This book presents the two worlds of Torajans: the worlds of the living and the world of the dead. From the Torajans’ view point, the two worlds are closely related and mutually needed. The world of the living is defined as a temporary one (pa’bongianri te lino) which will be continued in the next world (lino undi). Since the circumstances of the next world are the same as in the present world, preparations of the next life should be made here and now.
In Toraja culture there is a term for life and death. Toraja is a city of rituals because the Aluk To Dolo culture strongly believes that after death there is life and in life there will always be death. For Aluk To Dolo adherents, every moment must be ritualized, whether it is blessing the house, birthdays, weddings, planting rice or people who have died. Rituals are considered sacred in Toraja cultural life because they are considered a belief. This book describes ancient Toraja culture and the Aluk To Dolo belief. And this book also invites the younger generation to preserve the cultural heritage of our ancestors.
Book Details
Title: Life and Death
Subtitle: The Lost Culture
Authors: Dr. Dirk Rukka Sandarupa, S.S., M.Hum. dan Prof. Drs. Stanislaus Sandarupa, M.A., Ph.D.
ISBN: 978-623-8436-01-9
Book dimensions: 135 mm x 210 mm
Number of pages: 116
Price: ….
About the Authors
Dirk Rukka Sandarupa is an academic graduate in linguistics who focuses on language, culture and tourism development. He also joins various organizations such as the regional language conservation association, the Barru district tourism office, maritime and religious lovers. His vision and mission is to continue working through academic experiences, including culture, language and tourism.
Stanislaus Sandarupa is a graduate of the University of Chicago via a Fullbright and Toyota Foundation scholarship. He is an expert in linguistic philosophy and anthropolinguistics. During his lifetime, because his love for Toraja was so great, he dedicated his works about Toraja both academically and to tourism. So he was nicknamed the caretaker of Toraja culture from the compass.