Chapter 1- Tongkonan and Toraja Carvings

Juli 14, 2019

Chapter 1- Tongkonan and Toraja Carvings

Hei hoo...

Toraja sceneries are mesmerising and for those who love nature here eyes are spoilted with never ending views.
Unique is the first word,
Toraja landmarks have to have ricefields, healthy buffalos, mountains and Tongkonan in one go. The combination of these details you will not find elsewhere.

Do not rush to take pictures of a Tongkonan when you see one.
Soon there will be another one and many more which all must be unique.
This is Toraja traditional house, yet in modern Life - Toraja is a tribe in Indonesia who keeps tradition very strong in the family.

Tongkonan has function not only as shelter but also as barn or storage. The shape of the house is typical with the roof looks like a boat. History behind it is that Toraja people belief that their ancestor came to the land of Sulawesi by boat from Northern part of China.

I will not talk details because more stories about Tongkonan you can see here. In this chapter of my hometown Road, I would like to only preview memory from my last visit to seee Tongkonan and Carvings.

Recently I work with French Furniture company who is specialize in antique French style Furniture which in design exposing lots of carvings.

The first time I arrived in France about 10 years ago,when visiting museum and chateau I was quite surprised to see chairs and tables with Carvings exactly look like what we have in Jepara.

Years later I understood that the Dutch during colonial times brought the design of carvings right to Jepara for Javanese to make replica and here the furniture production started. However Indonesian understands that the colonial carvings is belong to Javanese.

Indonesia itself are very rich in sculpture and reliefs. Some are influenced by Hindus culture and European like those you find in Java.
The rest are original, like motives of Dayak tribes, Papua and Toraja.
Back to our topic now, Toraja motif is extremely various, unique and particular.
Each carving motives have meanings. More about Toraja motives you check the book or read here or here. More serious reading about Toraja motives you can read here.

Tongkonan is not only functioning as house, barn, or to keep dead body of family member, which usually are mummified and kept until the family able to provide decent funeral , BuT also symbol of social status.

The horn symbolize wealth, number of ricefields of the family

Look at the plank of carving and imagine how it was made by hand one by one and put together

Roof is made of bamboo, pilars made of Uru be wood and coconut tree.

Knock- knock....

Toraja motive , basic color of red, black and white, basically all natural. The coloring Technic also use natural coloring such as clay, soil, plants, charcoal even bloods. This what make the Toraja engravings turn sacred and meaningful for the family who has it in the house.

Circle as symbol of universe and eternity,
Even many Toraja people are now Christians, they still have in tradition beliefs of life after death. This is what make death and funeral is the most important ceremony in life of Toraja people.

Piece of carving I bought for 200k.
Bargaining from opening price 500k

In general you will find on the engraving the image of domestic animals such as buffalo, rooster, pig, then the sky objects such as the sun, the clouds.
If you remember since Stone age , engraving and drawing on walls of cave was natural behavior of human telling their life story or to send message.
The memorial of life, as now human can see clearly in pictures from camera or phone, was drawn or engraved on stone or trees.

In total there are about 130 motives of Toraja Carvings.(please verify data yourself) , all symbolize the most simple to most complicated image.
In Toraja , there are two types of traditions to be inherited in the family. The tangible and the intangible values.
Here carvings are something tangible but has intangible value to share.
Rooster for example is sacred animal which is one of most popular motive you will fine in Toraja carving. It symbolize masculinity as well as leadership. Moreover, deepest meaning of a rooster is the life itself ( how the roosyer symbolize beginning of life when it wakes people early morning from their sleep).

There are many interesting discussions about Toraja carving and their meaning you can find in different sources. The architecture ( design and structure of Toraja house) also is a very interesting subject you can explore before visiting Toraja.

See, I start talking too much about carving and Tongkonan. Well, I still think Indonesian culture is very rich and Toraja is very unique.

Allow me to close the chapter with my favorite pics of Tongkonan in modern Life.
Tongkonan. A true symbol of Toraja rich culture.

Thanks for stopping here.

Ce ha I en te a

Tongkonan as a social hub: Upper part as shelter/ storage, lower part for social gathering. If Tongkonan means " to sit" then sitting and relaxing under Tongkonan, drinking a cup of hot Toraja coffee and sweets gave me always the best chill.