Commander To Dilaling

Commander To Dilaling's Odyssey: Justice, Forgiveness, and Destiny's Turn

Edisi bahasa Indonesia: Panglima To Dilaling

Folklore from West Sulawesi

In a mesmerizing kingdom nestled atop the verdant hills of Bukit Napo, surrounded by lush landscapes and crystal-clear rivers, lived a wise and respected king named Balanipa. Known for his fairness, the king’s heart was overshadowed by fear when a son was born with an extraordinary trait: a tongue covered in black hair, a sign believed to herald a great destiny.  

A Fearful Prophecy

Amid the joy of the prince’s birth, whispers from the king’s advisors foretold that this child would one day overthrow his father’s throne. Fear and doubt clouded King Balanipa’s mind. Torn between love and duty, he made a tragic decision: the prince must be eliminated to protect the kingdom.  

Puang Mosso’s Loyalty and Courage 

However, fate had other plans. A loyal royal knight, Puang Mosso, could not bear to see the innocent child’s life taken. With courage and determination, Puang Mosso spirited the prince away to a hidden place far from the king’s sight. There, he raised the boy with unwavering love, ensuring he grew strong and resilient.  

Learning and Transformation in the Kingdom of Gowa

Named To Dilaling, the prince grew into a formidable young man. During his exile, he studied under scholars and warriors in the Kingdom of Gowa, honing his wisdom and mastering the art of war. Not only did he develop physical strength, but he also gained an understanding of justice and bravery as the foundation of true leadership.  

A Return to His Homeland

When news of oppression under King Lego, a tyrant who had seized the throne of Balanipa, reached his ears, To Dilaling knew the time had come to return to his birthplace. He devised a plan with his loyal followers, the long-oppressed people, and allies from the Kingdom of Gowa.  

The Battle Against King Lego

In a fierce battle, To Dilaling led his forces against King Lego. With clever strategy and unwavering courage, he triumphed over the tyrant. The people of Balanipa rejoiced, celebrating their newfound freedom and raising To Dilaling as the hero who restored peace and justice to the kingdom.  

The Enduring Legacy of the Commander

To Dilaling became not only a revered leader but also a symbol of courage, loyalty, and justice for the people of Balanipa. His tale continues to be passed down, teaching younger generations to always stand for what is right, even when the path is fraught with challenges.  

This legend is not merely a tale of physical battles but also a story of overcoming fear, betrayal, and the desire to lead with fairness. To Dilaling’s story reflects how love, courage, and justice can dispel darkness and bring a new light to the world.  

Moral Lessons: Empathy, Forgiveness, and Wisdom in Actions

The legend of Commander To Dilaling offers several important moral lessons:  

1. Courage in Facing Injustice

   Commander To Dilaling demonstrated unwavering bravery and determination in confronting injustice. The key lesson is about perseverance in fighting for what is right, even in challenging situations.  

2. Justice as the Foundation of a Nation

   This legend emphasizes the importance of justice as an irreplaceable foundation in governance. Justice builds the groundwork for peace and harmony in a kingdom.  

3. The Misinterpretation of Prophecies and Its Consequences

   King Balanipa’s misinterpretation of the prophecy shows how fear and misunderstanding of information can lead to significant consequences. This teaches us to approach decisions wisely and strive to understand information with care and clarity.  

4. Kindness and Sacrifice That Make a Difference

   Puang Mosso’s act of saving the royal child is a tangible example of how kindness and sacrifice can bring extraordinary impacts. This highlights the importance of doing good without expecting anything in return.  

5. The Ability to Empathize and Forgive

   Despite facing great trials, To Dilaling was able to forgive and live his life without harboring resentment. This is a lesson about the importance of empathy and the wisdom in forgiveness.  

6. Hope and Struggle as Catalysts for Change

   This legend underscores how one’s hope and efforts can create profound changes for many people. It illustrates the importance of maintaining hope and perseverance during times of hardship.  

7. Selfless and Wise Leadership

   As a leader, it is crucial to set aside ego, act wisely, and avoid being trapped in personal interests.  

