Batak ethnic is one of the old ethnics in Sumatra and Indonesia who live in North Sumatra. Most of Bataknese live in Medan so Bataknese often called Medan people.
History
There are many versions of history of Batak. According to http://habatakon01.blogspot.com/2005/06/sejarah-batak.html, it said that the king Batak and the group came from Thailand. They continued their journey to Semenanjung Malaysia (Malaysia Peninsula). Then, they crossed to Sumatera and lived in Sianjur Mula-mula, it is about 8 km from Pangururan, the edge of Lake Toba. Other version said that the king Batak came from India. They passed by Barus or Alas Gayo and roam to South then they lived in the edge of Lake Toba. The king Batak lived around 1200 years ago (the beginning of thirtieths century). King Sisingamangaraja XII is the 19th generation of King Batak which died in 1907 and the son is King Buntal, who is the 20th generation. According to Tarombo Borbor Marsada Book, there are three sons of king Batak; they are Guru Teteabulan, Raja Isumbaon, and Toga Laut and Bataknese believe that the origin of marga-marga (clans) came from them.
According to http://de-kill.blogspot.com/2009/04/budaya-suku-batak.html, kingdom of Batak was formed by a King who lived in Toba Sila-silahi lua’ Balige, luat Balige (Balige town), kampung Parsoluhan (Parsoluhan village). The king whose name is Alang Pardoksi (Pardosi) had divine power. Kingdom of Batak was leaded by Sultan Maharaja Bongsu and he succeeded to make the Batak people prosper.
Sub-ethnics
Batak ethnics consist of some sub-ethnics who live in North Sumatera regions. Most of them live in Tapanuli, Simalungun, Karo, Nias, and Pakpak Dairi. Batak Toba lives in Toba, Silindung, Samosir, and Humbang; Batak Angkola lives in South Tapanuli, Sipirok and Angkola; Batak Mandailing lives in Mandailing, Natal; Batak Simalungun lives around Simalungun regions; Batak Karo lives around Karo regions; Batak Pakpak Dairi lives around Pakpak and Dairi regions. In the anthropology lesson, Nias, Alas, Gayo was grouped in sub-batak ethnics. In two decades recent, there is a new sub-batak ethnics; Batak Pesisir. Ir. Akbar Tanjung, who is ex-chairman of Indonesian legislative assembly, is the first chairman of Persatuan Batak Pesisir (Batak Pesisir association). Batak pesisir lives in the east of beach of Sumatera namely Asahan, Labuhan Batu, Rantau Prapat, and also lives in the west of beach of Sumatera namely Sibolga and Barus in the Midst Tapanuli. Sub-batak ethnics were grouped by their region where they are live.
The Cultures unsure
1. Language
In their daily life, Bataknese use some dialects: (1)Karo dialects is used by Batak Karo; (2) Pakpak dialects is used by Batak Pakpak Dairi; (3) Simalungun dialects is used by Batak Simalungun; (3)Toba dialects is used by Batak Toba, Angkola, and Mandailing.
2. Society system
Bataknese had known community self-help long years ago. In Batak Karo, community self-help is called ‘Raron’ and in Batak Toba, it is called ‘Marsiurupan’. It is mean that a group of family works together to doing something by turns.
3. Technology
Batak people had known simple tools which are used for work the soil such as hoe, plow, and sickle. Bataknese has folk weapon too namely, piso surit (broad-bladed knife), piso gaja dompak (long and wavy double-bladed dagger), hujur (lance), and podang (sword). Besides, there is traditional dress named ‘ulos’ which has many function in Bataknese traditional life.
4. Social organization
a. Marriage
In Batak tradition, someone can only marry with Bataknese whose different clan. If they marry with other ethnic (such Javanese), she or he must adopted one of Bataknese’s clan.
b. Brotherhood
Social stratification of Bataknese is based on four principals that are: (a) difference age level, (2) difference place, (3) difference characteristic authenticity, (4) marital status.
5. Mean of livelihood
Generally, Majorities of Bataknese are farmer. They work in wet rice field and unirrigated agricultural field. The field comes from distribution which based on clan and every family who gets the field cannot sell it. Animal husbandry is one of Bataknese mean of livelihood too such as animal husbandries of buffalo, cow, pig, goat, chicken, and duck. Bateknese who lives in the edge of Lake Toba, raises fishes especially mujair fish (freshwater fish widely stocked in inland waters and an important food) and gold-fish. Besides, there are handicraft industries such as tenun (weaving affairs), anyaman rotan (cane work), ukiran kayu (carved wood), and glazed porcelain.
