Indonesia is known as an archipelago with a rich cultural heritage. Therefore, each region of Indonesia has its characteristics, depending on the ethnicity and culture that exist in the area. For example, one of the Ethics characteristics is the Minangkabau Ethnic originating from West Sumatra.
In a book entitled "Hukum Adat di Indonesia (Customary Law in Indonesia)" by Dr. Siska Lis Sulistiani, M.Ag., MESy. (2021) mentions that Minang or Minangkabau are an ethnic group of the archipelago who speak and respect Minangkabau customs.
The book also explains the areas that adhere to Minang culture, including West Sumatra, half of the mainland of Riau, the northern part of Bengkulu, the western part of Jambi, the southern part of North Sumatra, Aceh's southwest, and Malaysia's Negeri Sembilan.
Just like the Ethnics in Indonesia, the Minang Ethnic also has characteristics that make it different from other Ethnics. A book entitled "Storypedia: Nusantara" compiled by the Women Script & Co Team (2013) describes in detail that the Minangkabau are the original inhabitants and the majority in the local province known as the Ranah Minang.
Based on the results of the population census from the Central Statistics Agency in 2010, the Minangkabau are in the seventh position with the largest population in Indonesia. In addition, more than six million Minang Ethnics are scattered in various regions in Indonesia.
This Ethnic mostly lives in their native land, West Sumatra, with Padang as the provincial capital. The population of West Sumatra, amounting to 4.8 million people, is dominated by the Minang ethnic community, so it is only natural that West Sumatra is known through the Minangkabau Ethnic.
History of the Origins Minangkabau Ethnic
From Tambo of Minangkabau, which is received from generation to generation, it is said that their ancestors came from the descendants of Iskandar Zulkarnain. Although the Tambo is not systematically arranged, it refers more to legend than facts. It tends to be a literary work that has become many people's property. However, Tambo's story is similar to that of Sulalatus Salatin, who describes how the Minangkabau people sent representatives to ask Sang Sapurba, a descendant of Iskandar Zulkarnain, to be their king.
The Minang people are part of the Deutro Melayu (Young Malay) people who migrated from mainland South China to the island of Sumatra around 2,500–2,000 years ago. This community group is thought to have arrived from the east of Sumatra, following the Kampar river to the Darek highlands and becoming the Minangkabau people's home. Some of these Darek areas then formed a kind of confederation known as Luhak, referred to as Luhak Nan Tigo, which consisted of Luhak Limo Puluah, Luhak Agam, and Luhak Tanah Datar. During the reign of the Netherland, the luhak area became a government territorial area called Afdeling, headed by a Minangkabau community resident named Tuan Luhak (Leader Luhak).
Meanwhile, as the Darek population grew, the Minangkabau community spread to other Darek areas, forming certain areas into overseas regions. The concept of Rantau (wander about) for the Minang community is an area that is the entrance to the Minangkabau nature. Rantau also serves as a trading area and a place to find life. Rantau Nan Duo in Minangkabau is divided into Rantau in Hilia (east coast area) and Rantau in Mudiak (west coast area).
The Minang and Malays were initially considered the same. Until the nineteenth century, the Minang and Malays were distinguished based on Matrilineal and Patrilineal traditions. Minangkabau customary law has carried out the matrilineal kinship system to this day (i.e., the community that regulates the line of descent comes from the mother's side). While Malay customs run a patrilineal kinship system (i.e. the community that governs the lineage comes from the father's side).
The Minangkabau Ethnic
Ethnics in the order of Minangkabau society are the basis of social organization and a place for fundamental (political) power struggles. The initial understanding of the word Ethnic in the Minang language can mean one quarter. This is associated with the establishment of a Nagari in Minangkabau. A Nagari is perfect if it consists of the composition of the four Ethnics that inhabit the area. The tribal system is similar to the Batak culture's clan system compared to other cultures. The difference is that each Ethnic in the Minang tradition is ordered from the same line of descent from the mother (Matrilineal), and is believed to have descended from a common ancestor. Meanwhile, clans in the Batak tradition are ordered from the father's lineage (Patrilineal). The Minangkabau ethnicity is divided into many clans or Ethnics. Datuk Ketumanggungan and Datuk Perpatih Nan Sebatang established Minangkabau culture.
