2 Definition of Ruma Batak

Picture 4. 1. 2 The Rows of Sopo and Ruma in Huta

4. 2 Definition of Ruma Batak

Ruma has the same meaning with house it is possess many ways mentioned according to the function. When the ancestor of Toba Batak stow their paddy inside Ruma the warehouse named Sopo Parpeopan Eme. When Ruma or Sopo for holder glorification functional to Debata Mula Jadi Nabolon God Supreme, the Ruma named joro accordingly. The other words for mention Jabu named Baganding Tua. Baganding Tua terminology denoted for wife and husband as simanguliman. While the traditional ceremony arranged Ruma by a parable “bagas sibaganding tua simanguliman” or interpreted that wife and husband both of them alive. Toba Batak interpreted Ruma Batak as Mamarampang Namarjual means Ruma Batak or house a place for wealthy agglomerate, for generation and honourity however for a family if a wife passed away the family would be lose a honourity Ruma as Mamarampang Universitas Sumatera Utara Namarjual no longer mentioned house it is “Bale-bale” however it is oppositioned with Ruma Batak. The Toba batak who grew up in Batak region describes the family house of the more wealthy the early part of the twentieth century named “Bale-bale” this is no more than a hut on four poles, it is walls were made of beaten bamboo and it is roof of paddy stalks the floor was changed every year so it would not get the holes in it. The other houses were called “Sopo” and “Ruma”, which were much larger and more beautiful; they were the houses of rich people. The ruma, for instance, had eight pillars, its walls were made of carved wood planks and it is roof was of black sugar palm fiber. These houses had a single room, in which people ate, slept, and receiving guest. The pillars were very tall, so that the space underneath the house could be used as a pen for livestock, which made it rather “fragrant”. The Toba Batak houses is one of the most distinctive traditional building in southeast asia. No one knows when the creation of these house started, but the Toba batak houses have been around as long as anyone can remember. These house can be found around Lake Toba. Batak Toba houses are built close to each other due to the history of the fights between the tribes, and this features gives them more advantage to defend themselves. They are construct on top of rows and columns of pillar, a foundation that goes above the ground, in order to avoid damages caused by floods. It is roof are boat-shaped and tend to be very tall and tilted, Reaching down as far as the main living area. Universitas Sumatera Utara

4. 3 The History of Ruma Batak