Entrance to King Siallagan Village - Samosir (Batak Toba)
This clan/kingdom is one of the 3 kingdom that were acknowledge by the Dutch Colonial in the 1600-1900.
The stoneworks and carving very similar to the Mayan or Aztec in South America.
The entrance is only wide enough for the biggest water buffalo in the village to pass for their defence. Also in the past, the frontage was planted with dense bamboo trees for privacy and protection.
This clan/kingdom is one of the 3 kingdom that were acknowledge by the Dutch Colonial in the 1600-1900.
The stoneworks and carving very similar to the Mayan or Aztec in South America.
The entrance is only wide enough for the biggest water buffalo in the village to pass for their defence. Also in the past, the frontage was planted with dense bamboo trees for privacy and protection.
The Batak House.
Batak Toba House is resembling a canoe. Why?
Canoe is important in their life and also in their philosophy to explore the world ("merantau").
It is therefore, the entrance of the house is in the front.
In constrast with Padang / Minang, the house. The house is based on a bull horn, hence the entrance is sideways like we look into the face of a bull horn.
The Batak house main door is small, just like in Yogyakarta Palace, it is purposely made so the guests must bow and show respect to the houseowner.
Each house usually consist of 3-6 families. Hence, the Batak Toba people is very open and expressive. If they like you or don't like you, they will say it.
The house has 3 levels.
Batak Toba House is resembling a canoe. Why?
Canoe is important in their life and also in their philosophy to explore the world ("merantau").
It is therefore, the entrance of the house is in the front.
In constrast with Padang / Minang, the house. The house is based on a bull horn, hence the entrance is sideways like we look into the face of a bull horn.
The Batak house main door is small, just like in Yogyakarta Palace, it is purposely made so the guests must bow and show respect to the houseowner.
Each house usually consist of 3-6 families. Hence, the Batak Toba people is very open and expressive. If they like you or don't like you, they will say it.
The house has 3 levels.
Ground level is for livestock, middle is the living quarter, and the top is for storage and music instruments.
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| The boy is entering the traditional Batak house. |
Inside the Batak House:
The house is open plan with the kitchen in the centre of the house.
This served a few purposes. One is to heat up the house.
The smoke from wood fire is also mosquito repellant.
The bataknese will sleep with their feet facing the fire. Only the King or head of the house will sleep on the wooden bed and wooden pillow.
In the corner of the house there is a section of the wood that are missing. This is a toilet to be used at night, but please aim before dump!
The house is open plan with the kitchen in the centre of the house.
This served a few purposes. One is to heat up the house.
The smoke from wood fire is also mosquito repellant.
The bataknese will sleep with their feet facing the fire. Only the King or head of the house will sleep on the wooden bed and wooden pillow.
In the corner of the house there is a section of the wood that are missing. This is a toilet to be used at night, but please aim before dump!
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| Listening attentively to the explanation of Ulos. :) |
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| The king's bed & the wooden pillow |
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| Why the shape of the roof is like a canoe? |
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| The center of the house as a kitchen. |
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| The kitchen and the smiley faces. |
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| Aim properly before you dump! That's the toilet hole, heading straight to the live-stock. |
Ulos (Traditional Batak Cloth):
Traditionally Batak people made a piece of highly artistic and colourful cloth made of cotton called Ulos.
Ulos has many functions. It is a sarong for men and women, it is a blacket, it is a scarf, and also it is can be used as a mat for your head to carry heavy stuff in your head.
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| Look at how he put it on his head. |
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| Various colorful Ulos for sale. |
Symbol is front of the house:
1. Four-female breasts: shows fertility and emphasise on Bataknese to have 17 sons and 16 daughters. (poligamy of course, hence the 4 boobs)
2. Wind direction artwork: emphasise for all bataknese to explore the world. (Merantau).
3. Gecko: emphasise the high adaptability with everyone and everywhere just like gecko can be found almost anywhere.
4. A mask : to protect and repel the occupants in the house from black magic.
Ancient Batak Court:
It is so amazing that even in the stone age, the bataknese already have a court.
The rule of thumbs are:
1. if the crime irreversible (murder, adultery), the person will be beheaded.
2. if the crime reversible, such as stealing. The person have to return the item fourfolds.
3. if the crime is reversible, and the person is too poor to payback, then they will be the King's slave.
In this court, there are several chairs:
1. King's Chair (Judge)
2. Three chairs for elders
3. Shaman's Chair
4. Witness / Other King's Chair
5. Suspect
It is so amazing that even in the stone age, the bataknese already have a court.
The rule of thumbs are:
1. if the crime irreversible (murder, adultery), the person will be beheaded.
2. if the crime reversible, such as stealing. The person have to return the item fourfolds.
3. if the crime is reversible, and the person is too poor to payback, then they will be the King's slave.
In this court, there are several chairs:
1. King's Chair (Judge)
2. Three chairs for elders
3. Shaman's Chair
4. Witness / Other King's Chair
5. Suspect
Once the suspect have been judged guilty by court, the Shaman will forecast a good day for the beheading execution, and until then the suspect will be placed in Schand Block under the house together with the livefeeds.
Because he/she acts like animal in the irreversible crime, he is no longer recognised by the villagers as a human being. The legs will be tied onto a wood block and the villagers can do anything or throw anything to him/her.
Beheading, Cannibalism, and Black Magic:
Once the Shaman has decided a good day based on the Batak Calendar, the criminal will be fed the best meal, then the skin will be cut, and beheaded.
The blood, heart, and liver will be mixed with lime juice consumed by the King to increase his black magic power. The rest of the body cut into pieces and distributed among villagers to do whatever they want with it including eating it.
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