Ning Syafitri: The Symbol of Pineapple and Dragon in Buton Island

The main picture above is Popaua Stone in Keraton Buton Fortress. In this case, I do not elaborate Popaua Stone, but I will focus in the black circled picture. Those are dragon and pineapple. Many traditional houses in Buton always use these icons on their roof like that picture. What is the meaning of those symbols in Buton exactly?

In this chance, I try to elaborate the meaning of those icons.

First, it is pineapple.

Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) is one of tropical plants from Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. In Buton, many pineapples grew around Wolio settlement in Melai area at past time. Besides as a cared plan, it was used as a stronghold plant. That is why it is used to symbolize for people of Butonese, especially the characteristics of society itself.

Pineapple can grow everywhere, whether in stony land, sandy land or fertile land. It symbolizes that Butonese can live everywhere. They can adapt their selves wherever they are.

Pineapple has crown leaves as many as nine leaves. They describe as an umbrella. In this case, nine leaders who always protect society, they are called Siolimbona. Besides that, they had main duties to make nomination, election, inauguration, and dismissal of the king or sultan. Siolimbona means there are nine leaders as main ministers (Bonto) who lead nine regions. They are:

1. Limbo Peropa was led by Bontona Peropa.

2. Limbo Baluwu was led by Bontona Baluwu.

3. Limbo Gundu-Gundu was led by Bontona Gundu-Gundu.

4. Limbo Barangkatopa was led by Bontona Barangkatopa.

5. Limbo Gama was led by Bontona Gama.

6. Limbo Rakia was led by Bontona Rakia.

7. Limbo Siompu was led by Bontona Siompu.

8. Limbo Wandailolo was led by Bontona Wandailolo.

9. Limbo Melai was led by Bontona Melai.

Pineapple has thorns. It means that people of Butonese are respected by all people because Buton has the power that uneasy to be disturbed by others. Also, it has the excellent defense and security.

The fruit of pineapple has sweet taste. It means that people of Butonese are liked by others because the behavior. Also, it symbolizes prosperous life from the society.

The rind of pineapple has many eyes. It means that the society has many lines of information in order to maintain the wholeness and stability of government. It can be proved with defense system that Buton has. It is called Four Corners Layered Defense System (Sistem Pertahanan Empat Penjuru Berlapis). Barata is a system or fort’s outer defense. Overall, they are:

1. Patalimbona Defense in Keraton Fortress. The main strength of this in Patalimbona: four villages (limbo) in Keraton Wolio Fortress that be led by Bonto as safeguard in his area by doing special control in capital of kingdom with imperial troops or guards.

2. Bhisa Patamiana Defense, such mysticism expert. Buton society names “Moji” that consists of four people. Their function in defense was they used their mysticism skill although they were in Keraton Wolio fortress, but enable to reach out the bounds area of the empire to find out the invading enemy. Therefore, permission of the Almighty, Bhisa Patamiana can try to force the enemy by using their mind to destroy it. Bhisa Patamiana as follows:

1. Mojina Kalau, to control area in southern, from Batu Atas until Moromohu.

2. Mojina Silea, to control area in eastern until Wawonii.

3. Mojina Peropa, to control area in northern, from Wawonii Island until Sagori Island.

4. Mojina Waberongalu, to control area in western, from Sagori Island until Batu Atas Island (Zahari, 1980; 115, Said, 1984; 5).

3. Matana Soromba Defense. Four paramilitary defenses that consist of four villages in the northern boundary of the Sultanate of Buton. They were chosen by Buton society and appointed as main soldier outside the palace of Buton Sultanate to escort and to guard the boundaries of the territorial sovereignty of Buton Sultanate, especially against the vandals like pirates, robbers, and security bullies who want to enter the territory of the empire.

The four villages which were given the duty as “Matana Soromba”:

1. Lapandewa village oversaw security and banished the enemy that came from the north of empire.

2. Watumobobe village oversaw security and banished the enemy that came from the east of empire.

3. Wabula village oversaw security and banished the enemy that came from the south of empire.

4. Mawasangka village oversaw security and banished the enemy that came from the west of empire.

4. Barata Defense. In the sense of Buton society, Barata is the reinforcement of mutual support and help to survive and balance, not easily destroyed because of the one supporting the other and vice versa. So, this system is like a boat that has wings (Jarangka).