In the early days of the formation of Minang culture, there were only four early Ethnics, namely the Koto Clan, Bodi Clan, Caniago Clan, and Piliang Clan. These four clans are divided into two systems of customary power known as harmony.
Koto Piliang's harmony developed into an aristocratic system. Meanwhile, the Caniago Body Harmony evolved through a confederate system.
The names of the clans or Ethnics of the Minangkabau ethnicity are derived from Sanskrit. Sanskrit is a language influenced by Hindu and Buddhist languages that were very developed at that time.
Along with the development of Minang culture and language, these names evolved their pronunciation according to the Minang people's accents. Furthermore, the religion of Islam had an impact on the development of language.
Several Minang Ethnics developed from the initial four clans, including:
| Payobada Ethnic | Jambak Ethnic | Mandaliko Ethnic |
| Putopang Ethnic | Bendang Ethnic | Sumagek Ethnic |
| Sikumbang Ethnic | Kampai Ethnic | Singkuan Ethnic |
| Tanjuang Ethnic | Kutianyie Ethnic | Dalimo Ethnic |
| Panai Ethnic | Malayu Ethnic | Supanjang Ethnic |
| Guci Ethnic | Sipisang Ethnic | Sumpadang Ethnic |
| PanyalaiEthnic | Mandailiang Ethnic | Domi Ethnic |
The Ethnic is divided into several smaller family branches called Payuang (umbrella). The smallest unit after Sapayung is called Saparuik. A Paruik (belly) usually lives in a Rumah Gadang (Minang's Traditional House) together.
The Ethnics mentioned above are familiar in Minangkabau. Many other Ethnics or clans result from the four early Minang Ethnics.
Apart from being a political base, ethnicity is also the basis of economic units. Wealth is determined by the ownership of family land, property, and other income sources, all known as heirlooms. The inheritance is the joint property of all family members. Heirlooms cannot be traded and cannot become private property. The legacy is a kind of mutual guarantee fund to protect family members from poverty. Suppose a family member experiences difficulties or is struck by a disaster. In that case, the inheritance can be pawned.
Minang Ethnic customs and culture
According to Tambo Minangkabau, the Minangkabau customary system was first coined by two brothers: Datuk Ketumanggungan and Datuk Perpatih Nan Sebatang. Datuk Perpatih inherited the egalitarian Bodi Caniago customary system, whereas Datuk Ketumanggungan inherited the aristocratic Koto Piliang customary system. These two customary systems, known as harmony, complement each other and form a system in the Minangkabau community along the way.
Three main pillars build and maintain the integrity of the Minang tribal culture. The three pillars are the ulama (Scholars of Islam), Cadiak Pandai (intellectual), and the Ninik Mamak. These three pillars are also known as Tungku Tigo Sajarangan.
In a democratic and egalitarian Minangkabau society, all public affairs are discussed by the three elements in the way of consensus. Minang customs and culture depend on these three pillars.
Nagari
The Minangkabau area consists of many Nagari. This Nagari is an autonomous region in Minangkabau with the highest authority. In a Nagari, no other social or political power can interfere with adat. Therefore, different Nagari will very likely have different typical customs. Each Nagari is led by a council consisting of tribal leaders from all the Ethnics in the Nagari. This council is known as the Kerapatan Adat Nagari (KAN) (Nagari Customary Density). From the results of deliberation and consensus in the council, a binding decision and regulations for the Nagari were produced.
The main factor determining Minangkabau society's dynamics is the constant competition between Nagari, families, and individuals for status and prestige. Therefore, every clan head will compete to increase the prestige of his family by seeking wealth (trading) and educating members of the clan to the highest level.
The formation of a Nagari has long been known in terms of the proverb in the Minang indigenous community itself, namely From Taratak to Dusun, from Hamlet to Koto, from Koto to Nagari, and Nagari ba Panghulu. So the government administration system in the Minang area starts from the lowest structure, called Taratak, then develops into Dusun, Koto, and Nagari. Usually, every Nagari that is formed consists of at least four Ethnics living there. Furthermore, as the administrative center of the Nagari, a Traditional Hall was built as well as a meeting place for making decisions with the heads of the village.
