.jpg "13 West Sumatra Folktales: Minangkabau Legends for Kids")
Come along on a journey to West Sumatra, a land of tall mountains, shining lakes, and old stories. These tales are told by the Minang people, who live in this province on the western side of the island of Sumatra. Its capital city is Padang, and its motto is Tuah Sakato, which means "the Benefit of Understanding." The stories were gathered from many books and storytellers, and new ones will be added soon. We hope you enjoy them!
Lake Maninjau is a big, beautiful lake that was formed long ago when a great volcano erupted. But the Minang people tell a different tale. They say the lake is tied to the legend of the Bujang Sembilan, the nine brothers. Let's find out how it all began!
Everyone in West Sumatra knows the story of Malin Kundang. He was a boy who grew ashamed of his poor mother and would not call her his own. For this, his mother's sad words turned him into stone. They say this happened in the little village of Air Manis, near Padang. It is a story about why we must always love and respect our parents.
Once upon a time, there was a kind young man named Malim Deman. He had no father, so he lived with his mother and his uncle. Every day he went to the edge of the forest to help his uncle work in the rice fields. Some people say this tale is a cousin of the stories of Jaka Tarub from Central Java and Aryo Menak from East Java.
Long ago, in a village in West Sumatra, there lived a man called Pak Lebai. His house stood halfway between the upstream and the downstream parts of a river. Pak Lebai was a very greedy man. He always wanted everything, and he could never be happy with what he had. Let's see what happened to him!
Once upon a time, in the village of Koto Anau, there was a king named Raja Aniayo. The king had a terrible temper and loved to gamble. He was unkind to his people and even to his own family. But one day, a young man named Bujang Paman would change everything.
A long time ago, in the district of Pauh in Padang, there was a small kingdom called Bukit Perasapan. It was ruled by a king named Raja Tuo, and it stood at the foot of Perasapan Hill, deep inside the land of Nagari Pauh Limo. Two mysterious stones, Batu Ajuang and Batu Peti, hold the secret of this tale.
The Minangkabau people are the first people of West Sumatra, and most of the people there belong to this tribe. Their name means "to win the buffalo." How did they come to be called this? The answer begins in the old kingdom of Pagaruyung.
Long, long ago, Lake Singkarak was not a lake at all. It was a sea! Slowly, its water flowed away through a giant hole and the sea grew smaller and smaller, until it became a lake. The water that rushed out formed the Batang Ombilin River, which flows all the way to Riau.
Beside the Batang Agam river in Padang Tarok, there was a big four-cornered house where the Rajo Babanding family lived. Their eldest daughter was called Sabai Nan Aluih, which means "gentle Sabai." She had a lovely face, a kind heart, and polite manners, and she always respected her parents. She also had a handsome younger brother named Mangkutak Alam.
Anggun Nan Tongga was a handsome young man from Kampung Dalam in Pariaman, and his title was Magek Jabang. His mother, Ganto Sani, passed away soon after he was born, and his father had gone away to Mount Ledang. So his aunt, Suto Suri, raised him with love. Anggun Nan Tongga grew up to be a clever and handsome young man.
Princess Julian was so beautiful that people in faraway lands heard about her. She was the daughter of Nahkoda Baginda, a ship captain who lived in Alai Village on the north coast of Tiku Beach. Her grandfather was Tuanku Raja Kecik, who ruled the kingdom of Pagaruyung. Even though she was so lovely, no young man had ever dared to ask for her hand.
Long ago, a king ruled in Kampung Dalam, in what is now Pariaman. He had three children by three different mothers: Sutan Lembak Tuah, Sutan Pangungan, and Puti Sari Makah. Sutan Lembak Tuah's mother came from an ordinary family. Sutan Pangungan's mother, Puti Andam Dewi, was of royal blood. Puti Sari Makah's mother came from an Arab family. By tradition, Sutan Pangungan was the rightful crown prince, because his mother was of royal descent.
Near the town of Bukittinggi, about 13 kilometers along the road to Payakumbuh, there is a special place in Agam Regency. It is the Janiah River, whose name means "clear river." Its pond is full of big fish, and people say some are as large as a buffalo! Where did these magical fish come from? Here is one version of the legend.