Weekly Photo Challenge: from LINES to PATTERNS

Posted by pleisbilongtumi on September 24, 2013
Posted in: my WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, PHOTOGRAPHY. Tagged: , , , . 24 Comments

This is my entry to

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge

lines & patterns on Toraja's house

Lines and patterns in the Toraja’s traditional house, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

24 comments on “Weekly Photo Challenge: from LINES to PATTERNS”

  2. Pingback: Photo Project “52 Bolivian Sundays” [week 38, 'From Lines to Patterns']. | 3rdculturechildren

  6. Please forgive me if I ask, I don’t know much about South East Asia. Is this a typical house? Do most people live like this? In most European homes and even in America we are so used to the way we live we don’t think how others do. I would very much enjoy seeing more of the traditional houses. It helps my world view. Thanks.

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    • There is nothing to forgive, my friend. I am so please to describe a bit of this typical house for you:

      Toraja (you can listen to google to pronouncing this word) is an ethnic group who settle in the mountains of the northern part of South Sulawesi Indonesia which is called Tana Toraja (Toraja land). Its population is estimated at around 1 million people, with 500,000 of whom still live in Tana Toraja,The minority of the Toraja people embraced Christianity, while the majority embraced Islam and animism known as Aluk To Dolo. The Indonesian government has recognized this belief as part of Hindu Dharma faith. The people build and live in this typical traditional architecture made from wood, moreover the roof shape looks like a boat constructed from rattan and sago palm fiber is one of the magnificent architecture among the traditional houses that flourish in Indonesia.

      Indonesia has about 300 ethnic groups, each ethnic cultural heritage has evolved over centuries. There are over 300 traditional architectures found in the country, many of them adapted into modern buildings both in shapes and its interior designs. For instance, the architecture of the Sukarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.

      In Jakarta (the Capital city), there is a huge cultural park called “Taman Mini Indonesia Indah” (The Beauty of Indonesia in Miniature park), which provides people to see and enjoy the variety of Indonesian cultures and also all of the traditional houses (architecture) in its original size.

      Further more, you can find detail of our country on wikipedia, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia

      Thank you for visiting and you really light up my day. Best wishes. 🙂

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    • Yes, You are absolutely correct. Those horns became both a decoration and as a status symbol. The more wealthier the more horns are attached to the front house. Thank you for questioning and I am so glad to have you visiting this post. Best regards.

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    • Mas Bams kemana aja? …. Insya Altah nanti saya ke Yogya lagi, mau ngajak Mas Bams hunting di Yogya. BTW, pernah ngeposting Museum Affandy ?, kalau belum, bikin dunk? saya pengen menikmatinya. kalau sudah kasih tahu lewat email ya. Thank you very much. 🙂

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  9. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: From Lines to Patterns | blogagaini

  10. wow!! it’s interesting and very good shot but could you tell me more about this . I want to know about more this place or about image i think this some spiritual place and i want also know about horns that’s showing in your picture i am eager to know about this its really quite interesting to know about.

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    • Interesting, Amresh. This is the living house, not a spiritual place. even though, it is dense with spiritual meanings on its shapes, decoration, ornaments, colors, etc. Imagine, such of that traditional house is built by a construction made ​​of wood, rattans and palm fiber for the roof without the use of metallic elements at all. You will be amazed after knowing the philosophy behind this traditional house. There is confidence, pride, ancient traditions, and civilization of every detail of the house built in Toraja society. So it can not be arbitrary to build the house.

      The buffalo’s horns showing the social status of the owner, the more wealthier the more horns are attached to the front house. These horns are taken from the number of buffalos that sacrificed at family’s traditional ceremonies, such as funerals, thanksgiving at the house completion, wedding ceremonies and others.

      This is the link that can probably give you more detail about the “Toraja”: http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/477/tana-toraja

      Thank you very much for your interest on this post.

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      • Wow !! i appreciate your work and it’s a amazing story behind the picture that i want to know, you have very well explain here and i am glad that you reply and many thanks for giving me such a wonderful knowledge of Toraja. Have a good day . Once again Thanks a lot.

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    • It is always with my pleasure, Amresh. You are most appreciated for questioning any thing about tradition that flourish in our country. As you know, many Indonesia cultures are influenced by Hindu from India, so it’s quite interesting. 🙂

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  11. I enjoyed the Toraja link above – the art & architecture, the textiles, the rituals – all very precious. I hope they can remain as they are now for a long time. It’s so important to recognize the insights and beauty of the many cultures we have.

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