The atmosphere of the Minangkabau settlement in Nagari Koto Baru or now known as the Thousand Houses Gadang Area. A new settlement can be said to be a Nagari if a traditional hall and mosque exist.
The Religion of the Minangkabau Ethnic
Some archaeological evidence shows that the Minangkabau Ethnic once embraced Buddhism during the heyday of the Sriwijaya Kingdom, Dharmasraya, until the reign of Asityawarman and his son Ananggawarman. The Pagaruyung Kingdom then arose, which embraced Islam and incorporated Islamic law into its government system.
Islam is thought to have arrived via the east coast. However, there are assumptions from the west coast, especially in the Pariaman area. The Arcat (Aru and Rokan) and Inderagiri areas on the east coast have also become Minangkabau port areas. In addition, the Kampar and Batang Kuantan rivers originate from the Minangkabau interior. Haji Sumanik, Haji Poor, and Haji Piobang arrived from Mecca around 1803. All three played an essential role in spreading Islam and enforcing Islamic law in the interior of Minangkabau. As the saying goes in the community, Adat manurun, Syarak mandaki (Adat is passed down from the interior to the coast, while religion (Islam) comes from the coast to the interior), and this is also associated with the mention of the Siak people referring to pious people, experts and diligent in Islam, is still used in the Minangkabau highlands.
Today, Islam has its roots in Minangkabau customs. Suppose there are members of the Minang community who leave the religion. In that case, the person concerned is directly considered out of the Minang community. He will be excluded from the organization and unable to participate in traditional activities. However, they are usually still allowed to live in the area. This tradition is called "wasted along adat".
Community members who commit other customary errors, such as robbing, committing adultery, or even killing, will also face the punishment of "throw away as long as adat." will also be given to members of the community who commit other common errors, such as robbing, committing adultery, or even killing. They will be discarded within a certain period, even to infinity.
Minangkabau Marriage Culture
In Minangkabau culture, marriage is one of the important events in the life cycle. It is a very significant transitional period in forming a small group of new families who continue the lineage. For Minang men, marriage is also a process of entering a new environment, namely the wife's family. Meanwhile, for the wife's family, it becomes one of the processes of adding members to their Rumah Gadang community.
The wedding procession is known as Baralek in Minang society. In general, Baralek is divided into three stages:
Starting with Maminang (propose), Maminang is the process of proposing or application
Manjapuik Marapulai (Majapuik Marapulai is the process of picking up the groom),
Basandiang ( side by side on the aisle).
After the Maminang (Propose section) and the agreement on the day of the wedding (determining the wedding day), proceed with the Islamic wedding, which is usually done in the mosque, before the bride and groom walk down the aisle together In certain villages, after the Solemnization of marriage in front of the leader or the lord of the kadi, the groom will be given a new title as a substitute for his nickname.
Then the surrounding community will call him the new title. The title of the call usually starts from sutan, Bagindo, or Sidi (Sayyidi) in coastal areas. Meanwhile, in the Luhak Limopuluah area, the awarding of this title does not apply.
The Minang Traditional House
The hallmark of the Minang Ethnic building is its traditional house known as the Rumah Gadang (Gadang House). This traditional Minang house building is an icon attached to the Minang community.
Rumah Gadang is a Minangkabau traditional house that is also known by various names, such as Godang, Bagonjong house, and Baanjuang house. This house on stilts is large with a rectangular shape with a distinctive roof protruding like a buffalo horn which is commonly called gonjong
Like other traditional Indonesian houses, Rumah Gadang is also made of natural materials. Although almost 100% made of natural materials, the architecture of the Rumah Gadang has a strong design. The pillars, walls, and floors are made of wood and bamboo planks, while the roof, shaped like a buffalo horn, is made of palm fibre.
In the front yard of the Gadang House, usually two to six Rangkiang, which are used as a place for storing rice belonging to the family who inhabits the Gadang House.
In Minangkabau culture, only some areas are allowed to build Rumah Gadang. Only in areas that have the status Nagari can this traditional house be enforced. Therefore, in some areas of the Minangkabau people, such as Riau, Jambi, Negeri Sembilan, the west coast of North Sumatra, and Aceh, there are no Gonjong traditional houses.