The main duty of Barata was responsible for defense and security of their respective territories. Every kingdom joined in Barata independently, they made effort to have strong defense system, while collective defense, if one member of Barata can not face the enemy anymore, it can ask help to the Buton Sultanate.

In a political sense, Barata is the independent kingdom within the Buton Sultanate. The kingdoms are:

1. Muna Kingdom. Barata that located in the northern part of the Buton Sultanate, it is in charge of alerting the security to the north.

2. Kulisusu Kingdom. Barata that located in the eastern the Buton Sultanate, it is in charge of alerting the security to the east.

3. Kaledupa Kingdom. Barata that located in the southern the Buton Sultanate, it is in charge of alerting the security to the south.

4. Tiworo Kingdom. Barata that located in the western the Buton Sultanat, it is in charge of alerting the security to the west.

Basically, Barata is as the outermost defense that destroys first the enemy before entering the main area. According to the theory of modern war strategy, it is the offensive defense, escorting and scouting the enemy and destroying since from the boundary of its territory.

At the bottom, pineapple has four slips. It means that there are four principles that still be had by Buton society until now. They are:

1. Pomaa-maasiaka.

It is to love each other. It is the main purpose of coming Prophet Muhammad in the world. To love each other is synonymous with silaturrahim; we connect the link of affection. So, the sense of kinship, togetherness, and mutual cooperation will be run in the society. If there is no sense of loving each other, it will appear the bad behavior, such as jealous, envy, and others that can break the sense of kinship, togetherness, and mutual cooperation.

2. Popia-piara.

It is keeping or protecting each other. It means that every people must keep, guide, and protect the wealth, moral, or capacity in society. Consequently, it can create the commonweal. Every people must keep each other in order that what one has, it is not disturbed and not allowed to interfere the affairs other people or open disgrace others. If this principle is broken, it will have bad action; making down each other that will get harm in the society.

3. Poangka-angkataka.

Literally, Poangka-angkataka means lifting each other. It is opposite meaning from making down each other. It means sitting human at his right position and respecting the position for others. Also, it is purposed to respect each other according to the customs and values of decency, generally between government and society. This statement contains everyone who has given his devotion to society and nation, it is a must to be given appreciation that can lift and elevate his degree and dignity in society. The devotion is like these:

1. Sega (Brave)

People are brave to bet his soul and body for the interest of country.

2. Aalimu (Pious)

People have knowledge in religious matters.

3. Rela (Sacrifice)

People have a will to sacrifice for country.

4. Pande (Expert)

People have skill of something that can be useful for others.

If it is not applied anymore, consequently people will have apathy attitude to the interest or safety of the country, because there is no appreciation for their sacrifices, spirit of patriotism and heroism will be lost and then the country will be weak.

4. Pomae-maeka.

It means we glorify each other with the fear of breaking the humanity sense among the member of society. Pomae-maeka is meant that government and society need to know where their position, which is higher and lower position. Also, it is meant that everyone always obeys or feels fear in terms of violating the right of other people in society.

If Pomae-maeka is lost, the fear will change becoming the bravery to do an action that violates the rights of others. If it had happened, so the tranquility, peace, and security would have been disrupted. Then, there will be chaos and destruction in society.

Second, it is dragon.

Dragon is a mythological creature. It is a giant reptile. It appears in various cultures. In general, it is like a giant snake, but some are describing it as a winged lizard.

According to Mr. Ld. Budi Wahiddin, M.Pd., when the first Queen in Buton, Wa Kaa Kaa, was in Buton for the first time, she brought a flag which had the picture of dragon in that flag.

Why must be dragon? Because it was affected by Chinese culture before Islam came in Buton. We know that Buton society is believed from the Mongolian race.

The dragon itself means as the symbol to ward off the misfortune. So, Buton society believes that and they put the dragon and pineapple at both of edge on the roof.