6. Religion
Generally, most of Bataknese are Christian which was announced by German missionary, I.L Nomensen in 1863. The first church is called Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) (The Batak Protestant Church) which was built in huta Dame (Dame Village), Tarutung. However, most of Batak Mandailing and Angkola is Moslem. Moslem came to South Tapauli in 19th century which was announced by Tuanku Rao. Besides that, there are other religions which are believed of Bataknese who lives in the rural. They believe that the universe was created by Debata Mula Jadi Na Bolon and he lives in the sky. He has names which are right to their duty and position. Debata Mula Jadi Na Bolon: lives in the sky and he is a great creator; Siloan Na Balom: the duty is dominate the world and supernatural creatures. There are three concepts according to relationship with soul and spirit. They are tondi: soul or spirit, sahala: soul or supernatural spirit which has someone, begu: the dead people’s soul. A part of Bataknese believes in the power of talisman (jimat) which is called Tongkal.
7. Art and Traditional Foods
There are many kinds of art in Batak. Some of them are folk dances such as Tari Tor-tor (Tor-tor dance) which has the magic characteristic; Tari Serampang dua belas (Serampang dua belas dance) has the entertain characteristic. Traditional instruments: gong, hasapi (plicked stringed instrument), gondang (like drum). One of the handicraft products is ulos. Ulos always used in every ceremony like wedding ceremony, new home celebration ceremony, entering the new home ceremony, funeral ceremony, giving legacy ceremony, and Tor-tor dance ceremony. Besides, there are the Bataknese traditional foods such Batak Toba’s traditional foods that are: ‘naniura’ is made from gold-fish, vinegar, and traditional cooking spices, ‘napinadar’ is made from chicken, the chicken’s blood and traditional cooking spices; Batak Karo’s traditional foods there are: ‘trites’ is made from the fill of cow’s colon. The other is ‘tasak tiga’, it is made from chicken which is cooked in three ways with the different flavors, there is spicy, sour, and salty.
Philosophical system
Generally, Batak has custom philosophy ‘Dalihan Na Tolu’ that are ‘Somba Marhula-hula’ (respect to wife’s family), ‘Elek Marboru’ (hospitable to sisters or daughters), ‘Manat Mardongan Tubu’ (close to same clans). In daily life, Bataknese are still holding on philosophy firmly and it is a base in their social life.
Culture Values
1. Philosophy and Brotherhood
As mentioned in the above paragraph, Bataknese has philosophy ‘Dalihan Na Tolu’ which organizes their social life. There are Hula-hula, Dongan Tubu, and Boru.
Hula-hula is wife’s family which occupies the respect position in social life and in Bataknese’s customs and traditions. Bataknese was ordered that they must respect to Hula-hula. Dongan Tubu or Dongan Sabutuha is brothers in the same clan. Literally, they were born from the same womb. To all of Bataknese was ordered that they must prudent to the same clan. Boru is family who takes wife from one clan (other family). Boru is occupying the low position as ‘parhobas’ (attendant) in daily life or in every custom ceremony. Although Boru are attendants, the people cannot handle them as pleases. However, they have to coax. The position of Bataknese may be as a Hula-hula, Boru, or Dongan Tubu and they must put their position in certain place.
Bataknese family system is strong especially in the clan system. Till now, they are still keeping the generations. In Batak Toba there is ‘sistem pariban’ to keep their generations; parents usually let their daughters to marry her ‘pariban’ (‘pariban’ is the son of their aunts). The other uniqueness is when the Toba people died in everywhere; the human corpse will usually be brought into their birthplace and buried there. Besides, there is a Toba slogan “Marsipature hutanabe” whose mean that the succeed Tobanese must give their life and contribute to develop their village.
2. Hagabeon (Success)
This culture value means have a long life, have many generations and other.
3. Hamoraon (Wealth)
The honor value of Bataknese is placed in spiritual and material balance.
4. Uhum and Ugari (Law)
The law value of Bataknese is seen by the seriousness to build justice and loyalty with a promise.
5. Hasangapon (Magnificence)
Nowadays, Bataknese especially Batak Toba has a strong wish to find pomp, authority, charisma and power.
6. Hamajuon (Progress)
Most of Bataknese leave their home and study out to find progress. This value influence Bataknese migrates to all the Indonesia’s outlying place.
7. Marsisarisarian
A value whose means to understand, appreciate and help each other.
8. Pengayoman (Shelter)
Shelter must be give to society; this duty is carry out by the three unsure of ‘Dalihan Na Tolu’.
Development Aspect
Development aspect of Bataknese are the coming of school system and the emerge of chance to get social prestige. There is society system based on custom which makes a good relationship between Bataknese. For Bataknese, the customs is holy and forgetting customs is dangerous. Confession of the blood relationship and the marriage strengthen the relationship in daily life. Help each other in a trade and in the midst of modern city’s life are always seen in Bataknese.
Sources:
http://habatakon01.blogspot.com/2005/06/sejarah-batak.html
http://de-kill.blogspot.com/2009/04/budaya-suku-batak.html
www.wikipedia.com
