Long time ago when our people still practicing pagan's religion and by that i'm saying about our ancestors, we have our own marriage custom.
Some still practice it up till now even though they are Christians. Recently, I witnessed it myself during my aunt's and my cousin's wedding. The wedding ceremony was held at Kg.Patau, Tambunan.
First let me explain you briefly about the custom through what I seen during my aunt's wedding ceremony.
Things that are required for this ritual are known as "kirai"(hand made tobacco), "sireh" and "pinang".
There would be a chanting prayer ceremony on the groom and bride. I found it's weird and I cant understand any of the chants but the language used was very old one. Both are required eat the sireh and pinang also take one shot of smoke from "kirai". After that the ceremony done. It was very simple, and maybe they just done small part from the actual ritual. The actual one could take long but since we are now in modern society they were really not bound to it.
Next one was during my cousin's wedding.
This kinda like a "hide and seek game" but it is a custom where this must be held at the bride's house. Empty rooms are required and the bride will be at any one of the room. The groom has to guess where is the bride in any rooms and he will be escorted by the others(the bride and groom's family).
During my cousin's, 8 rooms were used (those rooms are bedroom). So one person will be placed on each rooms and I was placed together with the bride in my aunt's room. My another cousins was placed at the other rooms.
Before the "hide and seek game" starts, the groom are required to answer a random riddle in poem form (the riddle was in dusun's language) and the groom managed to answer it. Wheew, he's good! (He is a teacher anyway and so my cousin is).
After that the groom was brought around the house to let him guess which room the bride would be. We heard footsteps towards our room. Dang, once again! He's good. He guess so fast. By the way, if he pick the wrong room then the punishment would be to drink a glass of "tapai" (rice wine).
But my cousin didnt let him to guess that fast, she hides at the back of the door and when the groom opens up the door, he was like "Opsss...!! I guess this is the wrong room...!!" and I told him to search at other room. However, he sensed something. He knows my cousin was behind the door and pull her out, "Ahhh!! There you are!!"... Everyone was like, "Aww...that was so fast..."......
Then, after that there is another "hide and seek game" but this time the thing that they hide is the bride's left side heel. I remember my aunt decorated the heel and it really looks like a bunch of flowers in a pot. She hid it on a vase. The groom even couldn't recognize it. He thought it was flowers but they give him clue and finally he made it.
It is an old tradition and I dont know if other regions in Sabah also practicing this custom. I would like to hear from others.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Mysterious Tribe
When people asked me, "are you Chinese?", i will answer "Nope, I'm Sabahan" and if they dont understand i will just say "I'm Kadazan" and they will nod as if they know "Kadazan's".
I cant give you accurate answer but I can share with you this interesting facts that our ethnic has the same culture with the Bunun tribe or known as "Vonum". Bunun is one of aboriginal tribe from Taiwan and they are the fourth largest tribal group.
First thing first, you might think "Ohh, we are from the Bunun's". Hold on there! Not yet. Please read the rest...
For your information, Dusun and Bunun's language both are Austronesian. Austronesian language is widely used in Southeast Asia and Pacific. Austronesian mostly spoken on islands.
Anthropologist like William (1965) believed that Kadazan culturally closer to native Taiwan, which may be the Bunun's tribe. According to his research, Kadazan are from the second wave of migration from Indo-Malayan foodraiser which is about 3000 years ago where they moved from South China and north Vietnam through Taiwan and the Philipines to northern Borneo.
This is what I'm saying about "amalgamation". Our people may be already there and those food-raiser traveler (nomadic people) will stay at one place and when the time come they will find some another place again to raise food leaving their gene, culture etc. Our people might amalgamate it and turns it into their own culture. This is just my theory through my understanding from all articles that i read.
(especially : http://psasir.upm.edu.my/2027/1/Genetic_Relationship_between_Kadazans_and.pdf)
I am not asking you to believe but I hope you can do the same thing, find the exact answer to your own curiosity. We are indeed mysterious tribe and there is a lot more out there to find where exactly do we from and evolved.
Owen Rutter, in his book "The Pagan Tribes of North Borneo", published in 1929, wrote:
I cant give you accurate answer but I can share with you this interesting facts that our ethnic has the same culture with the Bunun tribe or known as "Vonum". Bunun is one of aboriginal tribe from Taiwan and they are the fourth largest tribal group.