Minangkabau Culture
Minangkabau Traditional Clothing
Minangkabau Ethnic has several traditional clothing with its philosophy.
Traditional Clothing Bundo Kanduang
Limpapeh clothing of the Nan Gadang House, also called Bundo Kanduang clothing, symbolizes greatness for married women. The shape of the head covering, which resembles a buffalo horn or the roof of a Gadang house, distinguishes this outfit. Married Minang women wear Bundo Kanduang. The clothes symbolize the critical role of a mother in a family. Limapeh itself is the central pillar of the traditional house of West Sumatra.
The traditional clothing of Minangkabau women consists of Limpapeh Rumah Nan Gadang (Bundo Kanduang), Tingkuluak (Tengkuluk) clothes, Batabue clothes, Lambak, Salempang and jewellery.
Minangkabau Men's Traditional Clothing Traditional
Clothing for Minang men is called penghulu clothing. As the name implies, this clothing is only used by traditional elders or certain people, and the way of use is also regulated in such a way by customary law.
This outfit comprises accessories such as Deta, Black Clothes, Sarawa, Side, Cawek, Clothing, Keris, and Tungkek (stick).
Traditional Bridal Clothing
Apart from Bundo Kanduang and penghulu clothes, there are other traditional West Sumatran clothes brides commonly wear in wedding ceremonies. This wedding dress is usually red with headgear and more decoration. These clothes are still often used, with a little extra modernization and a unique style or design.
Minangkabau Arts
The Minang ethnic group is one of the community groups with a large presence in Indonesia, including in the arts. Traditional ceremonies and dances are examples of Minang arts. Typical Minangkabau dances include the following:
Pasambahan dance is a dance that is performed to give a welcome greeting or an expression of respect to special guests who have just arrived
Piring Dance is a dance form with fast movements of the dancers while holding plates in their palms. Each hand is accompanied by a song played by talempong and saluang.
Silat or Minangkabau Silat is a traditional martial art typical of this Ethnic that has been developing for a long time. Today Silat is not only taught in Minangkabau but has also spread throughout the Malay Archipelago and even to Europe and America
Randai is a dance mixed with silat. Randai is usually accompanied by singing or also called sijobang. In this randai, there is also acting based on a scenario.
Salawat Dulang,
Furthermore, the Minang people are well-known for their oratory skills. There are at least three types of speech art: pasambahan or offerings, indang and salawat dulang.
This style of speech is commonly referred to as tongue-in-cheek. It is so named because it emphasizes the side of satire, figuratively, allegory, metaphor, and aphorism. This art of speech is taught so the Minang people can maintain their honor and dignity even without physical contact or weapons.
Culinary Origin Minangkabau
The people of Indonesia favor many types of Minang cuisine. Some Minang favorites are rendang, beef jerky Balado, Padang satay, Soto Padang, spicy sour, and others. These dishes are better known as Padang Cuisine (Referring to the capital city of West Sumatra, Padang City). as well as restaurants or restaurants that specifically serve these dishes. They usually call it Padang Restaurant or Padang restaurant. Although the Minang community itself has different characteristics in selecting ingredients and cooking processes, depending on each region.
Minang cuisine contains rich spices, such as chili, lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and shallots. Some of them are known to have strong antimicrobial activity, so it is not surprising that some Minang dishes can last a long time. On certain days, most dishes are made from meat, especially beef, mutton, and chicken.
Besides Indonesia, in several countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, this dish is also trendy, as well as in other countries. The art of cooking owned by the Minang community has also developed in other areas such as Riau, Jambi, and Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Even rendang has been named one of the most delicious dishes in the whole world.
Minangkabau Ethnic Sports
The Minang people have a habit of exercising for a long time, and several types of sports are still practiced today. Moreover, sports activities are closely related to the strong kinship system in Minang society. So many customs and traditions are carried out together.
Some sports still practiced today are horse racing, jawi racing, duck racing, and sipak rago or sepak takraw. These four sports can only be done in teams. In particular, horse racing, a sport that has existed for a long time in Minang villages and is still held by the community, is an annual competition held in areas with horse racing fields.
Minangkabau language
The language used by the Minang community belongs to the Austronesian language family. However, many argue that Malay heavily influences the Minang language because of many similarities in vocabulary and dialects.
