Baduy people (sometimes spelled as Badui or Kanekes) are an indigenous Sundanese

ethnic group An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...

native to the southeastern part of

Banten Banten ( id, Banten; Sundanese: , romanized ''Banten'') is the westernmost province on the island of Java, Indonesia. Its capital city is Serang. The province borders West Java and the Special Capital Region of Jakarta on the east, the Ja ...

specifically Lebak Regency on western hemisphere of

Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's mo ...

island in

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Gui ...

Etymology

The term is a short form derived from in Baduy language, it is the native Sundanesic term which refers to the endemic vine plant in western hemisphere of Java island which are usually used as herbal medicine since ancient times. As part of Sundanesic family, the term also known in

Old Sundanese Old Sundanese ( Sundanese script: , Old Sundanese script: , Buda script: , ) is the earliest recorded stage of the Sundanese language which is spoken in the western part of Java. The evidence is recorded in inscriptions from around the 12th ...

and Sundanese languages which bears the same meaning; the Cibaduyut region in the Sundanese cultural land region may derived from the same etymology. It is likely that in ancient times, there was once a river called the Baduyut River, because the term () itself literally means 'Baduyut River' in Sundanese language; so it is very possible if this tribe was once named after the name of that

river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of ...

. However, the Baduy people sometimes would prefer to be called as ( 'Kanekes people') or ( 'Cibeo people') instead; which are the names based on their cultural regions or villages. There are also a theory which suggested that the term was initially an

exonym An endonym (from Greek: , 'inner' + , 'name'; also known as autonym) is a common, ''native'' name for a geographical place, group of people, individual person, language or dialect, meaning that it is used inside that particular place, group ...

given by outsiders to refer these tribal group, which expected from the Dutch observers that might have thought to equate them with the nomadic community of the

Bedouin The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu (; , singular ) are nomadic Arabs, Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia. The Bedouin originated in the Syrian Desert ...

Arabs.

Sub-groups

The Baduy are divided into two sub-groups: #''Tangtu'' ( 'Inner Baduy'; ) #''Panamping'' ( 'Outer Baduy'; ) No foreigners are allowed to meet the Inner Baduy, though the Outer Baduy do foster some limited contacts with the outside world.

Settlement area

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Heuvellandschap bij de Badui kampong Kadoeketoeg TMnr 60016565

The Baduy region is geographically located at coordinates 6°27’27" – 6°30’0" south latitude and 108°3’9" – 106°4’55" east longitude. Their population of 11,700 is centered at the foothill of Kendeng mountains at the Kanekes settlement, Leuwidamar district, Lebak Regency,

Rangkasbitung Rangkasbitung ( Sundanese: ) (colloquially called Rangkas) is a town which is the administrative centre of Lebak Regency, in Banten Province of Java, Indonesia. It had a population of 134,945 at the 2020 Census, while the official estimate as a ...

with a distance of 40 km from

. This region that is part of the Kendeng mountains with an elevation of 300–500 meters (975'-1,625') above sea level; consists of hilly and bumpy topography with sloppy surface that reaches up to an average of 45%, are volcanic soil (in the north), precipitate soil (in the center) and mixed soil (in the south). The average temperature is 20 °C. Their homeland in

is contained in just of hilly forest area from

Jakarta Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital city, capital and list of Indonesian cities by population, largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coa ...

, Indonesia's capital. The three main settlements of the Kanekes people are Cikeusik, Cikertawana and Cibeo.

Language

The native language of Baduy people is the Baduy language, it is a language belongs to the Sundanesic language family. Native speakers of the Baduy language are spread in regions around the Mount Kendeng,

district of Lebak Regency, Pandeglang Regency and

Sukabumi , nickname = id, Kota Santri en, City of Learners , image_map = Map of West Java highlighting Sukabumi City.svg , map_caption = Location within West Java , mapsize = , pushpin_map = In ...

West Java West Java ( id, Jawa Barat, su, ᮏᮝ ᮊᮥᮜᮧᮔ᮪, romanized ''Jawa Kulon'') is a province of Indonesia on the western part of the island of Java, with its provincial capital in Bandung. West Java is bordered by the province of Banten ...

