The Tribe History of Toraja

That said, the Toraja people are human ancestors who came from nirvana.

This legend tells that the ancestors of the Toraja people down from nirvana using the "ladder of heaven" which then serves as a medium of communication with Puang Matua (God Almighty). But an anthropologist said that the Toraja society is the result of the acculturation process among local residents who lived in the mainland of South Sulawesi, with immigrant from the Tongkin Gulf (mainland China). The process of acculturation between these societies originated from Indo Chinese immigrants landed in considerable amounts in the vicinity of the headwaters area of Enrekang. then These immigrants build settlements in the area.Toraja name originally given by the Buginess, the words To Riaja which means "one who dwells in the land above or mountains". There is also another version that says the name comes from the word Toraya. To mean people or "person", Raya of Maraya word meaning "great". So Toraya means great men or nobles. Over time, the mention become Toraja. And Tana word meaning country, finally the habitation was known then by the Tana Toraja

Natural Environment Location

This is the most appropriate place to enjoy nature with all your heart. Tana Toraja offers natural charm that can be enjoyed with the ways of modern man, ie, with leisure and overnight at the venue.

The long journey, almost eight hours from Makassar. But in every corner, this heart be comforted by the beauty that was never the same. Starting from the high seas, kapok tree line, karst hills, green fields, clear rivers, unique houses , up to the beauty of Nona Mounten. Not later then, Tator tip caught by the eye.
Exotic blend of green hills with jagged ridges and rocky cliffs erect robust challenge. This is the beginning of the real charm of Tana Toraja. So many towering rocky hills, scattered in the expanse of hills and woods, as if to preach that beauty is God's grace in this area.

Various tongkonan, namely Toraja traditional house, can still be seen. Take a look at the details. In front of each tongkonan always seen the composition of buffalo horns arranged. Number of horns in the beginning indicate the number of buffalo that have been sacrificed. The larger and long horns, the more higher social status the owner's family. But along with the times, not all of the horn could be placed on the stake it upright.

Understandably, this custom has been carried out dozens or even hundreds of years, while the pole can only accommodate 10 to 40 horns, so the other horn was forced to be stored only in the family barn. Besides a large and beautiful tongkonan, another sign that symbolizes the prosperity of a family is the rice granary of ownership which is also located in front of the house. More and more the amount of rice granary, the higher the social status of the family.

Language

Generally, toraja people use only one local language. The language they speak is Bahasa Toraja, for people who are far away from the city more widely used indigenous language Toraja. Most are also using the Indonesian language and for tourists who come to visit the tourist attractions will led by their own guide (tour guide).


Knowledge Systems

In Tanah Toraja, there are some arts that can provide an indirect knowledge about customs and traditions as well as knowledge of the history of Tanah Toraja. one of them is Rambu Tuka' ceremony.

Thanksgiving ceremony or Rambu Tuka ', among others, is the marriage ceremony, as well as for safety house (building houses, renovating
or entering a new house). Ceremony for safety house is also called the dedication ceremony of the house. Ceremonies of this type should be carried out early morning and is expected to finish in the afternoon. Cutting animal sacrifice is also done, but the number was not as much during the ceremony of death. It also caused many deaths on the assumption that the funeral ceremony in Tana Toraja was more festive than any other ceremony.

Livelihood

The crafters machetes in all regions of the Toraja. But if you want to see the manufacturing process, then the day came on the market (6 days) that was held in Rantepao. The market day is the largest market in Toraja, with trading privileges buffalo and pigs are very large.

Vast terrain that holds water buffalo with the seller side by side with the stalls of the craftsmen machete. Making the system fast enough traditional machetes workmanship can be seen here. You can also find craftsmen in the village of La'bo', Kelurahan Sanggalangi' (canal direction Kete' kesu), which in addition to farming, they also create a machete and they will gladly show you how to manufacture.

Of course, as a sense of gratitude, should your reward in the form of tips (min. USD. 10.000, -) for the demonstration that they serve, or began to attack purchase price of approximately Rp. 65.000, -. But it must be admitted, machetes and swords that are sold in more subtle permanent market Rantepao homemade, of course the price is more varied, according to the model, size and motifs have

Art

What a gift that not only the tradition and stunning natural Toraja, for in the daily life of the soul of art radiated looked strong from Toraja population. So that was weird in the township as well as places of burial sights, always seen some craft center that offers a taste of art itself.

