Functions and Types of Tau-Tau Statue as Torajan Identity in South Sulawesi Indonesia

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This research explores statue as identity by looking at function, meaning, and rituals. Tau-tau is the statue that represents a Torajan noble family who has passed away. The findings of this study reveal that is one of the main equipment in the funeral (rambu solo') only for high nobility (tana' bulaan). The ritual use of this is that after the funeral ceremony is completed, only nangka (statue from jackfruit) stored on the cliffs in line with preceded tau-tau, while the lampa (statue from mixed of wood) and batelepong (statue for everyone) thrown away after the funeral ceremony is completed. This is because the raw materials of lampa and batelepong only made of packing cloth on a bamboo frame that is only temporarily as part of a series and at the funeral ceremony took place. In the beginning, was prayed and lamented by families and communities of Torajan Aluk to Dolo, but in line with people left Aluk to Dolo by the Torajan community and switch to embrace Christianity and Islam. Because of this, ritual of Aluk to Dolo in rambu solo (funeral ceremony) is not related to rituals and ancestors’beliefs. As a consequence, one of the nobility identities, tau-tau even now made by the noble family before they die, and souvenir of emerges for sale to the tourists. Thus, the statue of at this time is still one of the prides of Torajan noble, but all the sacred rituals of Aluk to Dolo associated with has been reformed in accordance with the level of noble family in Torajan communities.