8. The Ripple Effect of Kindness

   The kindness shown by Puang Mosso not only saved To Dilaling but also brought unexpected blessings to himself in the future.  

9. Perseverance and Struggle Shape Destiny  

   This legend shows that a person’s fate can change if they continue to strive. Despite the attempt to have him killed as a baby, To Dilaling grew into a wise and respected leader.  

10. Mistakes Do Not Define the Future

    King Balanipa’s grave error in interpreting the prophecy did not mark the end. He was given the opportunity to see his son fulfill his true destiny, bringing honor and prosperity to the kingdom. This teaches that even when we make mistakes, there is always room for redemption and the chance to move forward with wisdom.  

I Tui Tuing

I Tui Tuing | Edisi Indonesia

Folklore from West Sulawesi

THERE were a husband and a wife lived in Mandar, West Sulawesi. The husband was a fisherman. They had been married for many years but they had no any children yet. Everyday they prayed to God. They never gave up asking God to give them a child.

“Dear God, please give us a child even though he looks like a tui-tuing fish,” prayed the couple.

Tui-tuing is a flying fish found in that area.

And finally God answered their pray, the wife was pregnant. And when the baby was born, they were surprised. The baby looked like a fish. The skin had scales, just like the body of a fish. They remembered their pray. But still they were very happy. They took care of the baby with great love. They named him as I Tuing-Tuing. I Tuing-Tuing grew as a great boy. He was diligent and obedient to his parents.

Soon I Tuing-Tuing grew as a young man. It was time for him to get married. He asked his parents to find him a girl. The parents knew it was not easy to find a wife for their child. They thought no girls wanted to marry him. However, they did not want to make him sad. So the parents went to the villagers’ houses, proposing any single girl to be their daughter-in-law.

And it happened as they thought. All the girls they met always rejected their marriage proposal. There was one last house they hadn’t visited yet. It was the merchant’s house.

The merchant lived in a very big house. He had six daughters. All the daughters looked very happy. Actually, the third daughter, Rukiah, was not happy. She was the most beautiful daughter and her sisters were very jealous to her. Therefore, they put charcoal dust on her body. Her white skin turned into dark.

In the meantime, I Tuing-Tuing’s parents arrived at the merchant’s house. After they explained the purpose of their visit, the merchant asked all his daughters to answer. All the daughters rejected! They also insulted I Tuing-Tuing as a fish.

Suddenly, Rukiah answered, “Yes, I will marry I Tuing-Tuing.”

All of his sisters were laughing. They said that Rukiah was crazy. They did not know that Rukiah did not want to live with them anymore.

I Tuing-Tuing was very happy. Finally, there was a girl who was willing to be his wife. He did not care although Rukiah’s skin was very dark. And after they got married, they lived in their own house. I Tuing-Tuing worked as a fisherman and Rukiah stayed at home. Rukiah had lot of time washing her skin. Later, it was completely clean. She got her beauty back.

While she was waiting for her husband, a man knocked the door. Rukiah opened it and saw a handsome man in front of the door.

“Who are you?” asked Rukiah.

“My name is I Tuing-Tuing. Where is my wife?” he asked.

“You are lying. I Tuing-Tuing has fish scales in his body.”

“It is true. But after I got married, I’m cured. My skin has changed into normal. By the way, who are you?” asked I Tuing-Tuing. 

He also did not recognize his wife.

“I’m Rukiah. My sisters have done a terrible thing to me. They put charcoal dust in my body. But I have completely washed and cleaned my skin,” said Rukiah.

And they were very happy. They were not ugly anymore. All the villagers really admired their great looks. And Rukiah’s sisters were even more jealous to her.***

Flying Fish (Ikan Terbang)

Hawadiyah

Hawadiyah | Edisi Indonesia

Folklore from West Sulawesi

The people of Mandar were farmers. Most of them worked for a rich man. He hired the villagers to work in his coconut plantation. The rich man had a beautiful daughter. Her name was Bekkandari. She had a best friend. Her name was Hawadiyah. Unlike Bekkandari, Hawadiyah was a poor girl. She lived with her mother in a hut. Hawadiyah was also beautiful.

