Jew (house)

Last updated
Jew house in Syuru, Agats Syuru Ceremonial House (48276841927).jpg
Jew house in Syuru, Agats

Jew, also known as the bachelor house, is an Asmat traditional house originating from the Asmat Regency, particularly from Agats. Jew, also known by several other names such as Je, Jeu, Yeu, or Yai, [1] is a rectangular elevated house made of wood, with walls and roofs made of woven sago palm or nipa palm leaves. [2] Jew entirely avoids using nails and uses rattan roots as connectors instead. [3]

Contents

The house is open only for unmarried men to assemble; children under 10 and women are not allowed to enter the house. [4]

Characteristics

Jew is built entirely using natural materials obtained from the surrounding villages, in accordance with the Asmat tribe's customary belief that their ancestors and the surrounding nature have synergized to provide for their needs. The wood used to construct a Jew is ironwood because it is strong and resistant to water, especially seawater, in the Asmat geographical location along the coastal areas and around swamps. [5] Jew is always erected facing the river, specifically at the river's edge, especially at the bends of the river, with the main support posts of the house adorned with Asmat motifs. Jews are built in river bends because conflicts within Asmat ethnic groups were common in the past. By constructing them along the river, particularly in bends, the Jew's occupants could easily detect the enemy's attacks. However, warfare and inter-ethnic conflicts among the Asmat tribe no longer occur today. [2]

The number of doors in the Jew is equal to the number of fireplaces and mbis statues (Asmat ancestral statues), which also reflect the number of families or Tysem in the Asmat tribal community living around the Jew. [6] According to Asmat's belief, the mbis statue is able to ward off evil influences on the unmarried men inside the house. Additionally, there are other specific characteristics of the Jew, such as:

Functions

As a sacred house for the Asmat tribe, jew serves multiple functions. Apart from being a residence for unmarried men, it is also a place for meetings to resolve disputes among villagers, plan traditional ceremonies, tribal meetings, peace agreements, wars, and even conduct customary rituals. [2] Furthermore, it is used as a storage space for carvings depicting their deceased ancestors or spirits. In the past, jew was also used to store skulls, spirit boats (wuramon), spirit clothes (ifi or yipawer), ase ( noken ) bags, war spears, warhead shields, eme ( tifa ), and other sacred objects. Noken is a bag made of woven plant fibers that is used as a storage bag and worn around the neck. According to Asmat's belief, Noken can cure various diseases for the patient with specific rules and conditions. Another function of the jew is as a village hall and a place to welcome guests. [3]

Inside the jew, younger unmarried men receive a wide range of education from older single men to married men. The education they receive includes utilizing the resources available in their environment with existing technology, developing skills, playing the tifa, dancing, and singing. Additionally, they are introduced to Asmat tribal heroes like Fumiripits, also known as the Great Headhunter, who is considered the ancestor of the Asmat. In the past, they were also taught how to perform headhunting, traditional ceremonies, and singing sacred songs. [7] Furthermore, these young men are taught to carve according to Asmat customary regulations. Typically, only men are allowed to carve wood, and they usually do not sketch when carving statues because through carving, they can communicate with their ancestors according to the three worlds concept they know: Amat ow capinmi (the current realm of life), Dampu ow campinmi (the realm where the spirits of the deceased dwell), and Safar (heaven). Additionally, the Asmat tribe identifies themselves as trees. For them, their feet are equivalent to the roots of a tree, their bodies are like the trunk of a tree, their arms are like branches or twigs of a tree, and their heads are like the fruit of that tree. [8]

Jew also indirectly teaches the Asmat tribe about local wisdom and noble values passed down through generations from their ancestors, namely the values of forest conservation. With the presence of sacred forests sanctified in each Asmat village, the existence of forests there never change. Opening up forest land is considered taboo by them, and they even prohibit various human activities in the middle of the forest. Violating these rules can lead to disasters for their village, and it may even cause "breathlessness" if they do not pay the fines according to the rules set by each traditional elder there. Other values still practiced include the prohibition of extinguishing the wayir fire (fire from the main hearth in the middle of the jew) and the obligation to play the tifa musical instrument and sing songs in each jew. [9] Jew also serves as a place for distributing respek funds to the family members residing in the tysem house around jew. Respek funds are budgetary aid provided by the Papua Special Autonomy budget. [2]

Kinship Value in the Jew

The value of kinship among the Asmat tribe is not only formed from blood relations or marital ties but also developed during their childhood when living in jew. Friendships formed include helping each other in times of difficulty, sharing food supplies, sharing cigarettes, and so on. The most extreme form of this camaraderie is the tradition of papisj, where they exchange wives for predetermined nights accompanied by traditional festivities. These friendships can even continue as familial bonds when one of them passes away. The deceased's relatives will adopt their living relatives, and the living individuals may even be called by the name of their deceased relative. The deceased relatives also leave various belongings such as sago, clothing, rice, sugar, and shells to their living relatives. The living relatives also bear responsibilities such as serving their deceased relatives for three days at the mourning house and taking on various obligations that were borne by the deceased during their lifetime, such as fines, conflicts, and dowries. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papua (province)</span> Province of Indonesia

