Bissu
Encyclopedia
The Bugis
people of Indonesia divide their society into five separate genders. Two are analogous to male
and female
, and the remaining three are not easily comparable to Western ideas of gender.
, an Indonesian
ethnic group. There are divergent theories regarding the definitive origins and meaning of "gender transcendent", as the bissu are commonly called.
To be considered bissu, all aspects of gender must be combined to form a whole. This can include those who are born hermaphroditic as well as other cases. Being bissu does not necessarily mean one does not possess fully functioning sexual organs appropriate to the person's gender or male or female.
The unusual inter-sexual role of the bissu is not exclusively connected to anatomy, but to their point in the Bugis
culture, their gender-less (or all all-encompassing gender) identity and their exhibit of many types that can not be accurately allocated to any one sex.
This can be observed in the bissu’s attire. The bissu dresses in a type of garment that is not worn by any other sex and which incorporates both "female" and “male” qualities, which explains why bissu cannot be termed transvestites or cross-dressers
, as they are only permitted to wear the garment which is appropriate for their given gender caste.
The bissu are typically sought advice from when a particular approval from the powers of the batin world is required. This may, for example, be the situation when a Bugis person is departing Sulawesi for the Hajj
, the compulsory pilgrimage to Makkah
. In that situation the bissu will permit an excellent djinn to seize zir and to proceed as an emissary of the batin.
This is not in keeping with traditional Islam
, but it has been endure by the regional Muslim establishment, on condition that it does not comprise any act that is evidently in opposition to the Sharia
. In this exceptional case, it means that the spirit and the Bissu's powers should not be measured as in any way autonomous from Allah
’s power, because he is the only one who is to be venerated.
In daily social life, the bissu, along with the calabai and the calalai, are authorized to enter the women’s parts of the dwellings and villages in addition to the men's.
. According to the Bugis gender system, a calabai is a 'false woman'. So, to be a calabai, the person would be a biological man, but, in every other aspect, a woman. However, not being a woman, they do not consider themselves so, and neither do others. Nor do they want to become women. But they are not men either, and have created a special place for themselves within Bugis society.
. It denotes a masculine female or a "false man": a person with the anatomy of a woman but with the sexuality, roles, occupations, and habits of a man. As they do not want to be an actual male, and are not considered to be a male by themselves or others, they have been given a separate designation.
Bugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...
people of Indonesia divide their society into five separate genders. Two are analogous to male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
and female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
, and the remaining three are not easily comparable to Western ideas of gender.
Bissu
Bissu is one of the five genders of the BugisBugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...
, an Indonesian
Demographics of Indonesia
The population of Indonesia according to the 2010 national census is 237.6 million, with 58% living on the island of Java, the world's most populous island....
ethnic group. There are divergent theories regarding the definitive origins and meaning of "gender transcendent", as the bissu are commonly called.
To be considered bissu, all aspects of gender must be combined to form a whole. This can include those who are born hermaphroditic as well as other cases. Being bissu does not necessarily mean one does not possess fully functioning sexual organs appropriate to the person's gender or male or female.
The unusual inter-sexual role of the bissu is not exclusively connected to anatomy, but to their point in the Bugis
Bugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...
culture, their gender-less (or all all-encompassing gender) identity and their exhibit of many types that can not be accurately allocated to any one sex.
This can be observed in the bissu’s attire. The bissu dresses in a type of garment that is not worn by any other sex and which incorporates both "female" and “male” qualities, which explains why bissu cannot be termed transvestites or cross-dressers
Cross-dressing
Cross-dressing is the wearing of clothing and other accoutrement commonly associated with a gender within a particular society that is seen as different than the one usually presented by the dresser...
, as they are only permitted to wear the garment which is appropriate for their given gender caste.
The bissu are typically sought advice from when a particular approval from the powers of the batin world is required. This may, for example, be the situation when a Bugis person is departing Sulawesi for the Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
, the compulsory pilgrimage to Makkah
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. In that situation the bissu will permit an excellent djinn to seize zir and to proceed as an emissary of the batin.
This is not in keeping with traditional Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, but it has been endure by the regional Muslim establishment, on condition that it does not comprise any act that is evidently in opposition to the Sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
. In this exceptional case, it means that the spirit and the Bissu's powers should not be measured as in any way autonomous from Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
’s power, because he is the only one who is to be venerated.
In daily social life, the bissu, along with the calabai and the calalai, are authorized to enter the women’s parts of the dwellings and villages in addition to the men's.
Calabai
Calabai is one of the five genders (if you include bissu), of the BugisBugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...
. According to the Bugis gender system, a calabai is a 'false woman'. So, to be a calabai, the person would be a biological man, but, in every other aspect, a woman. However, not being a woman, they do not consider themselves so, and neither do others. Nor do they want to become women. But they are not men either, and have created a special place for themselves within Bugis society.
- "If there is to be a wedding in Bugis society, more often than not calabai will be involved in the organization. When a wedding date has been agreed upon, the family will approach a calabai and negotiate a wedding plan. The calabai will be responsible for many things: setting up and decorating the tent, arranging the bridal chairs, bridal gown, costumes for the groom and the entire wedding party (numbering up to twenty-five), makeup for all those involved, and all the food. Rarely did I attend a village wedding with less than a thousand guests. On the day, some calabai remain in the kitchen preparing food while others form part of the reception, showing guests to their seats."[Sharyn Graham]
Calalai
Calalai is a term in the gender system of the BugisBugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...
. It denotes a masculine female or a "false man": a person with the anatomy of a woman but with the sexuality, roles, occupations, and habits of a man. As they do not want to be an actual male, and are not considered to be a male by themselves or others, they have been given a separate designation.