The History of Minangkabau

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2.3 The History of Minangkabau

There are many theories about the history or origin of Minangkabau name, namely : 1 The theory according to Prasasti Kedukan Bukit The history of Minangkabau before Adityawarman kingdom is very vague its existence. But according to the historians that the first kingdom of Minangkabau has existed in the 7 th century as that was in Prasasti Keduhan Bukit near Palembang now, the content of Prasasti mentions “Minanga Kamwar”. According to Prof. Purbacaraka, the meaning of “Minang Kampar” became “Kampar”, then “Minanga Kamwar” to “Minanga Kampar” is the name of both river that called left Kampar and right Kampar. So, “Minanga Kampar” gradually became Minangkabau. Minangkabau is the center of the first Sriwijaya Kingdom. As the Maritim empire, the capital was moved from Minangkabau, the center of Sriwijaya kingdom moved to Palembang in the Musi river. As the evidence that the first kingdom centered in Minangkabau, is the discovery of Buddist in Muaratakus, in the tributary of Kampar. After emigration center of Sriwijaya Kingdom from Minangkabau to Palembang, there is no written statements or historical records about Minangkabau. Then until the 14 th century, Minangkabau Kingdom was called back in the Negarakertagama book. Because of it, Minangkabau described as the one of the region between Kertanegara and Singosari Kingdom at the end of 13 th century AD. Universitas Sumatera Utara 16 2 The Theory of Buffalo Race According to the legend of Minangkabau that was reported in Tambo, Minangkabau name derived from the events of Buffalo race. In the legend, handed down through the generations by the Minangkabau ancestors to their childs and grandchilds. In the faced of foreign kingdom’s armies that have the overhelming number of armies. While Minangkabau people have the little number of armies, then the leader of Minangkabau tribe is looking the strategy that will run intelligently and shrewdly with inviting the foreign kingdom to hold the buffalo race. If the the foreign kingdom’s buffalo wins, Minangkabau people would be subject to the foreign kingdom. But if the foreign kingdom’s Buffalo lose, they must leave the Minangkabau area. The foreign kingdom agreed the suggestion of Minangkabau people. In the faced of Buffalo race, the leaders of Minangkabaunese didn’t find the Buffalo hefty, but they was found the calf that is breastfeeding Bufffalo. This Buffalo was not given milk by its parent as it should. On the day of battle that has been determined, the foreign kigdom was brought the big Buffalo to compete with Minangkabau’s calf. After the foreign kingdom’s Buffalo in the field, Minangkabau people was released the calf which its head is fifted with a pointed and sharp knife. Seeing this big Buffalo, the calf that was starving, has thought it is its parent. Then immadiately butting the big Buffalo and because there was a knife in its head, the big Buffalo’s stomach was ripped and dead. Because of the events, that was expressed the winner to Minangkabau’s Buffalo. Where the origin of Minangkabau name is Minang victory and Kabau buffalo. Universitas Sumatera Utara 17 3 The theory of word “Pinang and Kubu” According to this theory that the Indian merchants who was visited the inland of Kampar area. For searching the wealth, Indian nation woo the princess of Kubu with bringing the cerana that contains nut. According this theory, the word “Minangkabau” and “Kubu” mean are “Meminang orang Kubu”, but later became “Minang-Kubu”. Finally the tribe live in the forests pf West Sumatera, as the tribe “indigenous people”. Their family system is Matrilineal system Maternal line and if wee meet the Minangkabau people in the forest, they will call by saying “Sanak” that mean is sister. Universitas Sumatera Utara 18 3. THE DESCRIPTION OF MATRILINEALITYPATRILINEALITY 3.1 Matrilineal System