VISUAL MEANING OF TUNGGAL PANALUAN AS THE REFLECTION OF BATAK TOBA BELIEF SYSTEM IN SAMOSIR ISLAND

• Main Author: Merari Elizabet, Tasya
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/69080
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

According to Vergouwen, Samosir island with less than 630km width is a ‘living island. This island is considered ‘living’ because every year the land grow 1 thick of it’s volume. Batak Toba is the majority tribe that lives in Samosir Island. With it’s various collection of artefacts compelling for research. One of the traditional artifact is one created by the shaman called datu is Tunggal Panaluan. Tunggal Panaluan is a staff that on it’s time could only be owned by king, commander and the datu. The researcher chose Tunggal panaluan as research object because the staff was the most important object in the history of ceremony histories and had a great role in the spiritual beliefs of the ancient Bataknese due to it’s magic power. This research will focus on the visual meaning of Tunggal Panaluan as the reflection of Batak Toba belief system with three sample from the study of the book ‘The Batak Sculpture’ by Achim Sibeth and Bruce Carpenter, with the replica of the staff at Huta Sialagan and the souvenir replica by personal documentation during field observation. The method of research that are used are the qualitative description and the process of analyze will be helped by the civilization theory by Koentjaraningrat, the three pattern theory by Jakob Sumardjo and the spiritual theory. All data will be collected with observation, field study, literature study and interview. The analysis resulting in the existence of how the visual meaning of Tunggal Panaluan reflects the Batak Toba’s belief system in Samosir Island. This can be seen through the visual motif of that has firm carvings, the ordo system of every figure relflects the system belief of Batak Toba who firmly believes in the importance of rules, and a belief that tells the importance of higher knowledge possession does not belong to those unworthy according to the Batak Toba. The concept of medium as media that connects human is part of ancient Indonesia belief of emptiness and content. Conclusion of this research is how if studied, the visual of Tunggal Panaluan can ravel the belief system of Batak Toba.