Banjar people
Encyclopedia
The Banjar are a coastal, native ethnic group that settled in Tanah Laut and Banjarmasin
in the south and in Hulu Sungai in the north of South Kalimantan
, Indonesia
, the second largest city on the island of Borneo. Several centuries ago, some of them had travelled to many places in the Malay archipelago. They set up pockets of settlement there, in Perak
(mostly in Parit Buntar and Teluk Intan region), Selangor
around (Sabak Bernam and Sungai Besar), in Johor
(Batu Pahat
), in Medan
as well as other places. The Banjarese people are made up of the native Dayak
s, other Malays from Sumatra, and Javanese from Java
.
/Borneo
in 2500 BC. They were the ancestors of the Dayak
people (Ot Danum). In 2500 BC, the Deutero Malay migrated to Kalimantan/Borneo. The Malay people from Sumatra brought their culture to Kalimantan/Borneo in 400 AD. The fusion of the cultures saw the birth of the Benjar Hulu language. Later, in 520 AD, the Malays formed the Buddhist Kingdom of Tanjungpuri in the present-day region of Tanjung, Tabalong
.
In 1200 AD, Empu Jatmika built the Hindu
Kingdom of Negara Dipa by the river of Tapin
. This was the start of the Javanese-style courts in South Kalimantan. The Hindu era in South Kalimantan remained the most remembered period in South Kalimantan's history. The glory of Negara Dipa was succeeded by the Hindu Kingdom of Negara Daha
in 1400 AD.
According to history, Prince Samudera, the rightful heir to the kingdom of Negara Daha, was forced to flee the court of because of his uncle's revolt against him. He was accepted by the people of Bandar Masih (Bandar=port, Masih=Malay people). Supported by the Sultanate of Demak, he formed a new Islam
ic Banjar Kingdom in 1526 with Bandar Masih as its capital. The name of Bandar Masih was later changed to Banjarmasin
.
The division of Banjar people into 3 ethnicities is based on the locations of the assimilation between the Malays, the local Dayaks (Dayak Bukit, Dayak Ma’anyan, Dayak Lawangan, Dayak Ngaju, Dayak Barangas, and Bakumpai
), and the Javanese.
(bjn) reflects the history of people. It is basically the Malay language
brought from Sumatra, with some words that are taken from Javanese and the native Dayaks.
This relationship grew strong when both ethnicities faced colonization by the Dutch in the 18th century. They became comrades in an age of war. Some of the warriors involved in Banjar War are of Dayak ethnicities or have Dayaks lineage in their blood. For example:
Banjarmasin
Banjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. As a result, Banjarmasin is sometimes called the "River City"...
in the south and in Hulu Sungai in the north of South Kalimantan
South Kalimantan
South Kalimantan/South Borneo is one of the thirty-three Provinces of Indonesia and one of four Indonesian provinces in the Indonesian part of Borneo. The provincial capital is Banjarmasin...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, the second largest city on the island of Borneo. Several centuries ago, some of them had travelled to many places in the Malay archipelago. They set up pockets of settlement there, in Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
(mostly in Parit Buntar and Teluk Intan region), Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
around (Sabak Bernam and Sungai Besar), in Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
(Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies south-east of Muar, south-west of Kluang, north-west of Pontian, and south of Segamat and the new Ledang district. The capital of the district is Bandar Penggaram, Batu Pahat....
), in Medan
Medan
- Demography :The city is Indonesia's fourth most populous after Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung, and Indonesia's largest city outside of Java island. Much of the population lies outside its city limits, especially in Deli Serdang....
as well as other places. The Banjarese people are made up of the native Dayak
Dayak people
The Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...
s, other Malays from Sumatra, and Javanese from Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
.
History
The Proto-Malay people migrated to KalimantanKalimantan
In English, the term Kalimantan refers to the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, while in Indonesian, the term "Kalimantan" refers to the whole island of Borneo....
/Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
in 2500 BC. They were the ancestors of the Dayak
Dayak people
The Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...
people (Ot Danum). In 2500 BC, the Deutero Malay migrated to Kalimantan/Borneo. The Malay people from Sumatra brought their culture to Kalimantan/Borneo in 400 AD. The fusion of the cultures saw the birth of the Benjar Hulu language. Later, in 520 AD, the Malays formed the Buddhist Kingdom of Tanjungpuri in the present-day region of Tanjung, Tabalong
Tabalong Regency
Tabalong Regency is one of regencies in the Indonesian province of South Kalimantan, the capital is Tanjung . Motto: "Saraba Kawa" ....
