Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — The Tau-tau, an effigy carved out as a form to honor the deceased in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi. As a part of the funeral tradition, Tau-tau believed to be the guardians of the tomb and the protectors of the living left by the deceased.
Tau-tau can be defined as something that resembles humans. The word Tau-tau is derived from the term “Tau” which means human, and the repetition of the word means “something that resembles.” Created from wood or bamboo, tau tau was made with the intention to resemble and be carved based on the physical form of the deceased.
Tau-tau statues are more than ordinary sculptures but play a crucial role in Torajan tradition. The Torajan believed every person who has passed away will enter the realm where all spirits gather, called Poyo. However, they can only enter Poyo when they have passed all the funeral ceremonies or the spirit is stranded or lost wandering between two worlds. This is the reason why holding the perfect funeral ceremony, including the creation of the Tau-tau for the deceased, is crucial in the life cycle of the Torajan.
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Apart from depicting the appearance of the deceased person, Tau-tau also represents the social status and position of the deceased within the community. It can be seen by the wood chosen as material for the creation. For those of lower social status, Tau-tau may be made of bamboo, while for the middle class, it can be made of Randu wood. While for the highest class, such as the royalty or the wealthy, the Tau-tau is made with the best wood from the Jackfruit tree.
Before it is placed, Tau-tau is dressed in traditional costume and also decorated with head ornaments. In Torajans tradition, they placed the dead on a cliff or inside a cave. The Tau-tau then will be placed on a balcony over the cliff or on the outer part of the cave where the body of the deceased has been placed. This way, the spirit of the dead may enter the Tau-tau and continue to live, watching over the people they have left.
As a part of the funeral tradition, Tau-tau effigy reflects the relationship between life and death and shows how the community honors and celebrates the spirits of the deceased. Tau-Tau from Tana Toraja are not just wooden works of art but also symbols and cultural heritage of Indonesia.
(Raidi/Agung)
