THE SACRED VALUES OF KERINCI ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS AND OTHER ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS IN THE WORLD

Abstract

The aims of this study are to explore the sacred meanings in the ancient manuscripts of Kerinci preserved by the Kerinci indigenous people and their comparison with other ancient manuscripts in the world. This study uses a qualitative approach, with data collection using a purposive sampling technique on selected informants based on predetermined criteria. The results of this study indicate that the manifestation of the sacred values of the ancient manuscripts of Kerinci does not lie in the physicality of the manuscripts, but is believed by the Kerinci people to be found in the values of protecting or maintaining ancient manuscripts. The Kerinci people view the preservation of ancient manuscripts as sacred because they believe it is obedience to the results of an agreement, continuing the mandate, respecting the ikrar iyo (pledge), a form of obedience to the adjunct directions of the country's leader in this case the Depati, respecting the contents of the manuscript in the form of ancestral teachings and history, and are afraid of being exposed disaster, harm or disaster such as wasting the manuscript as harto pusako as a consequence of the responsibility that has been jointly acknowledged and bound by the iyo pledge. Some contextually sacred reasons have similarities with traditions in other places such as the value of trust, adherence to customary rules, ancestral teachings such as rituals, traditional ceremonies, certain religious teachings and ancestral history, and fear of calamity if ancient manuscripts are wasted.