Papua is a province of Indonesia, comprising the northern coast of Western New Guinea together with island groups in Cenderawasih Bay to the west. It roughly follows the borders of Papuan customary region of Tabi Saireri. It is bordered by nation of Papua New Guinea to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the north, Cenderawasih Bay to the west, and the provinces of Central Papua and Highland Papua to the south. The province also shares maritime boundaries with Palau in the Pacific. Following the splitting off of twenty regencies to create the three new provinces of Central Papua, Highland Papua, and South Papua on 30 June 2022, the residual province is divided into eight regencies and one city (kota), the latter being the provincial capital of Jayapura. The province has a large potential in natural resources, such as gold, nickel, petroleum, etc. Papua, along with five other Papuan provinces, has a higher degree of autonomy level compared to other Indonesian provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korowai people</span> Indigenous ethnic group of Indonesia

The Korowai, also called the Kolufo, are the people who live in southeastern Papua in the Indonesian provinces of South Papua and Highland Papua. Specifically their tribal area is split by the borders of Boven Digoel Regency, Mappi Regency, Asmat Regency, and Yahukimo Regency. They number about 4000 to 4400 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Indonesia</span>

The culture of Indonesia has been shaped by the interplay of indigenous customs and diverse foreign influences. With over 1,300 distinct ethnic groups, including significant Austronesian and Melanesian cultures, contributing to its rich traditions, languages, and customs, Indonesia is a melting pot of diversity. Positioned along ancient trade routes between the Far East, South Asia, and the Middle East, the country has absorbed cultural practices influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity. These influences have created a complex cultural tapestry that often differs from the original indigenous cultures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bisj Pole</span>

A Bisj, Mbis or Bis pole is a ritual artifact created and used by the Asmat people of South-western New Guinea, Indonesia. They are also common in New Zealand, Vanuatu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arfak Mountains</span> Mountain range in Indonesia

The Arfak Mountains is a mountain range found on the Bird's Head Peninsula in the Province of West Papua, Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yali people</span> Ethnic group of the Highland Papua, Indonesia

Yali are a major tribal group in Highland Papua, Indonesia, and live to the east of the Baliem Valley, mainly in Yalimo Regency, Yahukimo Regency, and the surrounding regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simalungun people</span> Ethnic groups of North Sumatra, Indonesia

The Simalungun people are an ethnic group in North Sumatra, considered one of the Batak peoples. Simalungun people live mostly in Simalungun Regency and the surrounding areas, including the city of Pematang Siantar, an autonomous city, but previously part of Simalungun Regency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toba Batak people</span> Group of the Batak people in Indonesia

The Toba Batak people are the largest ethnic group of the Batak peoples of North Sumatra, Indonesia. The general term ‘Batak’ is sometimes used to refer to the Batak Toba people, for one thing because the Toba people are the largest sub-group of the Batak ethnicity, for another because they tend to self-identify as merely Batak instead of ‘Toba’ or ‘Batak Toba’, contrary to the habit of the Karo, Mandailing, Simalungun, Pakpak communities who commonly self-identify with their respective sub-groups.

<i>Noken</i> Knotted or woven bag native to Indonesia

Noken is a traditional Papuan multifunctional knotted or woven bag native to the Western New Guinea region, Indonesia. Its distinctive usage, which involves being hung from the head, is traditionally used to carry various goods, and also children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorontalo people</span> Ethnic group in Indonesia

Gorontalo people, also known as Gorontalese, are a native ethnic group and the most populous ethnicity in the northern part of Sulawesi. The Gorontalo people have traditionally been concentrated in the provinces of Gorontalo, North Sulawesi, and the northern part of Central Sulawesi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muna people</span> Ethnic group of Indonesia

The Muna or Wuna are the indigenous group which primarily inhabit the islands of Buton and Muna. They speak languages from the Muna-Buton language group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rangkiang</span> Type of rice silo in Indonesia

Rangkiang is a granary or rice barn that the Minangkabau people used to keep rice in. The rangkiang is a distinctive feature of Minangkabau architecture. The structure is traditionally found in the courtyard of a rumah gadang, the traditional house of Minangkabau people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Papua</span> Province of Indonesia