Many people said she was more beautiful than Bekkandari. It was harvest time. The villagers worked very hard in the plantation. Hawadiyah helped her mother collect the coconuts. Bekkandari’s father gave coconuts as the fee for the villagers. The more they collected the coconuts, the more Bekkandari’s father gave them the fee.

After it was finished, Hawadiyah’s mother received five coconuts. She immediately grated and cooked them in order to get the coconut oil. She then brought the coconut oil to Bekkandari’s father. Other villagers also brought the coconut oil to him. Bekkandari’s father would sail to Java to sell his coconut oil. The villagers also wanted to sell their coconut oil, so they brought it to Bekkandari’s father.

Hawadiyah’s mother really wanted to see her daughter to get married. She prayed to God. She hoped the man who bought her coconut oil would marry her daughter.

Later Bekkandari’s father and his men sailed the sea. When they arrived in Java, Bekkandari’s father sold the coconut oil to a rich merchant. He was young and handsome. When he bought the coconut oil from Hawadiyah’s mother, the merchant felt something strange. He saw a picture of a beautiful girl in the coconut oil. The merchant could not forget about her. Later he decided to go to Mandar to find the beautiful girl.

When he arrived, the merchant went around. He met Bekkandari’s father. He brought the merchant to his house. He introduced the merchant to his daughter, Bekkandari. She loved him instantly.

She tried to approach the merchant. However, it was not Bekkandari’s face he saw in the coconut oil. So he ignored her. Finally, the merchant met Hawadiyah. He was so happy finally he found the girl of his dream. The merchant went to Hawadiya’s house to propose her. The proposal was accepted and they were going to get married in the merchant’s house in Java. Bekkandari was jealous.

She planned something bad. She told the merchant that she was also going to Java to accompany Hawadiyah. Before the wedding, Bekkandari threw hot oil to Hawadiyah’s face. Hawadiyah was very sad. She was not beautiful anymore. She ran away and hid in a jungle.

The merchant was confused. Hawadiyah was missing. He asked all his men to find her. In the mean time, Bekkandari kept on telling the merchant that Hawadiyah ran away, and she was ready to be her wife.

Again, the merchant ignored her. In the jungle, Hawadiyah made friend with the animals. They were sorry to see her life. They suggested Hawadiyah to take a bath in magic pond in the jungle. Amazingly after she took a bath, she got her beauty back.

And when the merchant’s men found her, they immediately brought her to the merchant’s house. Hawadiyah told him about everything. The merchant was really angry. He asked his men to get rid of Bekkandari from his house. Later the merchant and Hawadiyah got married. Her mother was happy to see Hawadiyah to get married and have a happy life.***

Coconut Oil

I Karake'lette

I Karake'lette | Edisi Indonesia

Folklore from West Sulawesi

BALANIPA was a small kingdom in Mandar, West Sulawesi. The people lived happily and prosperously. The land was fertile and people enjoyed good harvest. And sadly that made other kingdoms become jealous. And they wanted to occupy Balanipa!

One of the kingdoms that wanted to occupy Balanipa was Gowa Kingdom. It was a big kingdom! Gowa had lots of soldiers with great weapons and they were ready to attack Balanipa.

"What should we do, Your Majesty?" asked the Chief of Commander to King Balanipa.

He just reported to the king that King Gowa and his soldiers were sailing to Balanipa to occupy them.

"We don't have enough soldiers to have war against them," the Chief continued.

"Well, tell all the men in the kingdom that we need them. Tell them that we will recruit them as our soldiers!" ordered the king.

The Chief immediately made an announcement. Soon many men came to the palace to register. They were eager to join the king to defend their kingdom against Gowa Kingdom.

Men came to the palace. One of them was I Karake'lette. He was old and his physical condition
was not good. He was lame, he could not walk well.

"\What are you doing here?" asked one soldier.

