Tau tau
Encyclopedia
Tau tau are a type of effigy made of wood or bamboo. They are particular to the Toraja
ethnic group in South Sulawesi
, Indonesia
. The word "tau" is a Torajan word meaning "man", and "tau tau" meaning "men" or "statue".
Tau tau are believed to have originated in the 19th century. They were once produced only for the wealthy, to reflect the status and wealth of the deceased. The tau tau are representatives of the deceased, ever-guarding the tombs and ever-protecting the living. In the early 1900s, with the arrival of the Dutch Christian missionaries in Toraja, the production of tau tau was somewhat dampened. In 1972, at least 400 visitors attended the funeral ritual of Puang of Sangalla, the highest-ranking nobleman in Tana Toraja and the last pure-blooded Toraja noble. The event was documented by National Geographic and was broadcasted in several European countries.
In 1980s, the wooden effigies became a target for grave robbers, sold to museums. As the Torajans believe that the dead can take their possessions with them to the after life, the effigies are usually equipped with all sorts of possessions. They were plundered along with the effigies. They were soon to be found in Jakarta, Europe and America, they were once even on display at the Smithsonian Institution
in 1991. In response, the Torajans hid their tau tau in undisclosed location. They installed metal fences surrounding their house to protect the tau tau outside their house. It is somewhat ironic that the tau tau is meant to represent the deceased protecting the living, but they now have to be protected against the living.
Traditionally, the effigies were simply carved, only to show the gender of the deceased. However, they have become more and more elaborate, actually attempting to imitate the likeness of the deceased. The types of wood used for the effigies and what they are clothed in also reflect the status and wealth of the deceased. Tau tau of the wealthy would generally be made of wood from the jackfruit tree. They are usually permanent statues that can be found standing at the entrance of tombs, which are carved out of rock faces of Toraja. Their position, in reference to the other tau tau, in the rock face would indicate the status of the deceased. Only the rich can afford the permanent tau tau as they require specialist stonemasons or cave builders who are able to hollow out the cave out of the rock formation. The cave builders usually require payment of several buffalos that only the sufficiently wealthy can afford. The less wealthy generally have their tau tau made from bamboo, which will be undressed at the end of the funeral, leaving only the bamboo on the ritual field. Tau tau representing deceased infants are placed inside a hollowed-out section of a living tree.
Toraja
The Toraja are an ethnic group indigenous to a mountainous region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Their population is approximately 650,000, of which 450,000 still live in the regency of Tana Toraja . Most of the population is Christian, and others are Muslim or have local animist beliefs known as aluk...
ethnic group in South Sulawesi
South Sulawesi
South Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia, located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi Island. The province is bordered by Central Sulawesi province to the north, South East Sulawesi province to the east and West Sulawesi province to the west...
, 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 word "tau" is a Torajan word meaning "man", and "tau tau" meaning "men" or "statue".
Tau tau are believed to have originated in the 19th century. They were once produced only for the wealthy, to reflect the status and wealth of the deceased. The tau tau are representatives of the deceased, ever-guarding the tombs and ever-protecting the living. In the early 1900s, with the arrival of the Dutch Christian missionaries in Toraja, the production of tau tau was somewhat dampened. In 1972, at least 400 visitors attended the funeral ritual of Puang of Sangalla, the highest-ranking nobleman in Tana Toraja and the last pure-blooded Toraja noble. The event was documented by National Geographic and was broadcasted in several European countries.
In 1980s, the wooden effigies became a target for grave robbers, sold to museums. As the Torajans believe that the dead can take their possessions with them to the after life, the effigies are usually equipped with all sorts of possessions. They were plundered along with the effigies. They were soon to be found in Jakarta, Europe and America, they were once even on display at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in 1991. In response, the Torajans hid their tau tau in undisclosed location. They installed metal fences surrounding their house to protect the tau tau outside their house. It is somewhat ironic that the tau tau is meant to represent the deceased protecting the living, but they now have to be protected against the living.
Traditionally, the effigies were simply carved, only to show the gender of the deceased. However, they have become more and more elaborate, actually attempting to imitate the likeness of the deceased. The types of wood used for the effigies and what they are clothed in also reflect the status and wealth of the deceased. Tau tau of the wealthy would generally be made of wood from the jackfruit tree. They are usually permanent statues that can be found standing at the entrance of tombs, which are carved out of rock faces of Toraja. Their position, in reference to the other tau tau, in the rock face would indicate the status of the deceased. Only the rich can afford the permanent tau tau as they require specialist stonemasons or cave builders who are able to hollow out the cave out of the rock formation. The cave builders usually require payment of several buffalos that only the sufficiently wealthy can afford. The less wealthy generally have their tau tau made from bamboo, which will be undressed at the end of the funeral, leaving only the bamboo on the ritual field. Tau tau representing deceased infants are placed inside a hollowed-out section of a living tree.