📃History of Aceh's Existence 📃

When ACEH (Arab, Chinese, European and Indies) united.

Aceh became an area of ​​cultural diversity. Yes, the term Aceh which is defined with Arabic, Chinese, European, Indies abbreviations is not just a mere ecapan thapan. Ultimately, Aceh was born from various cultures that assimilate into one. At least many of the "fossils" of culture, buildings, cuisine, and descendants of Aceh are witnesses to prove that Aceh exists because of the cultures of the country. Do not believe? Let's discuss one by one.

1. Arabic

Many cultures from Arab lands are acculturated to Aceh. It is estimated that the Arabs of tempoe doeloe came to the Peureulak region, East Aceh to spread Islam in the 9th-11th centuries AD, exactly 2 centuries after the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) died. Well, the teachings of Islam was first brought by Sayyid Ali bin Muhammad Dibaj bin Ja'far Sadiq who eventually married the sister of King Peureulak Syahir Nur.
Usually the arrival of Arabs to Aceh due to two things, the first to trade, and the second to preach. If traders usually only stop for a while in Aceh, and the preachers will usually stay and they will marry the local people. As a result, to date many people of Aceh encountered Arab descent. Their faces are very typical with Arabic faces. In fact, the Hadramite Arabs, the Yemeni who wandered to Aceh to this day, still leave their clan name on their descendants in Aceh. This can be seen from the names of Acehnese who started with Said (for men) and Syarifah (for women), and the names of other clans such as Al-Aydrus, Al-Habsyi, Al-Attas, Al-Kathiri and others, other. Usually the descendants of this Arab is very cute, you know!

In addition, many of the Persians (Iran and Afghanistan) and Turks came to Aceh at the invitation of the Aceh Kingdom to become clerics, arms dealers, warrior trainers and war soldiers. Until now buwaanyak bangeet Aceh people who use the name of Persian and Turkish heritage, and their descendants until now can be found in the area of ​​Aceh Besar. so typical of the Great Aceh people they must have a similar look of Persian and Turkish, have a nose that is sharp and high body lanky Arab people really. There are even Acehnese who resemble Arab faces. Well, calibaration has a calibaration, it turns out the name of Banda Aceh City itself was also derived from the Persian language is "Bandar" which means the port.
In addition, many Arab cultural adoptions are finally applied in Aceh. One such example is the mawlid culture (birthday) of Prophet Muhammad, who in Aceh is better known as Kheunduri Mulod. This culture is adopted from the habits of Sunni and Shiite society who also always celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW in the Arab region there. Uniquely, in this warning all people will gather in mosques or mushala while eating together with Bu Sira (salt rice) and Gulee Kameng (curry goat) cooked in large quantities.

Kheunduri Mulod in Aceh.
Not only tradition, food in Aceh was also influenced by Arab culture. This is evidenced by some typical Aceh foods such as cooking spices found in Mie Aceh to Kari Kari sauce that uses spices. Investigate a calibaration, all these spices used to be brought by the nation of Gujarat (India) and the Arabs, and Aceh became the first region as a trade route the entry of Arabs into Indonesia.

1. China

I just know, it turns out the ancestors of Aceh was originated from Cham, Chochin China, and Cambodia you know. Hmm, this is an early indication that Aceh is also not only thick with Middle Eastern culture of doan, but also from Chinese culture. At least this is evidenced by the trade cooperation between the Kingdom of Aceh in the past with China. Very intimate tuh relationship, to the extent that Admiral Cheng Ho of China to give the gift Cakra Donya bells to Sultan Iskandar Muda which until now is very historic in Aceh.

In Banda Aceh, there is even a special area for the residence of Chinese citizens named Peunayong. The Chinese community merged with the people of Aceh and lived with mutual respect. A very peaceful environment, is not it? In fact there are also people of Chinese descent who are married to the people of Aceh, thus giving birth to the descendants of slanted eyes but still beridentitas people of Aceh, even speak the language of Aceh. In fact, after the Tsunami, artist Jacky Chan built the Tionghoa-Aceh village in a hill in Neuhen, Aceh Besar. There was built a relief house for the people of Aceh who were victims of the Tsunami, and this is one example of a concern for Chinese citizens to Aceh. Banda Aceh City Government also in the Visit Banda Aceh 2011 program also included Chinese community to showcase their culture, so Peunayong Festival was born that displays all forms of culture from Tionghoa and Aceh culture of course. What a nice diversity.