. It is estimated that there are 11,620 speakers as of 2010. In order to communicate with outsiders (people who are in the regions outside of Baduy settlements), the Baduy people tend to speak with the Sundanese and sometimes Indonesian to a degree of fluency. The Inner Baduy in Kanekes village are mostly illiterate, hence their customary, religious belief system and ancestral folktales are preserved in a form of

oral tradition Oral tradition, or oral lore, is a form of human communication wherein knowledge, art, ideas and Culture, cultural material is received, preserved, and transmitted orally from one generation to another.Jan Vansina, Vansina, Jan: ''Oral Traditio ...

Education

Formal education for the Baduy children is seen by Baduy people as a violation to their traditional customs. They tend to refuse the Indonesian government proposal to build educational facilities in their villages. Even up till today (since the

Suharto Suharto (; ; 8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian army officer and politician, who served as the second and the longest serving president of Indonesia. Widely regarded as a military dictator by international observers, Suharto l ...

era), the Baduy people (especially the Inner Baduy) still refuse the governmental efforts to promote the constructive change on their lives and to build modern schools in their territory. As a result, only few Baduy people are educated or even able to read or write.

Origins

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Afgevaardigden van de Badui (oftewel Kanekes) bevolking TMnr 60016564

Mythology

According to belief system that they practice, Kanekes people regard themselves as descendants of Batara Cikal, one of the seven deities or gods that was sent to earth. That origin is often associated with

Adam Adam; el, Ἀδάμ, Adám; la, Adam is the name given in Genesis 1-5 to the first human. Beyond its use as the name of the first man, ''adam'' is also used in the Bible as a pronoun, individually as "a human" and in a collective sense as " ...

, as the first man of mankind. In their belief system,

and his descendants, including the Kanekes people have been given the task to meditate or practice

asceticism Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...

in order to preserve the harmony of the world.

History

The opinion of the mythological origins of the Kanekes people differs from the opinions of historians, who base their opinions by the synthesis of some historical evidence in the form of inscriptions, written records of Portuguese and Chinese sailors, as well as the 'Tatar Sunda' folklore which very few had remained in existence. Some people believe that the Baduy are the descendants of the aristocracy of the Sunda Kingdom of Pajajaran who lived near Batutulis in the hills around

Bogor Bogor ( su, , nl, Buitenzorg) is a city in the West Java province, Indonesia. Located around south of the national capital of Jakarta, Bogor is the 6th largest city in the Jakarta metropolitan area and the 14th overall nationwide.Sunda Kelapa, was destroyed by invading Faletehan (Fatahillah) Muslim soldiers in 1579, Dayeuh Pakuan the capital of Pajajaran, was invaded by

Banten Sultanate The Banten Sultanate (كسلطانن بنتن) was a Bantenese Islamic trading kingdom founded in the 16th century and centred in Banten, a port city on the northwest coast of Java; the contemporary English name of both was Bantam. It is sai ...

some time later. Before the establishment of the

, the end of the western tip region in

Java Island Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's most ...

plays an important role for the Sunda Kingdom. Banten was a large trading port. Various types of vessel entered the Ciujung River, and most of them are used to transport crops that were harvested from the interior regions. Therefore, the ruler of the region, Prince Pucuk Umun considers that the sustainability of the river needs to be maintained. So an army of highly trained royal troops was commanded to guard and to manage the dense and hilly jungle areas in the region of Mount Kendeng. The existence of the troops with their specific duties to that area seems to be the pioneer of the Kanekes community which still inhabit the upstream of Ciujung River at Gunung Kendeng. The disagreement of this theory led to the notion that in the past, their identity and historicity had been intentionally concealed, which was probably to protect the Kanekes community themselves from the attacks of the Sunda Kingdom of Pajajaran's enemies. Van Tricht, a doctor who had done medical research in 1928, denied the theory. According to him, the Kanekes people are natives of the region who have strong resistance to external influences. The Kanekes people themselves also refuse to acknowledge that they are from the fugitives of Pajajaran, the capital of the Kingdom of Sunda. According to Danasasmita and Djatisunda, the Baduy people are local to the settlements that are officially mandated (as sacred region) by the king because the people are obliged to preserve the ''kabuyutan'' (ancestral or ancestral worship), are neither Hindu or Buddhist. The ancestral worship in this area is known as ''Kabuyutan Jati Sunda'' or ''Sunda Asli'' or ''Sunda Wiwitan'' (''wiwitan'' = original, origin, principal, native). Therefore, their

ethnic religion In religious studies, an ethnic religion is a religion or belief associated with a particular ethnic group. Ethnic religions are often distinguished from universal religions, such as Christianity or Islam, in which gaining converts is a prima ...

was also given the name of Sunda Wiwitan. Another theory suggests that they originate in northern

; pockets of people in the northern hills still speak the archaic dialect of Sunda that the Baduy use.