First thing first, you might think "Ohh, we are from the Bunun's". Hold on there! Not yet. Please read the rest...
For your information, Dusun and Bunun's language both are Austronesian. Austronesian language is widely used in Southeast Asia and Pacific. Austronesian mostly spoken on islands.
Anthropologist like William (1965) believed that Kadazan culturally closer to native Taiwan, which may be the Bunun's tribe. According to his research, Kadazan are from the second wave of migration from Indo-Malayan foodraiser which is about 3000 years ago where they moved from South China and north Vietnam through Taiwan and the Philipines to northern Borneo.
This is what I'm saying about "amalgamation". Our people may be already there and those food-raiser traveler (nomadic people) will stay at one place and when the time come they will find some another place again to raise food leaving their gene, culture etc. Our people might amalgamate it and turns it into their own culture. This is just my theory through my understanding from all articles that i read.
(especially : http://psasir.upm.edu.my/2027/1/Genetic_Relationship_between_Kadazans_and.pdf)
I am not asking you to believe but I hope you can do the same thing, find the exact answer to your own curiosity. We are indeed mysterious tribe and there is a lot more out there to find where exactly do we from and evolved.
Owen Rutter, in his book "The Pagan Tribes of North Borneo", published in 1929, wrote:
- “The Dusun usually describes himself generically as a tulun tindal (landsman) or, on the West Coast, particularly at Papar, as a Kadazan.” (page 31).
Other theory : Dusun originated from China
This might explains why I look like a Chinese. Most of them even speak Chinese to me (urgh~ why the heck i didnt take Mandarin as my 3rd language?). Just sayin'. Heh.
Here, I found another source that saying the Dusun's are from China. The "dusun" word derived from the word "luisoon" which is a chinese word, of course. "Luisoon" means 'left by the boat'. It is to be believed that "Dusun" are the Sung Dynasty descendants. (oh? this may explains why i am so into Chinese's movie!! like Wong Fei Hung!! or or!!! Ip Man!! and you name it as long it involves Kung Fu! haha). Cut the crap.
Back to the fact, source saying that "Kadazan" and "Dusun" are different. (Then how come we have so many common in dialect?)
This is the story that I quoted : "About 1000 years ago, China was travelling all around the world by ship for trades activities. There was sunken junk from China founded at 20 meters deep between Kudat and Pulau Banggi in Sabah. Some ceramics from the Sung Dynasty was founded from the wreck and now been displayed at the Kota Kinabalu Sabah Museum. It was reported more than 1 ship were sank, but still have not been founded yet. The Chinese sailors that survived continued their lives in Sabah ever since and starting the Dusun race and heritage."
"Dusuns are traditionally inhabitants in the interior of Sabah, obviously in the hilly and mountainous region. As the result, the indigenous people of China and indegenous people of Sabah are related. So its proven that the indigenous people of Sabah are from the Chinese origins. This is also solves your wonder about why Dusun people looks like Chinese. It is because Dusun people have Chinese blood in their body."
By the way, in my previous post I said that we the Kadazan-Dusun people are the gene's left by the nomadic people (to be precise, travelers) in Sabah. One of them might be the Chinese.
Some would says that "Kadazan" and "Dusun" are the same but only have different slang. Other than that the Kadazans lives in city meanwhile the Dusuns lives in village.
Here, I found another interesting facts from random comments :
"The late Dr. James Ongkili said that the Dusun language is 70% the same as the hill and river people of Kuilim in Southwest China where the buffalo is used extensively and the dresses worn are practically the same as in Sabah. There are similarity of words like “kundasan” which means” looking at big mountain” in
Chinese, “Kadazan” which means ” home in the mountains” in Chinese, ” Hugansiou” which means ” Vice Chief Commander” in Chinese,” Runggus ” means ” Gong beaters’ in Chinese, “Murut” means “magic people” in Chinese,here in sabah and many other words. If the Chinese share the same Ancestral blood as the KDM then the Chinese in Sabah are natives in the legal defination of native in Sabah." - Datuk Yap P L (http://socyberty.com/languages/dusun-derived-from-a-chinese-word-pronunciation-luisooun/)
Here, I found another source that saying the Dusun's are from China. The "dusun" word derived from the word "luisoon" which is a chinese word, of course. "Luisoon" means 'left by the boat'. It is to be believed that "Dusun" are the Sung Dynasty descendants. (oh? this may explains why i am so into Chinese's movie!! like Wong Fei Hung!! or or!!! Ip Man!! and you name it as long it involves Kung Fu! haha). Cut the crap.