However, many other opinions consider this language independent and have nothing to do with Malay.
There are several dialects in the Minang language, depending on their area. Other languages influenced the Minang language as it developed. The Minang languages are generally influenced by Arabic, Sanskrit, Persian, and Tamil.
Initially, the Minang people used the Devanagari, Pallawa, and Kawi scripts for writing. Then along with the influx of widely accepted Islamic influences, it also encouraged people to use the Jawi alphabet in writing before finally changing to the Latin alphabet.
Although they have their language, the Minang people also use Malay and Indonesian extensively. The traditional historiography of the Minang people, the Tambo Minangkabau, is written in Malay and is part of old Malay or Indonesian literature.
Matrilineal kinship system
Talking about the Minang people, the first thing they usually remember is the matrilineal kinship system they follow. This system is one of the main aspects of defining Minang's ethnic identity. Their customs and culture place women as heirs to inheritance and kinship.
The mother's lineage is called Samande, which means "one mother." Sumando, "brother-in-law," refers to the father's side. At the same time, Sumando is considered a guest in the family.
One of the characteristics of Minangkabau matrilineal is that women occupy a special position compared to men. Lineages are drawn based on the mother's line, which broadly forms groups of people (lineages) and Ethnics (clans). Control of inheritance is also in the hands of mothers led by a senior woman called Bundo Kanduang.
Women in the Minang Ethnic have an important role in making decisions that men will make in their position as Mamak (mother's uncles or brothers). Women are also involved in the decisions made by the Penghulu, or tribal chiefs.
Economic assets are very important in Minangkabau society. As a result, women are powerful. Men in women's families, on the other hand, retain authority in their communities. This significant influence makes Minang women likened to the main pillars of the house, or in the Minang language called Limpapeh Tumah Nan Gadang.
Panghulu
Panghulu, commonly known as datuak (Datuk), is the head of the family appointed by family members to manage all tribal issues. The Penghulu is usually a man who is chosen from among the other male members. Each existing clan family will choose a man who is good at speaking, wise, and understands the customs of the Ethnic, to hold this position. Because he will be responsible for taking care of all the tribal heirlooms, guiding his nephews, and representing the people in the Nagari community. Each Penghulu stands on an equal footing with the other Penghulu so that in Nagari meetings, all the voices of the Penghulu representing each clan are of equal value.
As members of the clan increase, as well as problems and internal conflicts that arise, sometimes in a family, this kepenghuluan (Head of Family) position is split into two. Or conversely, the fewer members of the clan tend to combine their kepenghuluan titles with other families of the same ethnicity. This causes the number of Penghulu in a Nagari to fluctuate.
Having a penghulu who represents the voice of the people in the Nagari meeting is prestige and self-respect. So that each people will try their best to have their own Penghulu. Families whose kepenghulu titles have long been folded will try to revive their position by seeking wealth to "buy" their long-lost penghulu titles. Batagak panghulu (bertegak penghulu) usually costs quite a bit, so the urge to do Batagak Panghulu comes from rich families.
Minangkabau Overseas
Merantau (Wander) is a tradition of the Minang Ethnic, which men usually do. This tradition is related to the matrilineal system in Minangkabau. Men will not inherit inheritance in the kinship system based on the mother's lineage.
Heirlooms are assets passed down from generation to generation, from grandmother to mother and mother to daughter.
The tradition of wandering also contains the meaning of a gate to becoming a tough man. Overseas Minangkabau is a term for Minang people who are outside their hometown.
For Minang men to migrate is closely related to the message of their ancestors, namely karatau madang in the upstream babuah babungo balun (the recommendation to migrate to men, because in the village it is not yet practical). Including those contained in the satinggi-tinggi tabangnyo stork baliaknyo ka kubangan juo (as high as the stork flies, it returns to the puddle again). This expression is addressed to the Minang people so, they always remember where they came from. Wander is an interactive process between the Minangkabau community and the outside world. This activity is an adventure to gain life experience and try your luck in another country.
Those who have long practiced the tradition of wandering usually have relatives in almost all major cities in Indonesia and Malaysia. The most powerful families in developing the tradition of wandering commonly come from families of traders, craftsmen, and students of religious knowledge.