Religion and beliefs

The religion of the Baduy is known as '' Agama Sunda Wiwitan'', an ancestral teaching that is rooted in ancestral worship and honoring or worshiping spirits of natural forces (

animism Animism (from Latin: ' meaning ' breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things— animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather syst ...

). According to ''kokolot'' (elder) of Cikeusik village, Kanekes people is not adherent of

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

, they follow animism, the belief that venerated and worshiped the spirit of ancestors. However, in its development this faith is influenced and incorporated Hindu, and to some extent,

Islamic Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ma ...

elements. The form of respect for the spirit of the natural forces is carried out through the attitude of guarding and preserving the natural environment such as the mountains, hills, valleys, forests, gardens, springs, rivers, and all the ecosystems within them; and as well as giving their highest gratitude to nature, by treating and protecting the jungle as part of an effort to maintain the balance of the universe. The core of this belief is shown by the existence of ''pikukuh'' or the absolute customary provisions that is practiced in the daily lives of the Kanekes people. The most important principle from the Kanekes people's ''pukukuh'' (adherence) is the concept of "no changes of whatsoever", or the slightest change possible: ''Lojor heunteu beunang dipotong, pèndèk heunteu beunang disambung'' (meaning "What's long cannot be cut (to shorten), and what's short cannot be attached (to lengthen)"). The Baduy also observe many mystical taboos. They are forbidden to kill, steal, lie, commit adultery, get drunk, eat food at night, take any form of conveyance, wear flowers or perfumes, accept gold or silver, touch money, or cut their hair. In agriculture, the form of ''pukukuh'' is by not changing the contour of the land for the fields, so much so that the way of farming is very simple, not cultivate the land with plowing or make any terracing, but only with

hoe-farming Hoe-farming is a term introduced (as german: Hackbau; as opposed to ''Ackerbau'') by Eduard Hahn in 1910 to collectively refer to primitive forms of agriculture, defined by the absence of the plough. Tillage in hoe-farming cultures is done by si ...

method, that is with a sharpened bamboo. In construction of houses, the contouring of the soil surface are also left as is, therefore the poles of the Kanekes house are often not the same length. Words and actions of the Baduy people are deemed as honest, innocent, without beating around the bush, and even in trade they do not bargain. Other taboos relate to defending Baduy lands against invasion: they may not grow sawah (wet rice), use

fertilizers A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English; see spelling differences) is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from ...

, raise cash crops, use modern tools for working ''ladang'' soil, or keep large domestic animals. The most important religious object for the Kanekes people is the Arca Domas, where its location is kept secret and is considered the most sacred. The Kanekes people visit the site to worship once a year in the month of Kalima; which in 2003, that month coincided with July. Only ''Pu'un'' or the highest customary chairman and several elected members of the community will follow the entourage to worship. Rain water is stored in a mortar container in the Arca Domas complex. If the rain water in the mortar container is found to be clear at the time of worship, then it is a sign for the Kanekes people that there will be plenty of rain in that year, and the harvest will be bountiful. Conversely, if the mortar container is dry or water is turbid, then it is a sign of crop failure. A certain amount of Islamic influence has also penetrated into the religion of a few of the Baduy Luar in recent years (especially in Cicakal Girang village), with some original ideas thrown in for good measure. The ultimate authority is vested in ''Gusti Nu Maha Suci'', who according to the Baduy sent Adam into the world to lead the life of a Baduy. There is evidence that they were originally influenced by

, but retain much of their native

ancestral veneration beliefs. They have adopted this many centuries before foreign influence including Arab (

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ...

), European (

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global popula ...

