Mangkok Merah 1967, the conflict between the Dayak and Chinese in West Kalimantan Slogan proclaiming that Chinese and Indonesians stand together. Circa 1946. Credit: Berita Film Indonesia / Public domain The New Order in Indonesia is the term coined by the second Indonesian President Suharto to describe his administrative era when he
Tag: Kalimantan
How a liar caused the war between Luju, a Kayan warrior, and the Taman
How did the Ibans near Kalimantan border cope with Konfrontasi
People have been living along the border of Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia with Kalimantan, Indonesia for centuries. When there was a conflict such as the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation which broke out between the two countries, it was unfortunate that they found themselves caught in between. So how did the Sarawakians near Kalimantan border
How thousands of Dayak Taman people died due to a poisonous tree
The Lun Bawang legend of a giant man named Temueng
Long time ago, there was a giant man named Temueng and his friend named Pengiran who first lived at Kemaloh in Kalimantan, Indonesia. According to legends, these people were believed to be the ancestors of Lun Bawang people. Benedict Sandin in his paper The Bisayah and Indigenous Peoples of Limbang, Sandin recorded
How the ancient Kingdom of Nanga Bunut in Borneo grew thanks to mythical creatures
Centuries ago, Kalimantan was made up many small ancient kingdoms, each with its own unique history and culture. One of these kingdoms was Nanga Bunut, a small kingdom located at the intersection between Kapuas river and its tributary Bunut river. It was founded by Raden Setia Abang Berita Kiyai Nadi Pati Jaya
How a magic mushroom caused people to speak in different languages
How everyone began speaking in different languages according to a Taman legend. Have you heard of Psilocybin mushroom? Widely known as 'magic mushroom', this type of fungi is usually consumed for its hallucinogenic effects. Once consumed, the person may experience euphoria and change in consciousness, mood and even perception. They may even experience
How paddy came from a girl’s body according to a Dayak Taman legend
The Dayak Taman people is a small indigenous group found in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. There are roughly 30,000 people in this ethnic group. Apart from the Embaloh language, the Taman language is not close to other languages in Borneo. However, like any other Dayak groups in Borneo, the Taman people have many
Looking back at a punitive expedition to upper Batang Lupar in 1875
Headhunting was rampant in 19th century Sarawak. In an effort to control the death toll brought on by headhunting, the-then Brooke government sent out punitive expeditions to suppress this activity. Here is an account of a punitive expedition that took place at upper Batang Lupar in 1875. It was written
Mandi Rumah, an old Iban housewarming ceremony
An example of an Iban Longhouse. Dusun Kedungkang, an Iban longhouse located near Danau Sentarum, West Kalimantan. Different cultures have different housewarming traditions as people embark on the next step of their lives, which is settling into their new homes. While housewarming rituals can encompass religious blessings, other cultural traditions may