The indigenous tribe and majority population inhabiting the Province of West Sumatra are the Minangkabau. In language, Minangkabau means to win the buffalo. The origin of naming Minangkabau began in the kingdom of Pagaruyung. Once upon a time there was a buffalo fight between the Kingdom of Pagaruyung with the Kingdom of Majapahit which was won by the kingdom of Pagaruyung, so that the area became famous as Nagari Minangkabau.
According to the folklore of West Sumatra, long ago, contemporaneous with the Kingdom of Majapahit, in the West Sumatra region stood a kingdom called the Kingdom of Pagaruyung. King Pagaruyung is known as a wise king. In making decisions, he strongly considers the safety of his people.
Majapahit troops arrived at Pagaruyung
One day, the king of Pagaruyung heard that Majapahit troops from the land of Java had arrived at the border of the kingdom of Pagaruyung. According to the news, Majapahit troops were about to attack the kingdom of Pagaruyung. Considering the strength of the Majapahit army which was large and not comparable to the royal army of Pagaruyung, the king of Pagaruyung considered negotiating with the Majapahit army. He did this to save his people.
Raja Pagaruyung gathered the commander and the warlords to discuss this. "Hulubalang and warlords, I gather you here to talk about the Majapahit army who are ready to attack us. For me the enemy is never sought, come abstinence refused. If it can be avoided, but if we are pressed, we face it. But given the strength of the large Majapahit army, I fear there will be many casualties on our side. I ask for your opinion on this matter. "
The commanders and commander in turn gave their opinions to face the Majapahit Kingdom's troops. Finally they agreed with one of the best ideas, namely: the Kingdom of Pagaruyung would entertain Majapahit troops as well as possible, then they would offer buffalo fighting. If the Majapahit army loses to buffalo fighting, the Majapahit army can return home peacefully without bloodshed.
Raja Pagaruyung then asked his daughter Datuk Tantejo Gerhano, accompanied by palace maids, to go to the border to meet the Majapahit troops and entertain them with delicious dishes.
Pagaruyung negotiations with Majapahit
Datuk Tanteno Gerhano is a gentle girl who has high manners. Accompanied by court maids, King Pagaruyung's daughter then went to the camps of the Majapahit troops at the border. They brought a lot of delicious food to entertain the Majapahit army. Meanwhile, from a distance, Pagaruyung's troops were on guard to anticipate all the possibilities that could happen.
After welcoming a friendly welcome, Datuk Tanteno Gerhano then ordered the ladies in waiting to serve delicious food. This made the Majapahit army astonished. They thought that they would be welcomed by the Pagaruyung Kingdom's war troops, but they were warmly welcomed by the king's daughter Pagaruyung and friendly beautiful girls and delicious food. After finishing the meal, Datuk Tanteno Gerhano invited Majapahit troops to come to the royal palace of Pagaruyung.
Arriving at the royal palace in Pagaruyung, the king of Pagaruyung welcomed the Majapahit troops well. Majapahit warlords conveyed to the king, that King Majapahit gave them the task of capturing the kingdom of Pagaruyung. Instantly the atmosphere in the royal palace turned tense. Everyone fell silent.
Buffalo Fights Between Pagarauyung and Majapahit
After being silent for a while, Raja Pagaruyung then offered buffalo fighting to Majapahit warlords in exchange for war in order to avoid bloodshed. The king also promised that the entire Majapahit army would not be disturbed and could return to Majapahit in peace.
Hearing the wise king's proposal the Majapahit warlords finally agreed. Finally the two kingdoms agreed not to fight. Instead they will hold buffalo fighting. In the agreement there are no provisions on the type or size of the buffalo to be pitted.
The two sides then get ready for buffalo fighting. Majapahit forces chose a buffalo that is the most powerful and large in order to be able to defeat the buffalo kingdom of Pagaruyung. On the other hand, the Kingdom of Pagaruyung instead chose a buffalo who was still nursing. The buffalo was deliberately separated from its mother for three days to starve. On the head of a buffalo a sharp iron is mounted.
The Origin of the Minangkabau Name
The specified day arrived. The two complaints buffaloes were brought to the arena. Majapahit Kingdom has a big and strong buffalo grievance. Both sidesthe parties gave the spirit of support to the buffaloes fighting their respective kingdoms. After some time had passed, the two buffaloes were released, the buffaloes of the Majapahit army were wild and wild. Meanwhile, Pagaruyung's small buffalo child immediately ran to the big buffalo Majapahit. Apparently the buffalo boy thought that the big buffalo Majapahit was the mother.
Because it had not been suckling for three days, the little snout tried to reach the belly of the buffalo, so that the buffalo stomach of the Majapahit Kingdom was injured by the sharp iron attached to the buffalo's head. After being stabbed several times, the buffaloes of the Majapahit army finally collapsed and lay on the ground. Seeing the incident, the audience from Pagaruyung's party cheered happily.
"Manang Kabau! Manang Kabau! Manag Kabau" shouted the people of Pagaruyung happily. While the Majapahit royal soldiers bowed listlessly. They really did not think that the Kingdom of Pagaruyung used clever tactics to defeat their large and strong buffalo.
Finally, the Majapahit army accepted their defeat in the buffalo fighting. Raja Pagaruyung allowed them to return to Majapahit in peace.
Meanwhile, news of the victory of the Pagaruyung Kingdom buffalo became a byword throughout the country. "Manang kabau" is the language of the local population which means Win the buffalo. Finally, the area was known as Manang Kabau. Gradually the designation for the Kabau turned into Minangkabau.
In an effort to commemorate the event, residents of the land of Pagaruyung designed a house whose roof resembles the shape of a buffalo horn. The house was built in the royal border area, a place where Majapahit troops were entertained by Pagaruyung's daughter, Datuk Tanteno Gerhano.
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