Baduy

The Baduy, who call themselves Kanekes, are a traditional community living in the western part of the Indonesian
province of Banten. Their population of between 5,000 and 8,000 is centered in the Kendeng mountains at an
elevation of 300-500 meters above sea level. Their homeland in Banten, Java is contained in just 50 km² of hilly forest
area 120 km from Jakarta, Indonesia's megalopolis of high-rises and fast cars. The Baduy are divided into two sub-
groups; the Baduy Dalam (Inner Baduy), and the Baduy Luar (Outer Baduy). No foreigners were allowed to meet the
Inner Baduy, though the Outer Baduy do foster some limited contacts with the outside world.
The Baduy speak a dialect derived from archaic Sundanese. However, modern Sundanese and Javanese influences in
their archaic dialect can be heard in their speech
The religion of the Baduy is known as Agama Sunda Wiwitan, a combination of traditional beliefs and Hinduism.
However, due to lack of interaction with the outside world, their religion is more related to Kejawen Animism, though
they still retain many elements of their original Hindu-Buddhist religion, like the terms they use to define things and
objects, and the rituals in their religious activities. A certain amount of Islamic influence has also penetrated into the
religion of a few of the Baduy Luar in recent years, with some original ideas thrown in for good measure. The ultimate
authority is vested in Gusti Nu Maha Suci, who according to the Baduy sent Adam into the world to lead the life of a
Baduy.
The Baduy also observe many mystical taboos. They are forbidden to kill, steal, lie, commit adultery, get drunk, eat
food at night, take any form of conveyance, wear flowers or perfumes, accept gold or silver, touch money, or cut their
hair. Other taboos relate to defending Baduy lands against invasion: they may not grow sawah (wet rice), use
fertilizers, raise cash crops, use modern tools for working ladang soil, or keep large domestic animals.
There is evidence that they were originally Hindu, and adopted this
Generally speaking, the Baduy are divided into two groups: The Baduy Dalam and The Baduy Luar. The community of
villages in which they live are considered mandalas, derived from the Hindu/Buddhist concept but referring in the
Indonesian context to places where religion is the central aspect of life.
The population of about 400 Baduy Dalam consists of 40 families Kajeroanl who live in the three villages of Cibeo,
Cikertawana, and Cikeusik in Tanah Larangan (forbidden territory) where no stranger is permitted to spend the night.
They are probably the purest Baduy stock. The Dalam follow the rigid buyut taboo system very strictly,( see Religion
and Beliefs for more information about their taboos ) and thus they have made very few contacts with the outside
world as they are considered as "People of the sacred inner circle". The Dalam are the only one of these two major
clans that have the Pu'un, the spiritual priest of the Baduy. The Pu'un are the only people that visit the most hallowed
and sacred ground of the Baduy which lies on Gunung Kendeng, in a place called Arca Domas. Unlike the Luar, the
Dalams are hardly influenced by Islam.
The Baduy Luar make up the remainder of the Baduy population, living in 22 villages and acting as a barrier to stop
visitors from entering the Sacred Inner circle. They do follow the rigid taboo system but not as strictly as the Dalam,
and they are more willing to accept modern influence into their daily lives. For example, some Luar people now
proudly sport the colorful sarongs and shirts favored by their Sundanese neighbours. In the past the Baduy Luar only
wore only their homespun blue-black cloth, and were forbidden to wear trousers. Other elements of civilization (toys,
money, batteries) are rapidly infiltrating especially in the villages to the north, and it is no longer unusual for an outer
Baduy to make a journey to Jakarta, or even to work outside as a hired hand during the rice planting and reaping
seasons. Some even work in big towns and cities like Jakarta, Bogor and Bandung. Animal meat is eaten in some of
the outer villages where dogs are trained for hunting, though animal husbandry is still forbidden.
Some people believe that the Baduy are the descendants of the aristocracy of the Sunda Kingdom of Pajajaran who
lived near Batutulis in the hills around Bogor; their domestic architecture follows most closely the traditional
Sundanese architecture. Pakuwan known also as Sunda Kelapa, the capital of Pajajaran, was destroyed by invading
Falethan Muslims in 1579. However, the Baduy today are increasingly losing touch with their Hindu culture and
increasingly getting closer to nature both in their own religion and their life, as they use no electricity, fertilizer or
irrigation techniques in their farming. Another theory suggests that they originate in northern Banten; pockets of
people in the northern hills still speak the archaic dialect of Sunda that the Baduy use.
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Baduy Tribe live in the Arrive area about 5.101 ha, in Kanekes village. Leuwidamar Sub district, Lebak Regency, about
38 km from Rangkasbitung the city of Lebak regency. The Baduy consists of two part : Baduy Dalam (Inner Baduy)
and Baduy Luar (Outer Baduy). The Baduy Dalam live in three Kampung’s : Cikeusik, Cikertawarna and Cibeo. They
have their own government, the tradition government. There are three heads of ethnic group as the head of
government and they are called Puun.
Baduy Luar (Outer Baduy) live in the outside of the three Kampung’s. There are 53 Kampung in the Baduy. There is a
tradition in their community, they have the firm tradition law Cikertawarna and Cibeo Puun’s. They have eight
assistants which have the same function and duties, called Jaro. The most of the Baduys are farmers. They plant huma
rice (padi huma/padi ladang) and other plantation. Beside farmers they make handicrafts like Koja’s bag, palm sugar,
woven products and less of them are merchants. Their religion is “Sunda Wiwitan”, they believe only one God, Sang
Hyang Tunggal as their Rhe creature, arrange and decider in the live.
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The Baduy is a tribe of among about 2,000 Sundanese speaking people living in 27 villages in the mountains south of
Rangkasbitung, Banten Province, Republic of Indonesia. These people is still have their own culture, an utterly unique,
and a closed society. They fight against attempts of the government to make them part of the modern world. The
culture is very impressive although it is not easy to learn something about this area and their people.
Cibeo, Cikartawana, and Cikeusik are the 3 villages of the 27 villages in the center of the area, which cannot be
visited. Here live about 40 families of the purest Badui stock. The culture here, is almost unharmed yet. The people of
these 3 villages are known as ‘Baduy Dalam’. The other 24 villages in the outer circle are each connected to one of
the inner three from which they are ruled. Leuwidamar, Lebak, and Kadukatug are the three of these outer villages
can be visited. People of these 24 villages are known as ‘Baduy Luar’. Visitors or travellers should only visit this area if
they are fit and used to adjust to local life forms. To enter the area visitors must first obtain a permit at the tourist
office of Rangkasbitung.

During months of April and May, the Baduy community is closed to outsiders, as during this time it commemorates
certain ceremonies, called ‘Seba’, the offering of part of their agricultural products to the Head of the District, Sub-
Regent, and the Chief Resident. During this ceremony the "Puun of Baduy" sends out a group of representatives of
‘Baduy Dalam’ people as well as ‘Baduy Luar’ to act as the community's spokesmen. When conducting this Seba
ceremony the ‘Baduy Dalam’ members refuse to ride any vehicle, instead, the distance of 150 km is traveled on foot
as proof of their perseverance.
The Baduy tribes live in Banten Province, Republic of Indonesia. These community’s villages can be reached via a 10
km village road from either Cibolegar or Cibungur village in Leuwidamar district. From Rangkasbitung visitors have to
find transport to the entry point of the Badui area at Cibolger.