Tattoos For Identity Society "Mentawai"

Cultural diversity of Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke is an asset that is priceless, so that should be maintained and continue to be preserved. But, unfortunately, as children of the nation there are still many who do not know the various cultures of other regions in Indonesia, one of which tattoo culture in Mentawai, West Sumatra.

For enthusiasts traveling to various regions in Indonesia, particularly the sense ingintahunya high enough to diverse cultures, it never hurts to stop by the Mentawai close look at the tattoo culture has become a culture of local communities, in addition to enjoying a dish of natural charm and the sea. As the saying goes, do not know it was love.

In Indonesia, the oldest types of tattoos are tattoos that are owned by tribes Mentawai, these tattoos are and usually only the shape of the letter. For the criminals, tattoos are a marker. Like most other people, they use a tattoo to show the identity of the group. But, there is also a tattoo that has a history as a means of ritual.

According to historical records, Mentawai people are tattooing their bodies since coming to the west coast of Sumatra. Proto Malay nation was coming from mainland Asia (Indochina), the Metal Age, 1500 BC-500 BC.

In Mentawai, tattoos known as titi. In the study Ady Rosa, in addition to the Mentawai and Egypt, tattoos are also found in Siberia (300 BC), the United Kingdom (54 BC), Haida Indians in America, the tribes of the Eskimo, Hawaii, and Marquesas Islands. Tattoo culture is also found on Rapa Nui tribes on Easter Island, New Zealand's Maori tribe, the Dayak tribe in Kalimantan, and Sumba tribe in West Sumatra.

For the Mentawai people, tattoos are the spirit of life. Tattoos have four positions in this society, one of which is to show identity and difference in social status or profession. Tattoos sikerei shaman, for example, unlike a tattoo expert hunting. Experts hunt known for his pictures of animals catch, such as pigs, deer, monkeys, birds, or alligators. Sikerei known from sibalu-balu star tattoo on his body.

Tattooing also has a function as a symbol of nature's balance. In that society, objects such as rocks, animals, and plants must be preserved in the upper body tattoo that another function is beauty. So the Mentawai people are also free tattooing the body in accordance with his creativity.

The position of the tattoo is set by the trust Mentawai tribe, Arat Sabulungan. The term comes from the word sa (se) or a collection, as well as bulung or leaves. A set of leaves arranged in a circle made ​​of palm shoots, or thatch, which is believed to have supernatural power or ketse beggar.

This is then used as a media for whom worship Kabagat Tai (God of the Sea), Tai Ka-leleu (spirit forests and mountains), and Tai Ka Manua (spirit of the clouds). Arat Sabulungan used in every ceremony of birth, marriage, medical treatment, moving house, and penatoan. When boys enter puberty, age 11-12 years, parents call sikerei and rimata
(chieftain). 

They will negotiate to determine the day and month penatoan implementation. After that, sipatiti chosen tattooist. Sipatiti this is not a position based on public appointments, such as shaman or chieftain, but a male profession. His expertise should be paid with a pig. Before penatoan will be punen enegat, aka initiation ceremony led sikerei, in puturukat (gallery owned sipatiti).

Body of boy who would then tattooed it began to be drawn by a stick. Sketches on the body is then pierced with a needle-stemmed wood who was beaten slowly with a wooden bat to insert dye into the skin layer. Dye used was a mixture of banana leaves and coconut shell charcoal.

Promise Crow Borneo is penatoan early stage, performed at the base of the arm. When he was an adult, followed by a pattern durukat tattoo on his chest, titi takep in hand, titi rere on thigh and leg, titi puso on her stomach, then titi teytey on waist and back.

It was also found that the tattoo on the Mentawai people closely related to the Dong Son culture in Vietnam. Allegedly, the Mentawai people come here. From the ancestral land, they sailed into the Pacific Ocean and New Zealand. As a result, a similar motif is also found in some tribes in Hawaii, the Marquesas Islands, Rapa Nui interest in Easter Island, and Maori tribes in New Zealand.

In Indonesia, the Mentawai tattoo is more democratic than the Dayak people who are more likely to show one's wealth status of the tattoo, get richer. In the Dayak community confidence, for example for the Dayak Iban and Dayak Kayan, tattoos are a form of homage to the ancestors.