Minang men usually have gone abroad since their teens. For most Minangkabau people, wandering is an ideal way to reach maturity and success. By migrating, not only wealth and knowledge are obtained, but also the prestige and honor of the individual amid a traditional environment.
Reasons for Migrating
Cultural Factors
Because the Minangkabau people adhere to a matrilineal kinship system, then the control of the inheritance is held by women. Therefore after the men enter puberty, the youth can no longer sleep in their parent's houses because the house is only for women, their husbands, and children.
Migrants who have returned to their hometowns will usually tell their wandering experiences to the children in the village. The appeal of the lives of the nomads has influenced the Minangkabau community since childhood. This is what causes Minang men to choose to migrate. Now Minangkabau women are also used to traveling abroad for various reasons, such as joining their husbands, wanting to trade, pursuing careers, continuing education, etc.
According to Rudolf Mrazek, a Dutch sociologist, two typologies of Minang culture, namely dynamism and anti-parochialism, gave birth to an independent, cosmopolitan, egalitarian, and broad-minded spirit, which led to the embedded culture of wandering in Minangkabau society. In addition, the spirit to change fate by pursuing knowledge and wealth, as well as the Minang proverb which says 'Karatau madang first, babuah babungo alun, marantau bujang first, at paguno balun's house' (it is better to go abroad because in the village it is not yet practical) causes Minang youth to go abroad since young.
Economic factors
Minangkabau people's economy has always been supported by the ability to trade, mainly to distribute their crops. Moreover, the Minangkabau hinterland has geologically reserves raw materials, especially gold, copper, tin, zinc, mercury, and iron. All of these materials have been able to be processed by them. So the nickname suvarnadvipa (island of gold), which appears in legends in BC India, may be referred to as the island of Sumatra because of this.
Arab traders in the 9th century have reported that people on the island of Sumatra used a number of gold in their trade. In addition, in the 13th century, it was known that there was a king in Sumatra who wore a gold crown. Tomé Pires, around the 16th century, said that the gold traded in Malacca, Panchur (Barus), Tico (Tiku), and Priaman (Pariaman) came from the interior of Minangkabau. It is also mentioned that the Indragiri area along Batang Kuantan on the east coast of Sumatra was the port centre of the Minangkabau king.
Currently, population growth is different from available natural resources. Thus encouraging the Minang people to continue overseas.
The War Factor
The Minang people do not like oppression. They will fight with physical strength, but if they are unable, they will prefer to leave their hometown. For example, after the Padri War, there was a rebellion in Batipuh against Dutch cultivation, followed by the Siti Manggopoh rebellion in the Belasting War against belasting and the communist rebellion of 1926–1927. After Indonesia's independence, the PRRI emerged, leading to a massive exodus of the Minangkabau people to other areas.
Based on stories handed down from their elders, the Sakai people said that they came from Pagaruyung. But on the other hand, the Kubu people say that the people from Pagaruyung are their brothers. So it is very likely that these isolated communities, including the Minang community, have resisted leaving their hometowns because they do not want to accept the changes in their country.
Migrating in literature
The phenomenon of wandering in Minangkabau society often becomes a source of inspiration for artists, especially writers. Buya Hamka's famous novel entitled 'The sinking of the Van der Wijck Ship' tells the story of a Minang immigrant child who returns home. In the village, he faces obstacles from the Minang indigenous people, who are the mother of his bako. In addition, his other novel, Merantau ke Deli, tells about the life experiences of Minang immigrants who went to Deli and married a Javanese woman.
In addition to the novel by Buya Hamka and Marah Rusli, Sitti Nurbaya and Salah Asuhannya Abdul Muis also tell the story of the Minang nomads. These novels is told about the intersection of Minang youths with Western cultural customs. The novel Negeri 5 Menara by Ahmad Fuadi tells the story of a Minang immigrant who studied at a Javanese pesantren and eventually became a successful person. In a different form, through his work entitled Kemarau, AA Navis invites Minang people to build their hometowns, many of which live to go abroad.
Every novel that tells the story of the Minang wander usually contains social criticism from the author of the old-fashioned and left-behind Minang cultural customs. Apart from being in the form of a novel, the story of the Minang nomads is also told in the film Merantau by the British director, Gareth Evans.
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