The Baduy tribe still adheres to the taboos passed down from their ancestors, including prohibitions on the use of modern technology, transportation, and fashionable clothing that govern their daily lives.
The Baduy tribe, who live in the mountainous region of Lebak Regency, Banten, have very strong traditions and culture.
They are a society that highly upholds the customs inherited from their ancestors. As a group that maintains local wisdom, the Baduy tribe lives in a very simple way, far from the glitz of the modern world.
Even though times have changed, they still adhere to the taboos that have been passed down from generation to generation. One of the reasons they maintain this custom is to maintain balance with nature and their ancestors.
The Baduy tribe consists of two main groups, namely the Inner Baduy who adhere more strictly to traditions and customs, and the Outer Baduy who are more open to outside influences.
However, most of the taboos that apply among the Sakti Tribe remain very strict, especially for the Inner Baduy. The following are ten taboos that are still firmly held by the Baduy Tribe to this day.
1. Not Using Modern Transportation
Unlike the majority of modern society that relies on various types of transportation such as cars, motorbikes, or planes to travel, members of the Baduy Tribe, especially those in the Inner Baduy region, have very strict rules regarding transportation.
They are not allowed to use motorized vehicles and only rely on leg strength to travel. This is part of their life principles that try to maintain simplicity and maintain a relationship with nature.
In fact, not a single member of the Baduy Tribe has a private vehicle, and they also prohibit other vehicles from entering their territory. This allows them to maintain peace and harmony with the surrounding environment.
2. Not wearing footwear
In addition to prohibiting the use of vehicles, members of the Baduy Tribe are also not allowed to wear footwear, such as sandals or shoes.
They believe that the land they walk on is sacred and must be respected. Therefore, even though the path they took was steep and rocky, they still walked barefoot.
This is a symbol of their respect for the earth and the surrounding nature which they consider an integral part of their lives. Avoiding footwear is also a way for them to stay connected to nature in a deeper way.
3. The house door must face north or south
The Baduy tribe is known to be very concerned with the position and layout of their houses. One of the very strict rules is that the door of the house must face north or south, and must not face west or east.
This is not only about comfort, but also related to their belief that a house facing that direction will get positive energy and enough sunlight.
This shows how the Baduy Tribe is very concerned about the balance of nature and how they interact with their environment.
4. It is prohibited to use electronic goods
One of the most striking taboos for the Baduy Tribe is the prohibition on using electronic goods. In this modern digital world, electronic goods such as television, radio, and smartphones have become an important part of everyday life.
However, the Baduy Tribe, especially the Inner Baduy, have never known these items. They do not use electronic devices such as television or mobile phones.
This is a form of their rejection of the influence of technology which they consider can damage the simplicity of their life and harmony with nature. Some Outer Baduy people may be familiar with technology, but its use is very limited.
5. You can only wear black or white clothes
Clothing is an important part of the Baduy tribe’s identity. For the Inner Baduy people, the clothes that must be worn are white, while for the Outer Baduy people, the clothes worn are black.
This clothing is very simple and made of manually woven cloth. This is not only for practical reasons, but also as a symbol of their cultural identity.
White clothing for the Inner Baduy and black for the Outer Baduy reflects spiritual depth and the desire to maintain simplicity in their lives.
6. It is forbidden to wear modern clothes
In a world full of fashion trends, the Baduy people remain steadfast to their traditions by wearing simple clothing.
They don’t wear trendy, modern clothes, like branded clothes or designs that change every season. They prefer traditional clothing made from natural materials and sewn by hand.
The clothes they wear never depend on trends, but rather on comfort and simplicity. This shows that for them, appearance is not more important than the continuity of culture and tradition.
7. You cannot wear jewelry or accessories
The Baduy tribe places great emphasis on simplicity in their lives, and this is also reflected in their views on jewelry and accessories. They do not wear rings, necklaces, bracelets, or other jewelry.
For them, wearing jewelry only adds to their vanity and takes them away from a simple and natural life. Everything they wear or use has a practical function and there is no place for objects that are only used for aesthetic or appearance purposes.
8. It is forbidden to marry outsiders of the Baduy tribe
One of the most important taboos for the Baduy Tribe is the prohibition against marrying people from outside their tribe.
Inter-tribal marriage is considered to be able to disrupt the continuity of their culture and can bring changes to their way of life that has been maintained for centuries.
They believe that by marrying fellow Baduy people, they will maintain the traditions and culture that have been inherited from their ancestors. Therefore, to maintain the continuity of customs, they only marry fellow Baduy Tribe members.
9. You are not allowed to throw rubbish carelessly
Even though they live in very simple conditions, the Baduy tribe takes great care to keep their environment clean. One of the taboos that must be avoided is littering. They really care about preserving nature and don’t throw rubbish anywhere.
All the materials used in their daily lives are generally derived from nature and do not harm the environment. The waste they produce is usually reused or disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.
10. It is forbidden to consume food that is prohibited by custom
The Baduy tribe has strict rules regarding food. They only consume food that is in accordance with their customs and beliefs.
Some types of food that are considered not in accordance with their principles of life, such as meat from animals that are slaughtered in a way that is not in accordance with customs, or food that comes from unnatural ingredients, are prohibited for consumption.
The food they consume comes more from the natural products around them, such as vegetables, fruits, and food ingredients that are grown naturally.
The Baduy Tribe’s taboos may seem very strict and limit many aspects of their lives, but all these rules are part of their efforts to maintain simplicity, closeness to nature, and harmony with their ancestors.
The Asmat Tribe teaches us about the importance of respecting customs, preserving nature, and living with deep simplicity.
Even though the outside world continues to develop with technology and advances over time, the Baduy remain loyal to the principles of life that they have inherited from their ancestors, and this makes them a very unique group in maintaining traditions in the midst of a modern world.