Typical Mentawai Tattoo

In Ady Rosa's research, apart from Mentawai and Egypt, tattoos were also found in Siberia (300 BC), England (54 BC), Haida Indians in America, Eskimo tribes, Hawaii and the Marquesas Islands. Rapa Nui in the Easter Islands, Maori in New Zealand, Dayak in Kalimantan and Sumba in West Sumatra.

As a tribe that is still in harmony with nature, if it is associated with the ancient Mentawai customs and traditions, tattoos also have a function as a symbol of the balance of nature. As a tribe that still believes in animism and dynamism – objects such as stones, animals, and plants must be enshrined on their bodies. This is an obligation, because they consider all things on earth to have a soul. Apart from the function of tattoos is art, Mentawai people tattoo their bodies according to their creativity.

The position of the tattoo is regulated in such a way by the belief of the Mentawai tribe called Arat Sabulungan. A term that comes from the word "Sa" which means collection, and "'bulung'' which means leaf. A collection of leaves arranged in a circle taken from the coconut or the top of the sago tree is believed to have magical powers called Kere or Ketse. Then, this magical power is used as a medium of worship to the God of the Sea or Kabagat Koat, Tai Ka-Leleu the God of Forests and Mountains, and Tai Ka Manua - God of Clouds.

The process of making a tattoo takes a long time, especially at the preparation stage which can take months. There are a number of ceremonies and taboos (punen) that must be passed by the person who wants to get a tattoo. Not everyone can pass this stage. The host then held a feast by slaughtering pigs and chickens. Pork and chicken are also paid for sikerei. To organize a party to make this tattoo alone can cost around five million rupiah

Arat Sabulungan is usually used in traditional ceremonies, child births, marriages, medicine, housewarming and tattoos. Not like what people who come to modern tattoo studios do. Mentawai tribal people tattoo their bodies in three stages. Mentawai tribal boys get their first tattoo when they are 11-12 years old. The second stage is carried out at the age of 18-19 years in the thigh. Next, the final stage is at adulthood, then Sikerei (shaman) and Rimata (Indigenous Tribal Chief) will negotiate, to determine the day and month the tattooing process will be carried out. After the agreed time for tattooing, Sipatiti or someone who is a tattoo expert is chosen. Sipatiti's expertise is usually paid for with a pig and previously a ceremony will be held presided over by Sikerei at Puturukat, Sipatiti's private gallery.

Sipatiti's traditional sketch, usually the body of a boy who is tattooed will be drawn with a stick. The initial sketch or pattern of the image on the body is then pierced with a needle made of special wood – karai wood or animal bone that has been sharpened. The part of the child's body that has been sketched will be gently beaten with a wooden stick to infuse the dye into the skin layer. Because it is still traditional, the Mentawai tribe tattoos their bodies using simple equipment, and dyes are obtained from a mixture of coconut shell charcoal and banana leaves. Natural carbon pigment obtained from soot flakes can be obtained from firewood or bamboo which is then mixed with sugarcane juice. Next, the two basic ingredients are mixed in a coconut shell as a container, then taken to a Sikerei or traditional shaman to lead the ritual. The dye used comes from natural dyes, from a mixture of banana leaves and coconut shell charcoal.

The promise of the Borneo Crow Early tattooing or paypay sakoyuan, it is done at the base of the arm. When he reached adulthood, his tattoos continued with durukat patterns on the chest, titi takep on the hands, titi rere on the thighs and legs, titi puso on the stomach, then titi teytey on the waist and back. In conclusion Ady Rosa, Mentawai tattoos are closely related to culture dongson in Vietnam. Allegedly, this is where the Mentawai people come from. From that ancestral land, they sailed to the Pacific Ocean and New Zealand. As a result, similar motifs are also found in several tribes in Hawaii, the Marquesas Islands, the Rapa Nui tribe in the Easter Islands, and the Maori tribe in New Zealand. In Indonesia, according to Ady, the Mentawai tattoo tradition is more democratic than the Dayak tattoo in Kalimantan. In Dayak culture, tattoos indicate a person's wealth status. ''The more tattooed, the richer,'' he said. After all, Baruamas Jabang Balumus, 67 years old, a traditional Dayak figure from the Taman tribe, said that in the tattoos of the Dayak community there are other aspects besides symbols of social strata. "Tattoos are a form of respect for ancestors," said the character whose real name is Masuka Djanting. An example is the tattoo tradition in the Dayak Iban and Dayak Kayan cultures. In both tribes, tattooing is believed to be a symbol and a means to reveal the ruler of nature. Tattoos are also believed to be able to ward off evil spirits, and ward off disease or the spirit of death. Tattoos are a form of expression to God related to Dayak cosmology. For the Dayak people, nature is divided into three: upper, middle and lower. Symbols representing the upper cosmos are seen in the hornbill, moon and sun tattoo motifs. The middle world, where humans live, is symbolized by the tree of life. While the dragon is a motif that shows the underworld. Charles Hose, a British officer at the Sarawak Civil Service Office in 1884, diligently recorded the legends believed by the Dayaks. In the book Natural Man, A Record from Borneo, published by Oxford University Press, 1990, Charles Hose recounts the promise of the Bornean crow and the Argus Kuau bird to decorate their feathers with each other. After the First Menstruation In the legend, the crow managed to do its job smoothly. Honey, kuau is a stupid bird. Unable to do so, finally kuau argus asked the crow to sit on a bowl of ink, then rubbed it all over the body of the kuau, the scavenger. Since then, it is said, crows and kuau birds have feather color and ''makeup'' as it is today. Widely, tattoos are found throughout the Dayak community. However, Hose assesses, the best tattoo techniques and designs are owned by the Kayan tribe. For this tribe, tattooing is only done if certain conditions are met. For men, the tattooing process is done after he can head the enemy's head.

The tradition of tattooing for men is slowly sinking in line with the prohibition of headhunting. After the ban, tattoos only appeared for aesthetic purposes. Tattoo tradition is not lost on the Eve. Now, they consider tattoos as a symbol of beauty and self-respect. Although the Dayak community does not recognize caste, tedak kayaan, aka women without tattoos, are considered lower in status than those with tattoos. There are three types of tattoos that are usually worn by Kayan Dayak women. Among other things, tedak gauze, which covers the entire foot and is used as an adult. Others are tedak usuu all over the hands, and tedak hapii all over the thighs. Among the Dayak Kenyah tribe, tattooing begins when a woman is 16 years old, or after her first menstruation. The traditional ceremony is carried out in a special house. During the tattoo, all men in the house are not allowed to leave the house. In addition, all family members are also required to undergo various taboos. It is said that if the taboo is violated, the safety of the person being tattooed will be threatened. In the past, so that the tattooed child does not move, a large dimple is placed on his body. If the child cries, the crying must be done in a special tone. In the Iban Dayak community, tattoos depict social status. Customary heads, village heads, and warlords tattoo themselves with symbols of the world above. The symbols of the underworld only adorn the bodies of ordinary people. This motif is passed down from generation to generation to show the line of kinship.

This process is very complex, painful and proud for the Mentawai tribal view. over.

Source: MoreIndonesia, larskrutak

Share this post