Back to the fact, source saying that "Kadazan" and "Dusun" are different. (Then how come we have so many common in dialect?)
This is the story that I quoted : "About 1000 years ago, China was travelling all around the world by ship for trades activities. There was sunken junk from China founded at 20 meters deep between Kudat and Pulau Banggi in Sabah. Some ceramics from the Sung Dynasty was founded from the wreck and now been displayed at the Kota Kinabalu Sabah Museum. It was reported more than 1 ship were sank, but still have not been founded yet. The Chinese sailors that survived continued their lives in Sabah ever since and starting the Dusun race and heritage."
"Dusuns are traditionally inhabitants in the interior of Sabah, obviously in the hilly and mountainous region. As the result, the indigenous people of China and indegenous people of Sabah are related. So its proven that the indigenous people of Sabah are from the Chinese origins. This is also solves your wonder about why Dusun people looks like Chinese. It is because Dusun people have Chinese blood in their body."
By the way, in my previous post I said that we the Kadazan-Dusun people are the gene's left by the nomadic people (to be precise, travelers) in Sabah. One of them might be the Chinese.
Some would says that "Kadazan" and "Dusun" are the same but only have different slang. Other than that the Kadazans lives in city meanwhile the Dusuns lives in village.
Here, I found another interesting facts from random comments :
"The late Dr. James Ongkili said that the Dusun language is 70% the same as the hill and river people of Kuilim in Southwest China where the buffalo is used extensively and the dresses worn are practically the same as in Sabah. There are similarity of words like “kundasan” which means” looking at big mountain” in
Chinese, “Kadazan” which means ” home in the mountains” in Chinese, ” Hugansiou” which means ” Vice Chief Commander” in Chinese,” Runggus ” means ” Gong beaters’ in Chinese, “Murut” means “magic people” in Chinese,here in sabah and many other words. If the Chinese share the same Ancestral blood as the KDM then the Chinese in Sabah are natives in the legal defination of native in Sabah." - Datuk Yap P L (http://socyberty.com/languages/dusun-derived-from-a-chinese-word-pronunciation-luisooun/)
Kadazan & Dusun : Who exactly we are?
The largest indigenous ethnic group in Sabah is Kadazan-Dusun. I was wondering about our people's origin and i found out there are four theories about it.
Firstly, Kadazan-Dusun originated from Mongoloid which is a race from East Asia and known as Mongol people. Secondly, we are most likely "Indo-Malayan". Next, we might have mixed blood from Chinese race and we might be from China. Lastly, the Kadazan-Dusun's originated from Gua Madai's cavemen. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/14521504/Sejarah-Asal-Usul-Masyarakat-Dusun)
Me myself not so sure where are we truly from but I believe long time ago we are the type of nomadic people who travels from place to place leaving our gene at various places. What I mean was, the Kadazan-Dusun's people might be one of the gene that they left here in Sabah. That's just my thoughts and I dont mean to confuse anybody.
Now, lets see the meaning of the term "Kadazan" and "Dusun".
There are many answers about it from various sources and one of the sources that i found is from Richard F. Tunggolou, a former principal from SMK Majakir, Papar back in 1979.
In his article he stated that "Kadazan" is from the word "kakadazan" which is mean, town."Kakadazan" is a Tangaa' dialect. We must understand that Kadazan-Dusun have various types of dialect from different region in Sabah.
Next, it is also from the word "kedaian". "Kedaian" means people of the town. The word "kedaian" is originated from the word "kedai". There are no proof that "Kadazan" is derived from the word "Kedaian".
This means they were called "Kadazan" because they are people from the town. Mr.Tunggolou in his article also stated that "Kadazan" means 'the people'.This means we are basically "the people". We are "the people's" ethnic.
