Respect for nature serves Baduy in good stead

JAKARTA (JP): The Baduy tribespeople in the isolated highlands of Lebak regency, West Java, have not felt the pinch of the crippling economic crisis thanks to their love of Mother Nature.

The Baduy, who strictly limit contact with the outside world, fiercely uphold their philosophy of pikukuh, which guides them in their relations with fellow tribespeople, outsiders and nature.

People from outside their clan are welcomed only if they comply with the rules and do not impose their will on them.

Kasinah, a 76-year-old member of the Outer Baduy, said he never suffered rice shortages, boasting his stock was sufficient for three years.

"Our customary rules do not allow us to sell rice, but we can buy if we need to," said the smiling man, who traveled to Jakarta by bus instead of walking like most of the Baduy who do not mind the three-day trek on foot.

He said he harvested rice only once a year and kept most of it in the rice barn.

"In each harvest, rice is more than we actually need and we can save it for the next year," said Kasinah, who still prefers to use stairs instead of elevators when moving up and down in Jakarta buildings.

Pikukuh deems it taboo to change the course of water for whatever purposes, including irrigation. It also prohibits people from altering the form of earth by digging, clearing land to build or farm. Entering forbidden forests, felling trees or gathering materials from sacred trees are disallowed.

The Baduy people are not allowed to use modern farming equipment, change or suppress the growth of plants, breed and keep four-legged animals as pets, catch fish by poisoning them, bathe with soap or brush their teeth with toothpaste.

Judistira K. Garna, professor of anthropology at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, said the Baduy's success in cultivating rice was due to their skill in upland farming which does not rely on the irrigation system.

Rice is the Baduy people's main food crop and is considered to be a manifestation of the goddess Nyi Pohaci Sangyang Asri.

"Trading in rice is forbidden but not other crops, such as corn, cucumber or eggplant," said Judistira. He lived with the Baduy people for more than 10 years to conduct research for his dissertation on the tribe.

Judistira addressed a seminar on Baduy's culture held Thursday as a part of the Baduy's cultural exhibition at the Japan Foundation.

He explained that under the Baduy agricultural system, a piece of land would be cleared and cultivated, and then left fallow for four to seven years before it could be farmed again. Fertilizer is not used for fear of poisoning the Earth.

Pikukuh also prohibits the cutting of forests which cover the upstream of rivers, the top and slopes of mountains and around tributaries.

Urang Baduy, or the Baduy people, also known as the Kanekes people, live near the slopes of Mount Kendeng in southern Banten.

Judistira said there were currently about 5,649 Baduy people, part of the Sundanese ethnic group. They reside in an area of 5,100 hectares. Most Sundanese are Moslem but the Baduy believe in Sunda Wiwitan, a blend of ancient Hinduism and shamanism.

The Baduy are divided into three groups: the Inner Baduy (Urang Tangtu), Outer Baduy (Urang Panamping) and the Pajaroan Baduy (Urang Pajaroan).

The Inner Baduy live in three villages: Cikartawana, Cibeo and Cikeusik. Each has a special social function and own clan chiefs (Puun).

Cikartawana villagers are responsible for security and are known for their handicrafts. Cibeo villagers are in charge of organizing social and cultural ceremonies, while Cikeusik residents are actively involved in religious and traditional activities.

For instance, the Muja ritual at Sasaka Domas, the sacred place for the Baduy people, can only be led by the Cikeusik's clan chief.

According to pikukuh, the Baduy tradition cannot tolerate change and the rigid rule is especially enforced in tanah larangan (prohibited land), where the three Tangtu villages are located.

"To a certain extent, changes are permitted in the Pajaroan villages, thus housing designs of the Pajaroan villages have been adjusted to meet the needs and tastes of the dwellers, who have come into contact with other villages and outsiders. Other than this, changes are strictly prohibited," Judistira said.

He said the recent exposure of the Baduy to the outside world had broadened their horizons.

"Believing that the world outside needs their help, the Baduy have not rejected visitors so long as the newcomers do not interfere in their way of life as prescribed in pikukuh."

Any Baduy members who have violated pikukuh principles have to be purified through a ritual called nyapu, he said.

"The severity of punishment depends on the social status of the perpetrator -- the higher his status, the harsher the punishment will be," Judistira said.

For instance, offenders from the prohibited land, or Tangtu villages, will be banished to Dangka villages, the land of sinners, or Pajaroan villages. While offenders from kampong Dangka and Pajaroan are allowed to remain in their villages but subject to forced labor.

"Life to the Baduy centers around pikukuh. One is born to be a hermit, fulfill his duty, behave according to his status, live a humble life and burden no one," Judistira said.