Tradisi Keranda Kayu Balak di Asia Tenggara

Pengenalan

Merupakan kebudayaan prasejarah lewat Merupakan kebudayaan prasejarah lewat Wujud pada Zaman LogamWujud pada Zaman LogamDitemui di beberapa tempat di kawasan Asia Ditemui di beberapa tempat di kawasan Asia

Tenggara terutamanya di kawasan Tenggara terutamanya di kawasan pedalaman yang berbatu kapur.pedalaman yang berbatu kapur.

Diamalkan oleh sejenis masyarakat iaitu Diamalkan oleh sejenis masyarakat iaitu masyarakat pedalaman.masyarakat pedalaman.

Asal-usul dan penyebaranMungkin bermula di Vietnam Utara atau Mungkin bermula di Vietnam Utara atau

selatan Chinaselatan ChinaMungkin tersebar ke luar daripada induk Mungkin tersebar ke luar daripada induk

semenjak zaman logam lewat – penghujung semenjak zaman logam lewat – penghujung millenium sebelum masihi atau awal masihi.millenium sebelum masihi atau awal masihi.

Tersebar melalui 2 jalan;Tersebar melalui 2 jalan; A) melalui kepulauanA) melalui kepulauan B) melalui tanah besarB) melalui tanah besar

Fungsi

Merupakan wadah kepada beberapa Merupakan wadah kepada beberapa bentuk pemikiran dan worldview bentuk pemikiran dan worldview mereka – pengabdian kepada Tuhan, mereka – pengabdian kepada Tuhan, tafsiran terhadap pelbagai benda alam tafsiran terhadap pelbagai benda alam di sekelilingdi sekeliling

Lambang status seseorang dan Lambang status seseorang dan keluargakeluarga

SulawesiSulawesi

• Diamalkan oleh masyarakat suku kaum Diamalkan oleh masyarakat suku kaum Toradja di Tana Toradja (Sulsel)Toradja di Tana Toradja (Sulsel)

• Merupakan bawaan tradisi dari Borneo Merupakan bawaan tradisi dari Borneo dan mungkin Pantai Timur Borneo (+/- dan mungkin Pantai Timur Borneo (+/- Sabah)Sabah)

• Amalan diteruskan sehingga pada hari iniAmalan diteruskan sehingga pada hari ini

• Ada beberapa jenis motif – kerbau, Ada beberapa jenis motif – kerbau, perahu, tongkongan, babiperahu, tongkongan, babi

Bentuk amalan

Pengebumian sekunderPengebumian sekunderDilakukan selepas beberapa tahun atau Dilakukan selepas beberapa tahun atau

mengikut tempoh kemampuan ahli keluarga mengikut tempoh kemampuan ahli keluarga untuk mengadakan upacarauntuk mengadakan upacara

Satu keranda untuk satu keluarga atau Satu keranda untuk satu keluarga atau sekurang-kurangnya beberapa orangsekurang-kurangnya beberapa orang

Pengebumian ini sememangnya Pengebumian ini sememangnya melambangkan status simati dan melambangkan status simati dan keluarganya.keluarganya.

Masih diteruskan sehingga pada hari ini Masih diteruskan sehingga pada hari ini tetapi dengan menggunakan jenis kayu yang tetapi dengan menggunakan jenis kayu yang lain kerana kekurangan bahanlain kerana kekurangan bahan

Selalunya gunakan batang pokok nangka – Selalunya gunakan batang pokok nangka – urat yang halus dan mudah diukirurat yang halus dan mudah diukir

ThailandThailand

Di kawasan tanah tinggi pedalaman Thailand Di kawasan tanah tinggi pedalaman Thailand bersempadan dengan Burma. bersempadan dengan Burma.

Antara contoh tapak ialah di Phang Ma Pha – Antara contoh tapak ialah di Phang Ma Pha – Mae Hong Son ProvinceMae Hong Son Province

LokasiLokasi

• Highland Pang Mapha is a small district in Mae Hong Highland Pang Mapha is a small district in Mae Hong Son Province, Northwestern Thailand. This area is a Son Province, Northwestern Thailand. This area is a borderland between Thailand and Myanmar. Pang borderland between Thailand and Myanmar. Pang Mapha has great biological and cultural diversity. Its Mapha has great biological and cultural diversity. Its population comprises various ethic groups who population comprises various ethic groups who migrated to this area over the past few decades migrated to this area over the past few decades including Shan (Tai), Karen, Lahu, Lisu, Hmong, and including Shan (Tai), Karen, Lahu, Lisu, Hmong, and Lua. Pang Mapha has a long been the target of Lua. Pang Mapha has a long been the target of several government modernizing policies which have several government modernizing policies which have been forced by international donor agencies including been forced by international donor agencies including opium eradication, elimination of shifting agriculture, opium eradication, elimination of shifting agriculture, and forest degradation. and forest degradation.