The art is in Toraja include
Ikat Weaving. Village To 'Barana' in Sa'dang, where still visible a few old ladies are busy spinning and weaving cotton yarn. Persistence of the old woman's unfortunately going to become extinct if not followed by young people. It must be recognized weaving skills require more patience, because the process is using a traditional tool and takes a long time, could take months to make a long and beautiful Woven fabrics. Woven fabrics are rather wide and can be used for scarves and wall hangings valued at around Rp. 75,000,
Wood carving. Tau' sculptor-tau 'in large and small size, and a variety of carvings can be found not only in the village of Kete' Kesu, but also in Londa. Although often the craftsman is not entirely dependent of a work of art, but they will gladly accept orders a variety of goods. Craft-made they are usually also marketed in other places in Toraja.

What's interesting to be used as souvenirs, especially when celebrating Valentine, is tau'-tau 'mini-sized, approximately 10 cm. Tau'-tau 'with profiles of men and women are usually offered a pair. "Do not separated, they're a pair," the persuasion of the seller. Prices for mini size and a larger (25 cm) is usually not much different, about Rp. 10.000, - per pair. The complexity of designing and carving tau'tau 'that is valued, not just the amount of raw materials used.

governmental structure
use to be, the ruling in Tanah Toraja is the kingdom led by a king like King Sangalla. Then, after Indonesia's independence Tanah Toraja became part of Indonesia. For a while this government is decentralization (Regional Autonomy).

Decentralization and local Otonomisasi (decentralization) should be recognized as an opposite process of centralization of authoritarian rule. Centralism of power in the hands of authoritarian rulers who have mastered the archipelago's diverse communities living in different islands of the archipelago are scattered over the ocean. Society archipelago suffered unfair treatment. The way out of injustice is the decentralization of power and otonomisasi area. In other words, decentralization is the biological child of an effort to combat injustice and attempt to relax the strong chain that shackles of authoritarian rule by the people or the people of the archipelago. ....Read More...

About Tana Toraja

Tana toraja is quite simply unique. A cultural island, hemmed in by mountains on all sides, the toraja believe that there is life after death with their elaborate ceremonies. Take the beauty of Bali, the houses of the Bataks in Sumatra and the megalithic cultures of Sumba and you’re still not even close. Cave graves, hanging graves, tau tau (life-sized wooden effigies) of the dead and buffalo carnage every summer; it’s macabre but mesmerising. This is a world unto itself.

Toraja arcitecture is undoubtedly the most popular destination in Sulawesi. It’s a vast, pretty and mostly unspoilt area of trad­itional villages, unique architecture and fascinating cultures. The funeral season is usually during July and August, when toraja working throughout Indonesia return home for celebrations, tourists come in groups and Rantepao hotel prices getting higher.

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Interesting places & object in Tana Toraja.

Tana Toraja is one of the Indonesian tourist attraction, inhabited by a tribe who lived on the highland of Toraja and maintaining a distinctive lifestyle and still show the original Austronesian lifestyle and culture are similar to Nias. This area is one of tourist destination area in South Sulawesi, which is very interesting and you should not miss.

The following is a list of some interesting places that you might visit:

Tongkonan Pallawa is a tongkonan or traditional house that very interesting and were among the bamboo trees on the hilltop. Tongkonan is decorated with a number of buffalo horn that is attached at the front of traditional house. Located about 12 km to the north of Rantepao.

Londa is the steep rocks on the side of a typical tomb Tana Toraja. One was located on high ground from the hill with a cave in which the corpse crates are set according to the family line, the other one left open hillside views overlooking the green expanse. Located about 5 km to the south of Rantepao.

The object of this charming village of Tongkonan, rice barns and buildings in the surrounding megaliths. About 100 yards behind this village there is a cliff with the grave cemetery site dependent and tau-tau in a given building stone fence. Tau-tau shows the daily appearance of the owner. This village is also known as carving skills possessed by its inhabitants as well as a great place to shop for souvenirs. Located about 4 km from southeast Rantepao.

In this area you can find about 56 stone menhirs in a loop with 4 trees in the middle. Most stone menhir has a height of about 2-3 meters. From here you can see the beauty Rantepao and the surrounding valley. Located in the area of Sesean with 1300 Meters above sea level.

This place is often referred to as the home of the spirits. At the funeral Lemo you can see the dead bodies are stored in the open air, amid the steep rocks. This cemetery is the combination of death, art and ritual. At certain times clothing from the bodies will be replaced with a ceremony called Ma' Nene. Located in District of Tana Toraja. ....Read More...