) etc. However, due to lack of interaction with the outside world, their religion is more related to Kejawen

, though they still retain many elements of Hindu–Buddhist religion influences, like the terms they use to define things and objects, and the rituals in their religious activities. For some, in relation to the persistence of their people, the indigenous beliefs of the Kanekes people reflect the religious beliefs of

Sundanese people The Sunda or Sundanese ( id, Orang Sunda; su, ᮅᮛᮀ ᮞᮥᮔ᮪ᮓ, Urang Sunda) are an indigenous ethnic group native to the western region of Java island in Indonesia, primarily West Java. They number approximately 42 million and form ...

in general before the arrival of

Social classes

The Kanekes people have a shared history with the

. Their physical appearance and language are similar to the general

population. One of the differences is their beliefs and lifestyle. The Kanekes people isolate themselves from the outside world influences and strictly preserve their traditional lifestyle, while the

are much more open to outside influences and majority of them embraces

. Generally, the Baduy are divided into three groups, namely ''Tangtu'', ''Panamping'' and ''Dangka''. The community of villages in which they live are considered ''

mandala A mandala ( sa, मण्डल, maṇḍala, circle, ) is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for e ...

s'', derived from the Hindu/Buddhist concept but referring in the Indonesian context to places where religion is the central aspect of life. The first group, ''Tangtu'' or ''Kajeroan'', also known as ''Baduy Dalam'' or ''Kanekes Dalam'' (meaning "Inner Kanekes") with population of about 400 consists of 40 families ''Kajeroan'' who live in the three villages of Cibeo, Cikertawana, and Cikeusik in Tanah Larangan (forbidden territory) where no stranger is permitted to spend the night. They are probably the purest Baduy stock. A characteristic of the Kanekes Dalam people the color of their clothings are natural white and dark blue, as well as wearing a white headband. The Kanekes Dalam people follow the rigid buyut taboo system very strictly, (see § Religion and beliefs for more information about their taboos) and thus they have made very few contacts with the outside world as they are considered as "People of the sacred inner circle". The Kanekes Dalam people are the only one of these two major clans that have the Pu'un, the spiritual priest of the Baduy. The Pu'un are the only people that visit the most hallowed and sacred ground of the Baduy which lies on Gunung Kendeng, in a place called Arca Domas. Unlike their Kanekes Luar counterpart, the Kanekes Dalams people are hardly influenced by

. Some of the rules observed by the Kanekes Dalam people are such as: * No vehicles are allowed as a form of transportation. * No footwear is allowed. * The door of the house should face north or south (except the house of the Pu'un or the customary chairman). * Usage of electronic devices is prohibited. * No modern clothing is allowed. Only black or white fabrics that are woven and sewn clothing are allowed. The following group, ''Panamping'' also known as ''Baduy Luar'' or ''Kanekes Luar'' (meaning "Outer Kanekes") make up the remainder of the Baduy population, living in 22 villages and acting as a barrier to stop visitors from entering the Sacred Inner circle. They do follow the rigid taboo system but not as strictly as the Kanekes Dalam, and they are more willing to accept modern influence into their daily lives. For example, some Kanekes Luar people now proudly sport the colorful sarongs and shirts favored by their Sundanese neighbors. In the past the Baduy Luar people only wore their homespun blue-black cloth, and were forbidden to wear trousers. Other elements of civilization (toys, money, batteries) are rapidly infiltrating especially in the villages to the north, and it is no longer unusual for an Outer Baduy people to make a journey to Jakarta, or even to work outside as a hired hand during the rice planting and reaping seasons. Some even work in big towns and cities like

Bogor Bogor ( su, , nl, Buitenzorg) is a city in the West Java province, Indonesia. Located around south of the national capital of Jakarta, Bogor is the 6th largest city in the Jakarta metropolitan area and the 14th overall nationwide.Bandung Bandung ( su, ᮘᮔ᮪ᮓᮥᮀ, Bandung, ; ) is the capital city of the Indonesian province of West Java. It has a population of 2,452,943 within its city limits according to the official estimates as at mid 2021, making it the fourth most ...

. Animal meat is eaten in some of the outer villages where dogs are trained for hunting, though animal husbandry is still forbidden. Other reasons why there are Kanekes Dalam who have become Kanekes Luar includes: * They have broken the Kanekes Dalam customary law. * The desire to come out from the Kanekes Dalam community. * Intermarriage with other Kanekes Luar people. Characteristics of the Kanekes Luar people: * They are familiar with technology such as electronic devices. * Construction of houses in the Kanekes Luar community that uses tools such as saw, hammer, nails and so on, which were previously prohibited in the Kanekes Dalam customs. * Traditional attire that is black or dark blue (for men) in color, which signifies impurity. Sometimes modern clothing like T-shirts and jeans is used. * The usage of modern home appliances, such as mattress, pillow, plastic or glass plates and cups. * They live outside of the Kanekes Dalam customary area. * A significant number of them have converted to

and have been influenced by the outside world. When the Kanekes Dalam and Kanekes Luar lives outside of the Kanekes customary region, therefore the ''Dangka'' or ''Kanekes Dangka'' are the ones that lived outside of the Kanekes customary region. At the moment, there are two remaining settlements, namely Padawaras (Cibengkung) and Sirahdayeuh (Cihadam). These Dangka settlements function as a buffer zone to the outside influences.