.
In 1200 AD, Empu Jatmika built the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Kingdom of Negara Dipa by the river of Tapin
Tapin
Tapin is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Rokietnica, within Jarosław County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It lies approximately south of Jarosław and east of the regional capital Rzeszów.-References:...
. This was the start of the Javanese-style courts in South Kalimantan. The Hindu era in South Kalimantan remained the most remembered period in South Kalimantan's history. The glory of Negara Dipa was succeeded by the Hindu Kingdom of Negara Daha
Negara Daha
Negara Daha was a Hindu kingdom now located in the Regency of Hulu Sungai Selatan, Province of South Kalimantan, Republic of Indonesia.-List of rulers:# Raden Sekarsungsang# Maharaja Sari Kaburangan# Maharaja Sukarama# Maharaja Mangkubumi...
in 1400 AD.
According to history, Prince Samudera, the rightful heir to the kingdom of Negara Daha, was forced to flee the court of because of his uncle's revolt against him. He was accepted by the people of Bandar Masih (Bandar=port, Masih=Malay people). Supported by the Sultanate of Demak, he formed a new Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic Banjar Kingdom in 1526 with Bandar Masih as its capital. The name of Bandar Masih was later changed to Banjarmasin
Banjarmasin
Banjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. As a result, Banjarmasin is sometimes called the "River City"...
.
Sub-ethnicities
Bakumpai people
Bakumpai are indigenous people of Borneo from the Dayak group with Islamic background. They speak Bakumpai language.-External links:*...
), and the Javanese.
- The Banjar Pahuluan, who live in the valleys by the upriver of Meratus mountainMeratus MountainsThe Meratus Mountains is a mountain range in the Indonesian province of South Kalimantan, on Borneo island. The mountains run in a north-south arc that divides South Kalimantan province into two almost equal parts...
ranges. They make their living from agriculture. - The Banjar Batang Banyu, who live in the valleys by the river of Negara. They are proud of their position as the people of the ancient capital. They are also prominent merchants.
- The Banjar Kuala, who live in Banjarmasin and Martapura. They are the people of the new capital.
Language
The Banjar languageBanjar language
Banjar language is the native language used by the Banjarese people of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. As many Banjarese are travelling merchants, they brought their language wherever they went all over Indonesia, even all over the world....
(bjn) reflects the history of people. It is basically the Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
brought from Sumatra, with some words that are taken from Javanese and the native Dayaks.
Relations with Dayaks
The relationship between Banjar people and the neighboring Dayaks have always been good. Some of the Dayaks who had converted to Islam have also assimilated into the Banjar culture and call themselves Banjar. The Dayaks also think of the Banjars as their brothers and sisters. This is further strengthened by the fact there are many inter-marriages between the Banjars and the Dayaks, even among the members of the royalty. For example, Biang Lawai, a wife of a Banjar king was of Dayak Ngaju ethnicity. This means that the Banjarese Kings and Queens have Dayaks lineage in their blood.This relationship grew strong when both ethnicities faced colonization by the Dutch in the 18th century. They became comrades in an age of war. Some of the warriors involved in Banjar War are of Dayak ethnicities or have Dayaks lineage in their blood. For example:
- Panglima Batur, who was of Dayak Siang Murung ethnicity,
- Panglima Wangkang, whose his father was a Dayak BakumpaiBakumpai peopleBakumpai are indigenous people of Borneo from the Dayak group with Islamic background. They speak Bakumpai language.-External links:*...
and whose mother was a Banjar, - Panglima Batu Balot (Tumenggung Marha Lahew), a female warrior who attacked Fort Muara Teweh in 1864-1865.
See also
- Banjarese architectureBanjarese architectureThis article is about the architecture features of Banjar people of South Kalimantan, Indonesia.There are several types of traditional houses of the Banjarese:#Bubungan Tinggi#Gajah Baliku#Gajah Manyusu#Balai Laki#Balai Bini#Palimbangan...
- South KalimantanSouth KalimantanSouth Kalimantan/South Borneo is one of the thirty-three Provinces of Indonesia and one of four Indonesian provinces in the Indonesian part of Borneo. The provincial capital is Banjarmasin...
- BanjarmasinBanjarmasinBanjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. As a result, Banjarmasin is sometimes called the "River City"...
- Banjar languageBanjar languageBanjar language is the native language used by the Banjarese people of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. As many Banjarese are travelling merchants, they brought their language wherever they went all over Indonesia, even all over the world....
- Banjar in Singapore