Bugis
The Bugis are an ethnic group on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi with the settlement focus in the province of South Sulawesi. They are ethnic Malays belong. In the neighborhood of the Makassar and Mandar live. Although many Bugis live in large port cities, the majority of them are scattered in small villages along the coastline and along the rivers and major roads.
The word " Bugis " is a Malay word derived from To Ugi. The To means "people "; Ugi and referenced to the first king of the ancient Bugis kingdom, Cina.
The Bugis speak a distinct language, the Buginese or Basa Ugi. They are described by others as very severe, warlike and industrious. Honor, status and rank are of great importance to the Bugis. They are very sure of themselves, have a positive self image and rely heavily on their skills. As one of the larger groups in the region (more than 5 million people) have a significant impact on their neighborhood.
History
The Austronesian ancestors of the Bugis settled around 2500 BC down to Sulawesi. According to theories they could be migrated from Taiwan. This theory is supported by a number of genetic studies. The origin region of the Bugis in Sulawesi the area is all the lakes Danau Tempe and Danau Sidenreng in South Sulawesi, which spread from there to the east, west and south across South Sulawesi. Around 1200 AD stimulated the availability of imported goods such as Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramics and printing - block textiles from Gujarat, coupled with newly discovered deposits of iron ore in Luwu an agrarian revolution. This led over the next 400 years to the development of the great kingdoms of South Sulawesi as Tallo, Soppeng, Wajo and bone, and the social transformation of tribal societies into hierarchical proto- states. The formerly animistic Bugis converted to Islam in 1605, that of the Minangkabau ulema Ri Bandang Dato, Dato Ri Tiro, and Dato Ri Patimang was widespread in South Sulawesi. Some Bugis have their pre-Islamic religion, Tolotang called, preserved, and some Bugis are converted to Christianity by marriage, but these represent only a minority dar. Colonialism of the Dutch in the 17th century led to the diaspora of many Bugis and their entry into the policy of Malaya / Malaysia Peninsula and the island of Sumatra. The Bugis played an important role in defeating Jambi and had a great influence on the Sultanate of Johor. In Sabah, in northern Borneo, the Bugis people are officially recognized as Bumiputera together with Suluk and other ethnicities. The population is concentrated there, especially on the east coast of Sabah to the region of Tawau.
Marine exploration
Respected and feared as pirates, respected as sailors, merchants and adventurers, sailors Southeast Asia always looked forward, seeking a better life beyond the horizon over the entire Indonesian archipelago and beyond. They were partly so feared that some people attributed the English word " Bogeyman " in a mangled form of the bugis one.
Because trading was the primary goal of sailors who Makassar, Bajau and Bugis often set up permanent settlements, either through conquest or diplomacy, and often married into the local companies wherever they found none. All over Eastern Indonesia away the kings, sultans, rajas and princes of nearly one hundred small kingdoms were the descendants of these sailors, merchants and fishermen along the coast lines.
Bugis in northern Australia
Long before European colonialists extended their influence into these waters, built the Makassar, the Bajau, and the Bugis elegant, ocean -going vessels, the Pinisis. Your trade routes extended to the Aru Islands south-west of New Guinea, where they traded with bird skins of birds of paradise and medical Masoyarinden. They drove to northern Australia, where they exchanged shells, birds' nests and mother of pearl against knives and salt with Aboriginal tribes. The products of the forests and the sea, which they brought back were popular in the Asian markets high. The Bugis were able to bargain for opium, silk, cotton, firearms and gunpowder.
The extraordinary story of the interaction between the Bugis and the Australian Aborigines is hardly known in Europe. The Bugis have left their trade marks on a two thousand kilometers of coastline of northern Australia from the Kimberley to the Gulf of Carpentaria. About this entire parts of the coast of northern Australia, there is ample evidence for the presence and influence of the Bugis. There are remains of buildings of the Bugis in the islands, Bugiworte went into the languages of the Aborigines, and the Bugis and their craft influenced the indigenous art of the people of Arnhem Land.
The Bugis came every year during the Northwest monsoon with their wooden Pinisis in the Australian waters. Here they remained for several months, and began sea cucumbers, which they dried and processed into trepang, before returning in the dry season after Makassar. These trips lasted until 1907.
The Seafarer Thomas Forrest wrote in Voyage from Calcutta in 1792:
"The Bugis are a high-spirited people: theywill not bear ill- say ... They are fond of adventures, emigration, and Capable of undertaking the most dangerous enterprises. "
" The Bugis are mentally upstanding people; they will not tolerate any nonsense. .... They are knowledgeable in adventures in exile, and are able to begin the most dangerous things. "
Traditional Culture
The Bugis is the epic La Galigo holy, which represents both a history of creation and a collection of rituals and code of conduct for the kings.