Thirdly, Mr. Tunggolou also states that the "Kadazan" term was adopted from the word "Kedayan" whereby it is an ethnic group from Brunei and Labuan. However, there are no valid explanation and it was just an assumption which in linguistic way the word "Kedayan" sounds alike "Kadazan".
(http://kdca.org.my/kadazandusun_meaning.shtml)
Here, i agreed that the "Kadazan" term means 'the people'.
How about "Dusun"? In Malay language, Dusun means "kebun". Do not jump into conclusion yet. It is not simple as that we are Dusun then it means we are the people from farm or garden. In fact, yes we are. But how did that happen?
Most west coast of Sabah once ago was ruled by Sultan of Brunei and he collects taxes from orang "Dusun". The term "Dusun" was created by Sultan of Brunei to name the Kadazan's for the purpose of administration and registration. This because "Kadazan" has many types of dialect(groups) such as Kadazan Tangaa, Kadazan Rungus, Kadazan Tatana. So, the Sultan simplify it by calling them "Orang Dusun".
Please be noted that in late 1950's the Kadazan Cultural Association (KCA) were established and demands the British to approve "Kadazan" as official race in Sabah. Basically, "Kadazan" means "People of the Land" to represent 32 sub-ethnic groups which the Sultan called "Orang Dusun".
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusun)
32 sub-ethnic groups of Kadazan
Firstly, Kadazan-Dusun originated from Mongoloid which is a race from East Asia and known as Mongol people. Secondly, we are most likely "Indo-Malayan". Next, we might have mixed blood from Chinese race and we might be from China. Lastly, the Kadazan-Dusun's originated from Gua Madai's cavemen. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/14521504/Sejarah-Asal-Usul-Masyarakat-Dusun)
Me myself not so sure where are we truly from but I believe long time ago we are the type of nomadic people who travels from place to place leaving our gene at various places. What I mean was, the Kadazan-Dusun's people might be one of the gene that they left here in Sabah. That's just my thoughts and I dont mean to confuse anybody.
Now, lets see the meaning of the term "Kadazan" and "Dusun".
There are many answers about it from various sources and one of the sources that i found is from Richard F. Tunggolou, a former principal from SMK Majakir, Papar back in 1979.
In his article he stated that "Kadazan" is from the word "kakadazan" which is mean, town."Kakadazan" is a Tangaa' dialect. We must understand that Kadazan-Dusun have various types of dialect from different region in Sabah.
Next, it is also from the word "kedaian". "Kedaian" means people of the town. The word "kedaian" is originated from the word "kedai". There are no proof that "Kadazan" is derived from the word "Kedaian".
This means they were called "Kadazan" because they are people from the town. Mr.Tunggolou in his article also stated that "Kadazan" means 'the people'.This means we are basically "the people". We are "the people's" ethnic.
Thirdly, Mr. Tunggolou also states that the "Kadazan" term was adopted from the word "Kedayan" whereby it is an ethnic group from Brunei and Labuan. However, there are no valid explanation and it was just an assumption which in linguistic way the word "Kedayan" sounds alike "Kadazan".
(http://kdca.org.my/kadazandusun_meaning.shtml)
Here, i agreed that the "Kadazan" term means 'the people'.
How about "Dusun"? In Malay language, Dusun means "kebun". Do not jump into conclusion yet. It is not simple as that we are Dusun then it means we are the people from farm or garden. In fact, yes we are. But how did that happen?
Most west coast of Sabah once ago was ruled by Sultan of Brunei and he collects taxes from orang "Dusun". The term "Dusun" was created by Sultan of Brunei to name the Kadazan's for the purpose of administration and registration. This because "Kadazan" has many types of dialect(groups) such as Kadazan Tangaa, Kadazan Rungus, Kadazan Tatana. So, the Sultan simplify it by calling them "Orang Dusun".
Please be noted that in late 1950's the Kadazan Cultural Association (KCA) were established and demands the British to approve "Kadazan" as official race in Sabah. Basically, "Kadazan" means "People of the Land" to represent 32 sub-ethnic groups which the Sultan called "Orang Dusun".
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dusun)
32 sub-ethnic groups of Kadazan
- Sungai
- Tatana
- Tangara
- Tindal
- Tobilung
- Tolinting
- Tombonuo
- Tuhawon
- Tutung
- Sandayoh
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