepped - stairs. Although the farmers are working hard at doing his farm, but because their area is narrow that it can not provide sufficient yields for food a year.

Mandailing Julu region that it turned out cool air is ideal for coffee plants introduced colonial Dutch the 19th century through regional cropping systems in Pakantan and Huta Godang (Ulu Pungkut). Since then, prior to the ‘Second World War’, the coffee that comes out of the ground Mandailing exported to America and Europe, so the coffee from Mandailing this eventually became quite well known internationally as ‘Mandailing Coffee’. In addition, residents also take advantage of the mountain slopes to plant 'gota' (rubber), 'congkeh' (clove) and 'ulit manis' (cinnamon) trees. While the palm trees that grow naturally in the area they serve tap water to 'gulo bargot' (brown sugar) is very well known in the province of North Sumatra. From the results of these perennials Mandailing Julu residents to earn extra income then buy rice and other necessities of life.

In Mandailing Julu found many traces left by the gold mining Agam (Minangkabau), such as around Huta Godang there is a place called 'garabak ni agom'. And the Netherlands has ever opened a gold mine near Muarasipongi. In addition, the upper reaches of the Batang Gadis river located in Gunung Kulabu near Pakantan the crossing region Mandailing ranging from south to north and empties into the Singkuang (west coast) anyway ores containing ‘sere’ (gold). At certain times in the Batang Gadis river until now population of many residents ordinary activities 'manggore' (‘gold panning’) as an additional livelihood mainly on 'period 'pacekelik' (called 'aleon'), which is when the price of coffee, cinnamon, clove and rubber down on the market. That's why, so 'Tano Rura' (Mandailing) also known as 'Tano Sere'.

Kotanopan is a ‘country little’ (‘negeri’) in Mandailing Julu that has significance for the Lubis clan groups. Because according to their belief, around a place that previously twin sons of Na Mora Pande Bosi, namely Si Langkitang and Si Baitang for the first time open to the settlements. This was done in accordance with the message of their father (Na Mora Pande Bosi), that if the odyssey to Mandailing Julu region, if later there they find a place where there are two conflicting river estuary, then that's the place they should open up a new colony. This location became known as the 'Muara Patontang', which is the meeting place of the estuary both ‘Aek Singengu and ‘Aek Singangir’ river the west from the east that face each other and the two boils down to the Batang Gadis river.

Furthermore, they named it ‘Muara Patontang’ it ‘Huta Panopaan’ which later became ‘Hutanopan’, which gradually became ‘Kotanopan’. From where Si Langkitang go to a place called ‘Singengu’, and then from this ‘Singengu’ descendants spread and become the kings of the surname Lubis in some villages such as Simpang Tolang, Sayurmaincat, mining and so on. Meanwhile his brother Si Baitang proceeded southwards. Later descendants are spread and become the kings of the surname Lubis in places like Manambin, Tamiang, Huta Dangka, Huta Pungkut, Huta Godang, Pakantan settlements and others. (EN)