"I want to be a soldier and fight against Gowa," replied I Karake'lette.

People were laughing at him.

One man said, "You are old and lame, why don't you just go home!"

They rejected I Karake'lette to be a soldier. He did not have any other choices. He went home.

In the meantime, soldiers of Gowa Kingdom had arrived at Mandar Port. King Gowa led his soldiers in his big ship.

The soldiers from the two kingdoms were fighting! Unfortunately, Gowa kingdom had more soldiers with better weapons. In just a minute, lots of soldiers from Balanipa Kingdom were killed. The chief asked the remaining soldiers to go back to the palace.

I Karake'lette knew that they were about to lose the war. He went to the king. He said, 'Your Majesty please let me join your soldiers. I promise you that I can kill King Gowa."

King Balanipa was so touched to see I Karake'lette's spirit. He was old and lame however he had great motivation to defend the kingdom. And the king finally let him join the soldiers. After all, he already lost too many soldiers. He needed any help!

When they arrived at Mandar Port, I Karake'lette sneaked to the King Gowa's ship. He met the king!

"Leave Balanipa and go hack to your place!" ordered I Karake'lette bravely.

King Gowa was laughing to see an old and lame man was threatening him.

He said, "If I don't want to leave Balanipa, what will you do?" mocked the king.

'I will kill you!" yelled I Karake'lette.

"Ha ha ha... kill me now!"

The two men were fighting terribly. Though he was old and lame, I Karake'lette had mastered martial art very well. He was also skillful in using a knife. Soon, King Gowa was killed! And after they knew their king was dead, soldiers of Gowa Kingdom immediately went back home.

Balanipa soldiers were so happy! They all praised I Karake'lette! And the king was also happy. He gave I Karake'lette lots of gold. And he also asked I Karake'lette to stay in the palace and become a soldier. People admired and honored I Karake'lette. They never underestimated him anymore. ***

Kalumpang Mamuju, West Sulawesi

The Legend of Pamboang

Legenda Pamboang | Edisi Bahasa Indonesia

Folklore from West Sulawesi

A long time ago, three men came to Majene, West Sulawesi. They wanted to open a new place. Those three men were brothers. They were I Lauase, I Lauwella, and I Labuqang.

They arrived in the beach. It was empty. No humans lived there. So the three brothers divided jobs among them.

I Lauase worked in the land. He wanted to open new fields for plantation. I Lauwella and I Labuqang worked on the beach. I Lauwella cleaned the beach from the seaweeds and I Labuqang covered the hole made by the crabs.

They worked hard everyday. And finally they succeeded. I Lauase had fields with so many trees, fruits and vegetables. I Lauwella and I Labuqang already cleaned the beach from the seaweeds and the covered the holes.

One by one people came to their place. And slowly it became a new village. The three brothers were the leaders of the village. They thought they had to find a name for their village.

“I have an idea. Let’s name it Pallayarang Tallu,” said I Lauase.

“What does it mean,” asked I Lauwella.

“Well, Pallayarang means ship pole and Tallu means three,” explained I Lauase.

They all agreed. Since then they named the village as Pallayarang Tallu. More and more people came to Pallayarang Tallu. The village was growing into a small town.

The name Pallayarang Tallu was so famous. One man was interested to know more about the new town. His name was Puatta Di Karena. He was from Passokkorang kingdom. He went to Pallayarang Tallu with many people.

They were refugees. Their kingdom was attacked by their enemy. They came to Pallayarang Tallu to ask for help. The leader, Puatta Di Karena came to I Lauase’s house.

“Our kingdom is attacked. Can you help us?” asked Puatta Di Karena.

“I’m not the only leader here. I have to discuss with my brothers,” answered I Lauase.

Later, the three brothers held a meeting. After that they met Puatta Di Karena to tell him about their decision.

“We cannot help you. We don’t have enough soldiers yet. You can see that Pallayarang Tallu is a new town. There are not so many people live here,” explained I Lauase.