1. Europe

Well, in addition to Arab and China are also many relics of Europeans in Aceh. This can not be separated from the time when Aceh was colonized by the Portuguese and the Dutch. But, especially in Aceh, the distinction that was once famous is the Portuguese descent "The Blue Eye" domiciled in the hinterland of Lamno, Aceh Jaya. Well, they are apparently descended from Portuguese sailors under Captain Pinto's captain who was willing to sail to Malacca (Malaysia) and had a trade in the Lamno region. History records this event occurring between the years 1492-1511.

Thus, the colonizers such as the Dutch and the Potugis recognized that the Acehnese were regarded as very difficult to conquer. This may be based on the harsh nature of Acehnese. But despite its superficial nature, the Acehnese have a very good heart and are very loyal.

There is a parable that can represent how the nature of the Acehnese, that is with the rice crust in a pan. The Acehnese are like dry rice crust in the pan. When we force it to remove the crust from the pot by using a hard lever, it becomes harder to detach from the pan. But if the dry crust is released from the pot by using water, then without being forced to let go, then the crust will slip by itself. That is the principle of Acehnese life. If you fight hard, then he will be hard, but if it is against the softness, then he will be melted. So, when knowing this fact, the Dutch set up a new strategy so that in the end Aceh lost.

Like the Dutch, the Portuguese played their part so that they could mingle with the Acehnese, until there was a mixture of these two ethnicities. The Acehnese married by the Portuguese have offspring. Well, when Potugis was defeated, they returned to their country and left their descendants in Aceh, this is what eventually became the descendants of "The Blue Eyes".

But after the Tsunami devastated Aceh in 2004, the rare Portuguese descent in Lamno was found. Generally they are very shy. Their shy nature makes the eyes of the blue eyes more exclusive. They tend to prefer to marry their neighbors rather than with someone who comes from outside their community. But lately, there are already those who want to be married by an outsider.
Women The Eyes of the Blue are increasingly rare.

In addition, many other legacy in Aceh from the Europeans are the many typical Dutch buildings that still stand firm in Banda Aceh, including the pendopo of the Governor of Aceh today is also a relic of the Netherlands. If Beswan Djarum friends will be traveling to Banda Aceh, friends will find a burial place for the Dutch soldiers killed by the war, this cemetery is called Kerkhof Peucut. Hmm, that makes me weird, why this burial place is so beautiful, so no wonder even though only a burial place but the visitors are always crowded. Different the same Public Cemetery (TPU), hehe

1. Indies (India)

Indian culture is the largest culture that acculturates culture in Aceh. This is because before Islam entered Aceh, most of Acehnese except Peureulak, east Aceh, all embraced Hinduism. In the past, Aceh became the main entry point for Indian traders to enter Indonesia. The most visible cultural acculturation to date is the ongoing rituals in Aceh that originate from Hindu traditions, such as Peusijuk (traditional ceremonies for blessings) that use rice, rice, and various grasses for the ritual of the show. Only after Islam came in, this culture was assimilated again by the Arabs, until Peusijuk was still held with the intention to pray and gain blessings from Allah. Even if there is a time of blessing ceremony using a piece of cow head as a brighter, then it is replaced by slaughtering the cow by calling Allah's name, and later the cuts will be cooked and given food for orphans. In addition, other Indian heritage is the name of a place or area in Aceh Besar, which is named in the Indian language such as Indrapuri area derived from the words Indra and Puri.

There used to be many Indian descendants who live in Keudah and Peulanggahan. Most of them trade in textiles and spices in Aceh. Until then, many Acehnese still have Indian blood, but on average they come from Gujarati or Tamil descent. Oh yes, Beswan Aceh is also lho who looks like-like India so, complete Beswan Djarum Aceh, hehe ...

However, the most visible impression of India is on food in Aceh. Every cuisine in Aceh is always very distinctive with the use of strong spices such as cardamom, cumin, fennel, turmeric and so on. The influence of Indian food on food in Aceh can be traced through the Mughal empire in India with Aceh. With the influence Mughal, then dikenallah spicy food and bersantan.
Such is Aceh, everything is so united with different cultural bandage. Interested to see? So come to Aceh!