Translate Buku Kinantan Melintas Zaman

UNVEILLING BUKITTINGGI

A. Starting from Kurai

We begin the discussion in this section with a piece of pantun that is often sung by the Minangkabau people about the origins of their ancestors. Although the analysis and explanation of the pantun that appears in this tambo has multiple interpretations, that is a unique part of the study of local history, especially Minangkabau history. The main strength of the existence of a tambo is from the philosophical value and analysis of the use of the words displayed. Ja does not present raw facts to a discussion, but provides space for the head cavity to analyze and think critically.

Studying the origins and ancestors of the Kurai community, we will be directed to open the Minangkabau traditional tambo. To further narrow this discussion, we start by looking at the origins of the name Kurai in several existing versions.

First, the name Kurai itself is interpreted as the name of a field (a wide expanse of land) when it was first seen by a child named Kurai. So it was later named Padang si Kurai, with the location in Tanjung Alam.

Second, when the Kurai people made their initial journey (migration) until they reached the Baso area, the group was divided into two. To choose the direction of the road, the group was drawn using a keris. The group that got the keris hilt (Hampu) walked towards homecoming and arrived at Banuhampu. The group that got the keris eye (Kurai) walked downstream and arrived at an area they named Kurai (Bukittinggi)