Weiner Mihályné szerk.: Az Iparművészeti Múzeum Évkönyvei 12. (Budapest, 1970)

HOPP FERENC MÚZEUM — MUSÉE FERENC HOPP - Bodrogi, Tibor: The Art of the Sadang Toriadja in Central Celebes

TIBOR BODROGI THE ART OF THE SADANG TORADJA IN CENTRAL CELEBES From the tenth to the sixth century before the present era a megalithic development of the predominant neolithic culture took place in South East Asia and Indonesia, a process which resulted in a certain degree of social stratification. While the old traditional neolithic cults (fertility rites, headhunting, human sacrifice) continued to be observed, a new institution was added to them, the so-called feasts of merit, which opened the path for social progress. According to this new system, a series of feasts was arranged by certain persons or groups, and the organizer of each feast acquired a higher social status. Wooden columns, menhirs and dolmens were erected at the feasts in order to perpetuate the memory of both the feasts and their organizers. An essential feature of the feasts was the killing of numerous water buffaloes (or of pigs). The bronze-iron age, coming likewise from South East Asia, reached Indonesia in the second century of the present era. By introducing the irrigation system in rice production and by the spreading of metallurgy, the so-called Dongson culture was enabled in Java and Sumatra to incorporate certain elements of the Indian culture which are traceable there from the 2nd century of the present era. However, only metal working was adopted on the Outer Islands which involved the appearance of the artistic manifestation and the ornamentation of the Dongson culture, especially spiral ornaments, the reprerice and palm wine) necessary for the funeral ceremony have been colledted. sentation of the ship of the dead, that of the head or horns of the water buffalo, and the squatting posture in the representation of humans. It is perhaps needless to emphasize that acquaintance with the extant forms is indispensable for the study of megalithic and bronze-iron cultures since archaeological relics cannot give a true picture represented by them. Understanding of the whole era and interpretation of its art are fortunately facilitated by the fact that megalithic cultures are still surviving in South East Asia (among the Naga of Assam and a few Burmese groups), as well as in Indonesia (Nias, Flores and Central Celebes). Contact with Europeans and the more advanced Asian cultures has, of course, changed in certain respects the original megalithic culture. While such essential elements as, for instance, human sacrifice and head-hunting have disappeared, there still exists (or existed until a short time ago) that particular religious-social medium which stimulated artistic activities and regards works of art as a social necessity. Two aspects of the megalithic culture of the Toradja of Celebes are described here, a culture that was exposed, among others, to strong Dongson