South Papua, officially the South Papua Province, is an Indonesian province located in the southern portion of Papua, following the borders of the Papuan customary region of Anim Ha. Formally established on 11 November 2022 and including the four most southern regencies that were previously part of the province of Papua and before 11 December 2002 had comprised a larger Merauke Regency, it covers a land area of 129,715.02 km2, about the same area as Pennsylvania. This area had a population of 513,617 at the 2020 Census, while the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 537,973, making it the least populous province in Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tifa (drum)</span> Indonesian traditional drum musical instruments

The tifa, tiwa or tiva is a single-headed goblet drum used throughout the Maluku Islands of Eastern Indonesia, where it is traditionally the "dominant instrument" in Maluku province music. The term tifa has been used outside of the Maluku Islands, including on the island of Java and on the island of New Guinea, in Indonesia's Papuan provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Papua</span> Province in Indonesia

Central Papua, officially the Central Papua Province is an Indonesian province located in the central region of Western New Guinea. It was formally established on 11 November 2022 from the former eight western regencies of the province of Papua. It covers an area of 61,072.91 km2 and had an officially estimated population of 1,452,810 in mid 2023. It is bordered by the Indonesian provinces of West Papua to the west, the province of Papua to the north and northeast, by Highland Papua to the east, and by South Papua to the southeast. The administrative capital is located in Wanggar District in Nabire Regency, although Timika is a larger town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Papua</span> Province with special status in Indonesia

Highland Papua is a province of Indonesia, which roughly follows the borders of Papuan customary region of Lano-Pago, shortened to La Pago. It covers an area of 51,213.33 km2 (19,773.58 sq mi) and had a population of 1,448,360 according to the official estimates as at mid 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thousand Legs house</span> Traditional Arfak house

The thousand legs house is the traditional house of the Arfak people who reside in Manokwari Regency, West Papua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobati people</span> Ethnic group in Indonesia

The Tobati People are an ethnic group from Jayapura, Indonesia. The Tobati people inhabit the coastal area of Youtefa Bay, covering an area of 1,675 hectares within the South Jayapura district, and they have constructed settlements above the sea.

Rumah Panggung is one type of traditional Betawi house whose floor is raised from the ground using wooden poles. This house is different from a Rumah Darat that sticks to the ground. Betawi houses on stilts are built in coastal areas with the aim of dealing with floods or tides. Meanwhile, stilt houses located on the banks of rivers such as in Bekasi are not only built to avoid flooding, but also for safety from wild animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nduga people</span> Ethnic group

Nduga is an indigenous tribe in the Central Highlands region of southern Papua, particularly in the Nduga Regency and surrounding areas. The territory of the Nduga people borders the Dani and Lani to the north, the Asmat to the south, the Damal to the west, and the Ngalik to the east.

References

  1. p.khrisno.a. "Asmat, Rumah Je, dan Arsitek Indonesia | itch creature" . Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tumaji, Tumaji; Arianto, Nurcahyo Tri; Rizky, Amelia; Soerachman, Rachmalina (2014). Nomphoboas yang Mengganas di Mumugu (PDF). Surabaya: Pusat Humaniora, Kebijakan Kesehatan Dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat & LEMBAGA PENERBITAN BALITBANGKES. p. 38. ISBN   9786021099087.
  3. 1 2 3 Kaya, Indonesia. "Jew, Rumah Bujang Suku Asmat - Situs Budaya Indonesia". IndonesiaKaya (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  4. S840209107, Eulis Anggia Budiarti (2010). Ratu Lembah Baliem Novel Petualangan Di Irian Karya Ircham Machfoedz (Tinjauan Sosiologi Sastra, Unsur Budaya, Dan Nilai Pendidikan). Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta: DIgital Library. pp. XC.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. "Jew: Rumahnya Para Bujang Suku Asmat". Radio Pemuda FM - Radio Online Anak Muda Indonesia. 2017-10-26. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  6. Admin. "Rumah Bujang, Jati Diri Asmat | JERAT PAPUA" (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  7. T., Andonis; Z., Hidayah; E.T., Gurning (1994). Sistem Pemerintahan Tradisional Masyarakat Asmat di Irian Jaya. Jakarta: Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, Direktorat Jendral Kebudayaan, Direktorat Sejarah dan Nilai Tradisional, Proyek Pengkajian dan Pembinaan Nilai-Nilai Budaya. p. 25. ISBN   9794165972.
  8. admin. "Mengukir, Tradisi Leluhur yang Masih Dilestarikan" (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  9. "Jew, Jati Diri Masyarakat Asmat yang Sesungguhnya - Halaman 2 - Nationalgeographic.grid.id". nationalgeographic.grid.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  10. Rumansara, Enos H.; Kondologit, Enrico Y.; Flassy, Don Rodrigo; Irianto, J. Budi; Sarini (2014). Inventarisasi Dan Verivikasi Karya Budaya Seni Ukir Asmat. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kepel Press. p. 40.