Sasak people

The Sasak peopleTemplate:Efn (Template:Langx, Sasak script: ; Template:Langx) or Sasaknese, mainly live on the island of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, numbering around 3.6 million (85% of Lombok's population). They are related to the Balinese in language and in ancestry, as well as to other ethnic groups on the neighboring island of Sumbawa. The Template:Ill are a distinct part of the Sasak people, and are the oldest group on Lombok.

File:Pintal Benang DSCF8334.jpg

("Spinning Yarn"), a tradition of the Sasak people

Sasak people are predominanty Muslim; those who practice pre-Islamic beliefs are also known as in reference to the name of the Sasak people's original religion, ().

Etymology

The name "Sasak" was first mentioned in the 11th century Pujungan Inscription, an inscription found in Tabanan Regency, Bali.

The origin of the name "Sasak" may come from the word , which means "boat"; it may also mean "one by one". The word sak is also used by some Dayak people on Kalimantan to mean "one". In the 14th century Nagarakṛtāgama, the word is mentioned along with Lombok in the Kawi phrase , in which means "straight" or "honest", means "gem", means "statement", and means "something that is good" or "utmost". Therefore, means "honesty is the gem that states goodness".

According to local tradition, it is believed that the word "Sasak" comes from the phrase which means "the one", followed by the word which originates from the word , meaning "straight". Hence, means "something that is straight". Other translations also include "a straight road".

Weaving, an important part of Sasak culture, is known as in the Sasak language; the word comes from the words , , or . is done by threading the threads one by one (), then tightening the threads, and then forming a cloth by beating them on a loom. The sound heard when beating the loom is similar to the sound "", and it is only done twice. Yet another theory is that the word means "bamboo woven together".

History

File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Groep dansers uit Sasak TMnr 10004747.jpg

Sasak dancers

Little is known about early Sasak history except that Lombok was placed under direct rule of the Majaphait Empire by the 14th century Mahapatih Gajah Mada. Islam arrived into the area around the 15th century, and Sasaks converted to Islam between the late 16th century to early 17th century. This was done under the influence of Pangeran Prapen (Template:Ill), the son of Raden Paku (Sunan Giri); alternatively, this was done by Sunan Giri himself and the Muslim Makassarese, frequently mixing basic Islamic beliefs with Hindu-Buddhist beliefs to create the Wetu Telu religion. Lombok was conquered by the Gelgel Balinese kingdom in the early 16th century, thus bringing a large population of Balinese people to Lombok. The Balinese population of Lombok today is about 300,000, or 10–15% of Lombok's population. The Balinese have also strongly influenced the Wetu Telu religion.

Language

File:Peresean Traditional Sport of Sasak Tribe.jpg

, a traditional Sasak sport

The Sasak language (Template:Langx) is an Austronesian language belonging to the Malayo-Sumbawan branch, mostly found in Western Indonesia and Malaysia. More specifically, Sasak belongs to the languages of Western Indonesia, meaning it is closely related to the languages of Java (such as Javanese and Sundanese) and languages of Bali (such as Balinese). There are also a number of Sasak dialects in various regions, such as Kutó-Kuté and Bayan-Sasak (North Sasak), Menó-Mené (Central Sasak), Meriaq-Meriku (Central South Sasak), Ngenó-Ngené (Central East Sasak and Central West Sasak), and Nggetó-Nggeté (Northeast Sasak).

Religion

File:Sasak1.jpg

Sasak children in a Sasak village, ca. 1997

Most Sasaks today are adherents of the (Template:Lit) version of Islam, signifying the five daily prayers which Muslims are required to perform; this in contrast to Sasaks who are practitioners of Wetu Telu (Template:Lit) Islam, who only pray three times a day. Orthodox Islamic teachers generally instruct adherents to pray five times a day.

Large numbers of people adhering to the Wetu Telu branch can still be found throughout the island, especially in the village of Bayan, where the religion originated. Large communities can be also be found in Mataram, Pujung, Sengkol, Rambitan, Sade, Tetebatu, Bumbung, Sembalun, Senaru, Loyok, and Pasugulan.

Before the widespread adoption of Islam, Lombok was primarily Hindu. The Balinese Template:Ill conquered Lombok in the 17th century, further spreading Balinese Hinduism, the influence of which still remains. Many ancient Hindu , such as Gunung Pengsong, Lingsar, Meru, and Suranadi, still remain standing.

Art performances

File:Raiyani Muharramah Gendang beleq DSCF8502a.jpg

performance on a road

• dance
• dance

See also

• Sasak architecture
• Austronesian expansion

External links

• Sidetrip to Lombok by the New York Times