Mandailing
Encyclopedia
The Mandailing is a traditional cultural group in Southeast Asia
. They are found mainly in the northern section of the island of Sumatra
in Indonesia
. They came under the influence of the Kaum Padri
who ruled the Minangkabau of Tanah Datar
. As a result, the Mandailing were influenced by Muslim culture and converted to Islam. Previous to their conversion, they practised Hinduism
and Parmalim
(Batak native religion). There are also a group of Mandailing in Malaysia, especially in the states of Selangor
and Perak
. They are closely related to the Angkola, who are mixed between Muslim and Christian adherents.
of 'Mandailing' is said to be a coupounding of the words mande, meaning 'mother', and hilang, meaning 'lost'. Thus, the name is said to mean "lost mother". Some research has suggested that the Mandailing are the descendants of the Batak
, who migrated to the south before the coming of the Portuguese
and Dutch
colonisation of Sumatra. There they converted to Islam
and intermarried with Minangkabau and the Malay
peoples. Mandailing society is patriarchal, employing family names, or marga, in the same manner as the Batak, Simalungun, and Karo. The same marga can be found, such as Lubis, Nasution, Siregar, Hasibuan, Harahap, Dalimunthe (originally from Munthe), Matondang, Rangkuti, Parinduri, Pulungan, Rambe, Daulae(y), Pohan, Batubara (not to be confused with the Batu Bara people from the east coast of Sumatra), Barus and Hutajulu.
in North Sumatra
. The first group who came to this region were the Lubis, later followed by the Siregar, Harahap and so forth. These groups migrated from the northern region, which now belongs to North Tapanuli Regency
and Toba Samosir Regency
. One of these groups, the Harahap, left, which makes their identification to the region difficult. Matondang, Rangkuti and Parinduri are the local groups
s of Luat Mandailing. Harahap and Siregar dwell almost in Luat Angkola, which now belongs to South Tapanuli Regency
, situated between Regency and North Tapanuli Regency.
people. This may be because their languages are different from the Batak's. Also, it is reported that 98% of the Mandailing ethnic group are Muslim. In Malaysia, the Mandailing are also known as the Rawa people.
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. They are found mainly in the northern section of the island of Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
in 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...
. They came under the influence of the Kaum Padri
Padri War
The Padri War was fought from 1803 until 1837 in West Sumatra between two rival muslim factions. The Dutch intervened from 1821 and helped the Adats defeat the Padri faction.-Background:...
who ruled the Minangkabau of Tanah Datar
Tanah Datar
Tanah Datar is a regency in West Sumatra province, Indonesia. The regency has a population of 334,000. The capital of the regency is Batusangkar...
. As a result, the Mandailing were influenced by Muslim culture and converted to Islam. Previous to their conversion, they practised Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Parmalim
Parmalim
The term Parmalim describes the followers of the Malim religion, the modern form of the traditional Batak religion. People not familiar with the Batak language may erroneously assume Parmalim is the name of the religion rather than its practitioners....
(Batak native religion). There are also a group of Mandailing in Malaysia, especially in the states of 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...
and 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...
. They are closely related to the Angkola, who are mixed between Muslim and Christian adherents.
Etymology
The etymologyEtymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
of 'Mandailing' is said to be a coupounding of the words mande, meaning 'mother', and hilang, meaning 'lost'. Thus, the name is said to mean "lost mother". Some research has suggested that the Mandailing are the descendants of the Batak
Batak (Indonesia)
Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The term is used to include the Toba, Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Angkola and Mandailing, each of which are distinct but related groups with distinct, albeit related, languages and...
, who migrated to the south before the coming of the Portuguese
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
and Dutch
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
colonisation of Sumatra. There they converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and intermarried with Minangkabau and the Malay
Malay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
peoples. Mandailing society is patriarchal, employing family names, or marga, in the same manner as the Batak, Simalungun, and Karo. The same marga can be found, such as Lubis, Nasution, Siregar, Hasibuan, Harahap, Dalimunthe (originally from Munthe), Matondang, Rangkuti, Parinduri, Pulungan, Rambe, Daulae(y), Pohan, Batubara (not to be confused with the Batu Bara people from the east coast of Sumatra), Barus and Hutajulu.
Region
Mandailing is the name of region Luat Mandailing, which is now almost in Mandailing Natal RegencyMandailing Natal Regency
Mandailing Natal Regency, also known as Madina is a regency in North Sumatra , Indonesia . In 2000, the regency covered an area of 6134 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census had a population of 355,285 people.The capital lies at Panyabungan....
in North Sumatra
North Sumatra
North Sumatra is a province of Indonesia on the Sumatra island. Its capital is Medan. It is the most populous Indonesian province outside of Java. It is slightly larger than Sri Lanka in area.- Geography and population :...
. The first group who came to this region were the Lubis, later followed by the Siregar, Harahap and so forth. These groups migrated from the northern region, which now belongs to North Tapanuli Regency
North Tapanuli Regency
North Tapanuli Regency is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Tarutung. In 2000, the regency covered an area of 3791 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 405,323....
and Toba Samosir Regency
Toba Samosir Regency
Toba Samosir Regency is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Balige. The regency covers an area of 3124.40 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 304,015 .-Orchid Paradise:...
. One of these groups, the Harahap, left, which makes their identification to the region difficult. Matondang, Rangkuti and Parinduri are the local groups
s of Luat Mandailing. Harahap and Siregar dwell almost in Luat Angkola, which now belongs to South Tapanuli Regency
South Tapanuli Regency
South Tapanuli Regency is a regency in North Sumatra. Its seat is Sipirok.In 2000, the regency covered an area of 11,677 square kilometres and according to the 2000 census it had a population of 728,799.-Archaeology:...
, situated between Regency and North Tapanuli Regency.
Controversy
Some of Mandailing people refused to be considered as a part of Batak people. Even in 1930 and 2000 national census, the Indonesian government considered the Mandailings as a part of the BatakBatak (Indonesia)
Batak is a collective term used to identify a number of ethnic groups predominantly found in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The term is used to include the Toba, Karo, Pakpak, Simalungun, Angkola and Mandailing, each of which are distinct but related groups with distinct, albeit related, languages and...
people. This may be because their languages are different from the Batak's. Also, it is reported that 98% of the Mandailing ethnic group are Muslim. In Malaysia, the Mandailing are also known as the Rawa people.
External links
- Bona Ni Pasogit, Association of Batak tribes in Europe (Portal). More information about Mandailing and Angkola in IndonesianIndonesian languageIndonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
, EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
. - Batak Online Forum, Online forum about Mandailing and other Batak groups.
- Horas Mandailing, an informational site about the Mandailing in IndonesianIndonesian languageIndonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
, Malay and EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.