“But we really need your help. Pallayarang Tallu is the nearest town from our kingdom. Besides that, the three of you are very strong men. You can build this town. It means you have great power. I’m sure we can win if you help us,” said Puatta Di Karena.

He continued, “If you help us, I will give you tambo.”

Tambo means fee or money.

The three brothers then discussed. They needed more money. And the tambo could be used to build Pallayarang Tallu.

“When will you give us the tambo?” asked I Lauase.

“Next week,” answered Puatta Di Karena.

Then the people of Pallayarang Tallu helped them. They won! However Puatta Di Karena did not show up yet. He disappeared. Nobody knew where he was. The people of Pallayarang Tallu always talked about the tambo.

Slowly the word tambo changed into tamboang, then changed into pamboang. Since then the people changed the name Pallayarang Tallu into Pamboang. Pamboang is an area in Majene, West Sulawesi.***

Moral Message:

The story of the three brothers in Majene, West Sulawesi, teaches the importance of hard work, unity, and collaboration. By dividing their tasks and working diligently, the brothers transformed an empty beach into a thriving village, demonstrating how collective effort can achieve great results. Additionally, the story highlights the significance of keeping promises and the consequences of failing to do so, as seen in Puatta Di Karena's broken promise to provide tambo. The evolving name of Pallayarang Tallu to Pamboang serves as a reminder of the community's resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges.

Tebing Taraujung

Samba’ Paria

The Courage of Samba’ Paria: A Folktale from West Sulawesi

Samba’ Paria >> Edisi Bahasa Indonesia

Folklore from West Sulawesi

A long time ago in Mandar, West Sulawesi, lived a beautiful girl named Samba’ Paria. She lived with her younger sister in a hut. Their hut was in the jungle. They both lived alone. Their parents had died. Samba’ Paria loved her younger sister very much. They always helped each other.

One night they had a dinner. Suddenly someone knocked the door.

“Who is that?” asked Samba’ Paria.

“We are the soldiers and the king. We are lost in the jungle. We are hunting here,” said one man.

Samba’ Paria then opened the door. There were some soldiers and the king! Samba’ Paria was very nervous. She did not know what to do. She was speechless.

“May we come in?” asked the king.

“Yes, you can,” answered Samba’ Paria.

And when the king was inside the house, he was amazed by Samba’ Paria’s beauty. He never saw a beautiful girl like her. The king fell in love with her. However he had a bad plan. He wanted to kidnap Samba’ Paria and brought her to the palace. He was thinking and fi nally he had an idea.

“I want to drink water from the waterfall. And I want your sister to go to the waterfall and bring me the water,” said the king.

In a hurry, the sister went to the waterfall. Right after she left, the king immediately asked the soldiers to take Samba’ Paria. She tried to release herself. But it was useless.

The soldiers were too strong. She knew she could not escape, so she grabbed some leaves and put them one by one on the way to the palace.

Later, the younger sister arrived at home. She was so confused. No one was at home . The door was open. She was crying and screaming her sister’s name. Suddenly she saw some leaves on the ground. She followed the leaves and finally she arrived in the palace.

“Kakak Samba’, are you there? If you are in the palace, please show me yourself in the window,” asked the sister.

The king heard that. Actually Samba’ Paria was locked in the room and she could not show herself because the room did not have any windows. The king wanted the sister to think that Samba’ Paria did not want to see her anymore. So he put a cat in the window.

The sister was surprised to see a cat in the window. She thought her older sister did not want to see her anymore. So she went home crying.

Samba’ Paria was also sad. The king asked her to marry him. But she did not want to. Days and nights she was locked in the room. She was always thinking about her younger sister.

She knew her sister needed her very much. Samba’ Paria prayed to God. She asked God to help her escape from the palace. God heard her prayer. In one night, she was able to escape! She ran very fast and finally she arrived at home.

The two girls hugged each other. They were crying. This time they cried because they were very happy. Samba’ Paria knew the king would follow her. So the two girls set a trap. She prepared some chilies and later she was grinding them. Finally, she mixed it with water. She wanted to throw the water to king’s face.