• This area has been unknown to Thai archaeologists This area has been unknown to Thai archaeologists and the general public since an American and the general public since an American archaeologist, Chester Gorman, excavated Spirit archaeologist, Chester Gorman, excavated Spirit Cave in a search for the origin of agriculture in Cave in a search for the origin of agriculture in Southeast Asia in 1969. In 2002, the Highland Southeast Asia in 1969. In 2002, the Highland Archaeology Project, a multidisciplinary research Archaeology Project, a multidisciplinary research involving archaeology, physical anthropology, and involving archaeology, physical anthropology, and dendrochronology, began long term research in Pang dendrochronology, began long term research in Pang Mapha, Mae Hong Son Province and will continue Mapha, Mae Hong Son Province and will continue working in this area through 2006. The project has working in this area through 2006. The project has contributed a body of knowledge to the archaeology contributed a body of knowledge to the archaeology of Thailand and Southeast Asia. of Thailand and Southeast Asia.

• From a local community perspective, this From a local community perspective, this project has increased the experience of Thai project has increased the experience of Thai archaeologists working closely with multi-archaeologists working closely with multi-ethnic communities who do not share ethnic communities who do not share languages and cultures with the majority languages and cultures with the majority “Thai” ethnic group. The research results “Thai” ethnic group. The research results form an important knowledge-base for local form an important knowledge-base for local communities to use in managing their cultural communities to use in managing their cultural resources such as using the archaeological resources such as using the archaeological sites as learning centers for school children sites as learning centers for school children as well as tourist attractions. as well as tourist attractions.

• Recently, globalization, especially tourism, has made a Recently, globalization, especially tourism, has made a strong impact on Thailand’s economy. Local government strong impact on Thailand’s economy. Local government policy is to promote the natural and archaeological policy is to promote the natural and archaeological resources of this area for tourism. This mountainous area resources of this area for tourism. This mountainous area has become increasingly popular for eco-tourism and has become increasingly popular for eco-tourism and adventure tourism among the Thai and foreigners. Among adventure tourism among the Thai and foreigners. Among the major attractions are caving, rock climbing, and the major attractions are caving, rock climbing, and archaeological sites discovered by the Highland archaeological sites discovered by the Highland Archaeology project. Tourism in Pang Mapha has created Archaeology project. Tourism in Pang Mapha has created a number of problems as most of archaeological sites are a number of problems as most of archaeological sites are the burial sites and temples, which are “unowned the burial sites and temples, which are “unowned heritage”. Most tribal groups believe that the sites are loci heritage”. Most tribal groups believe that the sites are loci of tribal spirits. In the past couple years, some of tribal spirits. In the past couple years, some communities have forbidden archaeologists to work in communities have forbidden archaeologists to work in sites found in their villages because they are afraid that sites found in their villages because they are afraid that someone in the villages will die; however, this attitude is someone in the villages will die; however, this attitude is rapidly changing due to tourism. rapidly changing due to tourism.

SabahSabah

Tertumpu di bahagian pantai timur Sabah – di daerah Kinabatangan dan Lahad Datu

Didukung oleh masyarakat Dusun Sungai dan Subpan

Tradisi semenjak 1000 tahun dahulu atau lebih dan berterusan sehingga ke hari ini.

Tapak pertaburanTapak pertaburan

Kinabatangan – Gua Gomantong, Batu Tulug, Batu Supu, Miasias, Sarupi, Batu Timbang, Tongod

Segama – Batu balos, TapadongMadai, Baturong, Sipit, Segarong dan

Melanta Tutup.Terdapat lebih daripada 1000 keranda kayu

balak telah ditemui setakat ini.

KaltimKaltim

Masih belum dikaji sepenuhnya.Hanya Karina Ariffin yang pernah

membuat reconnaissance setakat ini.Mempunyai kaitan yang rapat dengan

keranda-keranda yang terdapat di Sabah khususnya dari segi bentuk dan cara perletakan.