Governance

The Kanekes community recognizes two governing systems; the national system, which is in accordance to the laws of Indonesia, and the customary system, which abides to the custom of the community. Both of the systems are combined or acculturated in such a way that there is no conflict. Nationalistically, the Kanekes people are led by a head of settlement who is referred to as ''jaro pamarentah'' under a district. While customarily, the Kanekes people comes under the leadership of the highest head of the Kanekes customs, who is referred to as ''Pu'un''. The highest customary leader in the Kanekes community that is called ''Pu'un'' can be found in three settlements, ''tangtu''. Position is passed down through the generations, but not necessarily from father to his children, but it can also be other relatives. The term in office of a ''Pu'un'' is not specified, instead it only depends on the basis of a person's ability to hold on to the position.

Livelihood

As it has always been the case for hundreds of years, the main livelihood of the Kanekes people are rice farming. Apart from that they also earn extra income from selling the fruits they gather from the jungle such as

durian The durian (, ) is the edible fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus ''Durio''. There are 30 recognised ''Durio'' species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit. '' Durio zibethinus'', native to Borneo and Sumatra, is the on ...

and tamarind-plum, as well as wild honey.

External interactions

The Kanekes community, whom until now have strictly adhered their customs, is not an alienated, secluded, or isolated society from the development of the outside world. They are also fully aware of the establishment of the Sultanate of Banten which automatically annexed the Kanekes people into the kingdom's territory of power. As a sign of obedience / recognition to the authorities, Kanekes community routinely perform ''seba'' ceremony to the Sultanate of Banten. Up until today, this ceremony is still being held once a year, in the form of delivering crops (rice, ''palawija'' (meaning, crops planted in dry season that requires less water), fruits) to the Governor of Banten (formerly to the Governor of West Java), through the regent of Lebak Regency. In agriculture, the Kanekes Luar people interact closely with outsiders, in affairs such as leasing of land and laborers. Trading in the past was done by

barter In trade, barter (derived from ''baretor'') is a system of exchange in which participants in a transaction directly exchange goods or services for other goods or services without using a medium of exchange, such as money. Economists disti ...

system but now the common currency, the

Indonesian rupiah The rupiah ( symbol: Rp; currency code: IDR) is the official currency of Indonesia. It is issued and controlled by Bank Indonesia. The name " rupiah" is derived from the Sanskrit word for silver, (). Sometimes, Indonesians also informally us ...

is being used. The Kanekes people would sell fruits, honey and sugar palm through the middlemen. They would also buy other necessities that they do not produce from the market. Markets that are located outside the Kanekes customary region that the Kanekes people themselves would go to are such as Kroya, Cibengkung and Ciboleger markets. Today, outsiders who visit the Kanekes customary region are increasing up to hundreds of people per visit; are usually teenagers from schools, college students, as well as other adult visitors. Visitors are welcomed, even for a one-night stay, provided that the visitors abide by the rules of the customs there. The customary rules includes prohibition of taking photos within the region of Kanekes Dalam and using of soap or toothpaste in the river is not allowed. However, the customary region of the Kanekes people remains forbidden to non-Indonesian foreigners. Several foreign journalists that attempted to enter the region were denied entry. During the time when there is no major work in the field, Kanekes people also enjoy to wander into big cities that are around their territory with the condition that they would to have to walk. Generally they travel in small groups of 3 to 5 people, visiting the acquaintances who had previously visited the Kanekes people while selling honey and handicrafts. During such visits, they usually earn extra money to meet their necessities.

References

External links

Wayang.net : Story of a Foreigner's Visit to the Baduy People

Isolated Indonesia tribe immune to global crisis , Environment , Reuters

More reading on Baduy
Tubagus Rifki Luthfi 02:46, 18 August 2010 (UTC)
"The Indonesian tribe that rejects technology"
a short documentary by

Al Jazeera Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazee ...

{{Ethnic groups in Indonesia Ethnic groups in Indonesia Sundanese culture Hindu ethnic groups Populated places in Banten Hindu communities