And it worked! And when the king arrived at their home, Samba’ Paria threw the water to the king’s face. The king’s screamed in pain. He fell and his head hit a big stone. He died instantly. Since then Samba’ Paria lived peacefully with her younger sister. ***

Moral Story: The Importance of Family, Bravery, and Resourcefulness

Here are the key points that convey the moral message:

1. Family Bonds and Loyalty: The strong bond and love between Samba’ Paria and her younger sister highlight the importance of family support and loyalty. They care deeply for each other and are willing to go to great lengths to protect one another.

2. Bravery and Determination: Samba’ Paria shows remarkable bravery and determination. Despite being kidnapped by the king, she remains resolute and seeks a way to escape and reunite with her sister.

3. Resourcefulness and Ingenuity: Samba’ Paria's resourcefulness is evident when she leaves a trail of leaves to guide her sister to the palace and later sets a trap to protect herself and her sister from the king. Her quick thinking and ingenuity help them overcome the danger posed by the king.

4. Justice and Consequences: The story also imparts a lesson about justice. The king’s ill intentions and wrongful actions ultimately lead to his downfall, emphasizing that evil deeds have consequences.

Overall, the tale teaches that strong family bonds, bravery in the face of adversity, and clever problem-solving can help overcome challenges and lead to a peaceful life.

Chilies

The Legend of Pattuddu Dance

Legenda Tari Pattuddu >> Edisi Bahasa Indonesia

Folklore from West Sulawesi

ONCE upon a time in Mandar, West Sulawesi, there was a kingdom. The king and the queen had a handsome prince. He was still single. The prince was a diligent man. The palace had a beautiful garden and a pond. There was also waterfall in the pond. The prince always spent his time in the garden. He loved gardening and always took care of the plants.

In one afternoon, rain fell heavily. After it stopped, the prince went to the garden. On the way to the garden, he saw a beautiful rainbow. The rainbow ended in the pond. There were seven doves flying through the rainbow and they stopped flying above the pond. Amazingly, those seven doves turned into beautiful angels. They put their shawls on the ground then they all swam in the pond.







The prince watched them. He was amazed by their beauty and wanted to marry one of them. He stole one of the shawls and hid it. After all, those angels finished taking a bath and one by one they wore their shawls and changed back as a dove. However, the youngest angel could not find her shawl. She cried and then made a promise.

"If a man finds my shawl, I will marry him. And if a woman finds my shawl, I will treat her as my own sister," said the angel.

The prince heard the promise. He then pretended to help her. Because they could not find the shawl, then the prince asked the angel to stay with him in the palace. The angel agreed because without her shawl she could not fly back to her home in heaven.

Then the prince and the angel got married. Later, they had a baby boy. They loved their son very much. The prince and the angel took care of their son lovingly.

In one morning, the angel wanted to enter one room. She wanted to use the room for their baby. The room was locked and the prince always forbade her to enter the room. Because she really wanted her son to sleep in the room, she ignored her husband warning.

When she was inside the room, she was surprised. She found her shawl. She then knew that her husband stole her shawl and never planned to return it.

The angel immediately wore her shawl. She then came to her husband.

"My Dear Husband, I have found my shawl. Now I want to go back home to heaven. Please take care of our son. And if you miss me, just look at the rainbow."

The angel then waggled her shawl. Slowly, she flew to the sky. The prince was very sad. He just lost his beautiful wife. And every time he missed her, he always looked at the rainbow.

The people of Mandar, West Sulawesi, then imitated the way the angel waggling her shawl into movements of a dance. The dance is known as Pattuddu Dance. ***

Please Read More Stories!

Dae La Minga	Banyuwangi	Cindelaras	Pak Belalang
Little Finger	Senua Island	Umpit and Wild Hogs	Kebo Iwa
A Loyal Farmer	Jangga Hatuen Bulan	Princess Luh Cendrasari	Legend of Singaraja
Nyai and Moon	Malawen Lake	The Better Nest	Legend of Leech