Mungkin sezaman dengan Sabah

FilipinaFilipina

Ditemui di Kuruswanan Ledge, Palawan, Panay

Hanging coffin - SagadaHanging coffin - Sagada

Southern ChinaSouthern China

• The Hanging CoffinThe Hanging Coffin

First appearing during the Spring and Autumn Period First appearing during the Spring and Autumn Period (722-481BC), hanging coffin is a unique funeral and (722-481BC), hanging coffin is a unique funeral and sacrifice custom of the minority groups in southern sacrifice custom of the minority groups in southern China. People put the bodies of their ancestors into China. People put the bodies of their ancestors into wooden coffins that were later placed in caves of wooden coffins that were later placed in caves of precipitous cliffsides. precipitous cliffsides.

• Most coffins were made with one whole piece of Most coffins were made with one whole piece of wood into various shapes. It was said that the wood into various shapes. It was said that the hanging coffins could prevent bodies from being hanging coffins could prevent bodies from being taken by beasts and also bless the soul eternally. taken by beasts and also bless the soul eternally.

• Famous Hanging Coffin Sites: Famous Hanging Coffin Sites: • While hanging coffins can be found in many While hanging coffins can be found in many

places in China, the strange thing is all of places in China, the strange thing is all of them only existed for a certain period in them only existed for a certain period in history. Those in Wuyi Mountain are the first history. Those in Wuyi Mountain are the first appear in China, as early as in the Zhou appear in China, as early as in the Zhou Dynasty (1027-777BC) while those in Dynasty (1027-777BC) while those in Gongxian County of Southwest china's Gongxian County of Southwest china's Sichuan province are the most recent, which Sichuan province are the most recent, which also marked the end of the hanging coffin also marked the end of the hanging coffin customcustom

DistributionDistribution

A) Hanging Coffins in Gongxian County • Location: Gongxian County of Yibin, Sichuan

Province

B) Hanging Coffins in Longhu Shan (Dragon Tiger Mountain)

• Route: Within the Longhu Shan (Dragon Tiger Mountain) Scenic Area, 20 kilometers southwest of Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province.

C) Hanging Coffins in Wuyi Mountain C) Hanging Coffins in Wuyi Mountain

• Location:Within the Wuyishan Scenic Location:Within the Wuyishan Scenic Area of Fujian Province Area of Fujian Province

Guiyang's Cave BurialGuiyang's Cave Burial

On top of a nameless mountain, at least On top of a nameless mountain, at least 200 coffins, surrounded by vibrant 200 coffins, surrounded by vibrant shrubs, lie in a giant cavern about 40 shrubs, lie in a giant cavern about 40 meters tall, 70 meters wide and more meters tall, 70 meters wide and more than 100 meters in depth. Here, life and than 100 meters in depth. Here, life and death coexist in great harmony. death coexist in great harmony.

……cont…cont…

In Gaopo, which is located in a high and cold In Gaopo, which is located in a high and cold mountainous area, the highest point reaches mountainous area, the highest point reaches 1,712.1 meters, and the northern part is 1,712.1 meters, and the northern part is higher than the southern part, as the northern higher than the southern part, as the northern area consists mainly of high mountains and area consists mainly of high mountains and mesas. The area boasts of typical karst mesas. The area boasts of typical karst topography, and caverns of various sizes can topography, and caverns of various sizes can be seen everywhere. According to the locals, be seen everywhere. According to the locals, the cave burial custom dates back to 600 the cave burial custom dates back to 600 years ago, and cave burials abound there. years ago, and cave burials abound there.

As revealed in a survey by a scholar in 1981, As revealed in a survey by a scholar in 1981, there are eight cave burial sites, but there are eight cave burial sites, but researchers believe the real number is far researchers believe the real number is far more. more.

"Since these burial sites are ages old, and the "Since these burial sites are ages old, and the custom is no longer popular at present, many custom is no longer popular at present, many sites have been forgotten. Up to now, there sites have been forgotten. Up to now, there are two sites that have been kept intact: one are two sites that have been kept intact: one is the Jiading cave burial site, and the other, is the Jiading cave burial site, and the other, the Shaping cave burial site," said the the Shaping cave burial site," said the researchers. researchers.

Sekian…