Lewu Hante Museum

Tracing the Footprints of Dayak Ma’anyan Civilization at Lewu Hante Museum, East Barito

Museum Lewu Hante is more than just a sturdy wooden building standing tall in East Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan. This destination is a physical representation of the life philosophy, social structure, and cultural resilience of the Dayak Ma’anyan people. Located in Taniran Village, Benua Lima District, this museum stands as a silent witness to the transformation of the East Barito community from prehistoric times, the era of kingdoms, to the period of Indonesian independence.

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Historical Origins and Founding Period

The name "Lewu Hante" originates from the Dayak Ma’anyan language; Lewu means house or village, and Hante means big. Literally, Lewu Hante means "Big House." Historically, this building refers to the concept of Rumah Betang (Longhouse), which was the center of communal life for the Dayak people in the past.

The development of Lewu Hante Museum as a conservation institution formally began in the 1990s under the initiative of the local government. The aim was to rescue the scattered ancestral artifacts of the Dayak Ma’anyan. Although the building is a modern replica of a traditional structure, its location and construction philosophy are rooted in the ancient settlement sites of the Taniran community, which have existed for centuries as a defense against external attacks.

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Architecture and Construction Details

Museum Lewu Hante adopts the characteristic Dayak Ma’anyan Rumah Betang architecture, which has its own distinct features compared to Betang in other parts of Central Kalimantan. The main structure is a very tall stilt house, reaching 3 to 5 meters from the ground. Historically, this served to avoid attacks from wild animals and as a military defense strategy during inter-tribal wars or asang.

The primary material used is ulin wood (Eusideroxylon zwageri), also known as ironwood, renowned for its strength and ability to last for hundreds of years. The building's foundation is supported by large round wooden pillars deeply embedded in the ground. The entrance stairs, called hejan, are made from a single solid piece of ulin wood with notches carved as steps. The uniqueness of its architecture lies in the building's orientation from east to west, symbolizing the human life cycle of birth (sunrise) and return to the creator (sunset).

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Historical Significance and Related Events

Lewu Hante reflects the traditional Dayak Ma’anyan governance system known as the Patitis system. In the past, such Big Houses served as meeting halls for customary leaders or Pangulu to decide on customary legal matters and plan agricultural strategies.

One historical fact associated with this area is its connection to the Nan Sarunai Kingdom, an ancient Dayak Ma’anyan kingdom that once flourished before its fall due to an attack from Majapahit (an event known in local oral tradition as Nan Sarunai Usak Jawa). This museum preserves the collective memory of Nan Sarunai's glory through replicas of heirlooms and oral records displayed within. Furthermore, the East Barito region was also an important route for the spread of Christianity and Islam in the interior of Kalimantan in the 19th century, the traces of which can be found in the influence of decorative motifs on some of the museum's artifacts.

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Important Figures and Periods

The history of Lewu Hante Museum is inseparable from the role of Dayak Ma’anyan customary leaders who diligently preserved the Watu Dhamma tradition. During the colonial era, the East Barito region was a base of defense for local fighters against the Dutch. Figures like Panglima Batur and warriors from the Ma’anyan tribe often used large houses as hiding places and for consolidating their strength. The museum dedicates specific spaces to commemorate this heroic spirit through its collection of traditional weapons such as Mandau, Lonjo (spear), and Sipet (blowgun) that were once used in actual battles.

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Cultural and Religious Importance

Lewu Hante holds deep religious value, especially for adherents of the Kaharingan belief. Inside or around the museum, ornaments related to death rituals or Pesta Iraw Sangkai are often found. The museum's collection includes ancient, highly valued Guci or Balanga (jars), which for the Ma’anyan people are not just water containers but symbols of social status and currency in customary law.

There are also wooden statues called Sapundu, which function as posts for tying sacrificial animals in high-level funeral ceremonies. The presence of these objects emphasizes that Lewu Hante is not merely a storage place for inanimate objects but a sacred space connecting the present generation with the spirits of their ancestors (Nanyu).

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Preservation Status and Restoration Efforts

As a Historical Site under the auspices of the Department of Culture, Youth, Sports, and Tourism of East Barito Regency, Lewu Hante Museum continuously undergoes restoration efforts. The main challenges in preserving this site are extreme weather and humidity, which can damage wooden materials.

Major restorations have been carried out to strengthen the main pillar structure and replace the decaying ulin wood shingle roof. The local government has also begun digitizing the museum's collection information to make it accessible to international researchers. Although some parts of the building have undergone modernization for visitor comfort, the authenticity of its form and interior layout is maintained according to Ma’anyan customary standards.

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Unique Historical Facts

One unique fact about Lewu Hante Museum is the presence of a collection of traditional musical instruments, the Garantung (gong), which has specific tones used to summon villagers in case of an emergency. Additionally, this museum holds secrets about the distinctive batik motifs of East Barito, whose patterns are derived from the wood carvings found on the original walls of the ancient Lewu Hante. These motifs tell the story of the tree of life (Batang Garing), which is central to Dayak cosmology.

Overall, Lewu Hante Museum in East Barito is a vital monument of identity. It stands as a reminder that amidst the currents of modernization, the cultural roots of the Dayak Ma’anyan remain firmly planted through the ulin pillars that support the pride of Central Kalimantan's history. Visiting this museum offers an experience of traversing time, understanding how people in the past lived in harmony with nature and each other under the same roof.