The Bugikultur knows five different social genders. These five families are considered necessary to keep the world in balance and harmony. These include Makkunrai ( feminine woman), Calabai (Female Male), Calalai ( male female), Oroané ( manly man ), and bissú (the latter embodies both male and female energies ( hermaphrodite ), revered as a shaman ). Makkunrai and Oroané correspond to heterosexual women and men who behave each its traditional women 's and men's roles according to. Calabai however, are biological men who behave in dress and behavior as heterosexual women, without being however make physical changes. Calalai are biological women who behave in dress and behavior as heterosexual men to be carried also without physical changes.
The bissú combines aspects of women and Männern.Es are various theories about the origins and meaning of bissú.
The royal rituals can be performed only by a bissú, that is, a being who, in practice, is neither man nor woman, a transvestite. Only a bissú able to be an intermediary between men and gods.
The advice of a bissú is usually sought when an approval of the powers of Batin world is required. This can for example be the case when a Bugis will get up to the Hajj to Mecca. In this situation, the bissú will allow a spirit ( jinn ) to take possession of this man and to act as an emissary of the Batin.
This is not consistent with orthodox Islam, but is tolerated by the regional Islam, as long as it takes no action with it, which is in opposition to the Sharia. In this case, it means that the mind and the power of bissú were not seen in any way autonomous from Allah may, for he is the only one who should be worshiped.
The rituals of daily life, such as the inauguration of a new house or a new boat, rites of passage, the celebrations in the life cycles of the rice are performed by a Sanro.
As Muslims Bugis only recognize the existence of a God, whom they call Puang Allataala or Dewata Seuwae. Besides God is there for the Bugis all sorts of other spirits or Dewata (original Sanskrit word " deity " ), which they have to pay tribute to her intercession the Supreme Being.
One of these spirits is Sawerigading, the hero, whose adventures are told in Galigo.
The Bugis worship sangiang Serr, the goddess of rice ( generally in Indonesia known as Dewi Sri ), tells of the La Galigo that it is the first earthly child of Batara Guru, son of Datu Patoto, the highest deity. Sangiang Serri dies after seven days, is buried and then appears in the form of rice.
The To Tenrita are invisible spirits who act as intermediaries between men and gods. Among them, the guardian spirits of the houses and boats, and spirits, trees, stones and feathers are inhabit.
Most rituals of traditional religion are no longer respected by the Bugis. In particular, the funeral will now follow the Muslim rite. The activity of bissú is increasingly limited. But holy places have retained their importance, including the tombs, shrines and the subject of an ancestor cult are. This cult is reserved for offerings to the ancestors a place in the house. Finally, the epic La Galigo will be presented at ceremonies.
Current lifestyle
Most of today's Bugis make their living as traders, fishermen and rice farmers. The women are expected to work at home, weave silk sarongs and then sell them. ( A sarong is a colored piece of fabric sewn together to form a tube is worn as a skirt by both men and women in Indonesia. ) The largest part of household income is earned by selling sarongs.
Traditionally, the Bugis live in stilt houses, sometimes three meters or more above the ground, with wooden walls and floors. These are common throughout the Malay archipelago, as a protection against floods, earthquakes and animals. During the growing season, some family members stay in small huts that are scattered over the fields.
Many marriages are still arranged by the parents and find often between closely related cousins instead. A newlywed couple lives during the first years of marriage often with the parents of the bride. Divorce is a normal process in the Bugis, especially in arranged marriages.
Bugis feed mainly on rice, fish, corn, coconuts, bananas and tea. For certain fixed occasions Buffalo is served as a delicacy. Visual Arts and Show Case arts, such as dance and shadow, are a rich part of the culture of the Bugis.
Religion
Hinduism and Buddhism mixed with indigenous religious elements shaped the lives of the Bugis to the early 17th century. Buddhism came probably from the 8th century Java or Sumatra in the area. It created several Buddhist kingdoms, but disappeared after 1300 and were replaced by Hindu kingdoms. Hinduism came with Javanese and Indian traders to the island.
The Bugis converted to Islam in the 17th century. The Islamization took place about 100 years later than in the rest of Indonesia and came again from Java to the island.
Since that time, they are strict Sunni believers. They celebrate Islamic feasts and fasts; they pray five times a day. Your Islamic practices have also deeply influenced by spiritualism ( the belief in invisible spirits ) and ancestor worship ( praying to deceased ancestors ). Although the Bugis are strict Muslims, little Bugis women wear a veil.
A well-known group of Bugis - customs are by them called Tuanni. They include the worship of various deities, such as a " potato God ," a " rice god," a "god of kings". They also believe that certain illnesses and misfortunes of the people of " ghosts " of fire, air, earth and water are caused.
Known Bugis
- Raja Ali Haji
- Jusuf Kalla, former Indonesian Vice President
- Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, former Indonesian President