Comparative study on rituals in highland farming areas In North Sumatera and in Tohoku

Abstract

Traditional community has local wisdom in managing the relationship between man and man, man and nature, and man and God. The Japanese tradition gives the priority the relationship between man and nature because they believe that Nature is the most important place for human beings and gods. Therefore, in the Japanese traditional community, man and gods have to guard nature against damages. In order to conserve this local wisdom, they use myths, taboos, and rules. In today’s modern Japan, the Japanese still maintain their tradition so that it is commonly said that the Japanese are walking on two traditions: modern and traditional. In today’s highland farming in Japan, the Japanese farmers still perform ritual ceremonies such as rituals in planting rice plants, rituals in weeding and getting rid of pests, rituals in harvesting, and ritual after harvesting. Meanwhile, in the highland farming in North Sumatera, people’s tradition has changed. Today, farmers hunt wild animals such as birds, bats, and snakes because they damage ecosystem; but, as many wild animals are eaten by people, rats and pests/insects become flourish so that farmers now use a lot of chemical insecticide. In consequence, harvests become worse and farmers become poorer. Therefore, there is the difference in local wisdom between high land farmers in Japan and highland farmers in North Sumatera. In this research, the researcher did field research in Tohoku, Japan, and in Batak area, North Sumatera, in order to find out the differences. The theory of cultural comparative science was used in studying local wisdom of the farmers in these two areas. It is recommended that local wisdom be maintained for the local people’s welfare. This research was financed by the Japanese related research program, Sumitomo Foundation.