Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage: Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts in Leiden University Library

A large number of manuscripts in various Batak languages, collected by Herman Neubronner Van der Tuuk during his stay in North Sumatra (1851 until mid- 1857) is kept in Leiden University Library. The contents of the collection reflect not only Van der Tuuk’s own interests, but also the interest o...

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Main Author: Brakel-Papenhuyzen, Clara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2007
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/1097/1/Treasures_of_Indonesia%27s_Cultural_Heritage.pdf
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author Brakel-Papenhuyzen, Clara
author_facet Brakel-Papenhuyzen, Clara
author_sort Brakel-Papenhuyzen, Clara
collection UKM
description A large number of manuscripts in various Batak languages, collected by Herman Neubronner Van der Tuuk during his stay in North Sumatra (1851 until mid- 1857) is kept in Leiden University Library. The contents of the collection reflect not only Van der Tuuk’s own interests, but also the interest of Dutch Bible Society who employed him. His main task was to provide materials for the instruction of Batak languages to protestant Christian missionaries. Therefore, many manuscripts in the collection are connected with Batak religious practices and contain myths and stories with a religious meaning. As Van der Tuuk’s personal interest went far beyond religious matters, he also collected more general information on Batak culture and explanations of local customs that were useful to scholars of literature and of “adat-law” as well as to administrators. Following the death of the few scholars of Batak languages, Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscript has long been left unattended. This paper discusses the relevance of this unique manuscript collection for researchers in Indonesia and in the world at large. Special attention is paid to manuscripts in the presently endangered Dairi language
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spelling ukm.eprints-10972016-12-14T06:28:48Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/1097/ Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage: Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts in Leiden University Library Brakel-Papenhuyzen, Clara A large number of manuscripts in various Batak languages, collected by Herman Neubronner Van der Tuuk during his stay in North Sumatra (1851 until mid- 1857) is kept in Leiden University Library. The contents of the collection reflect not only Van der Tuuk’s own interests, but also the interest of Dutch Bible Society who employed him. His main task was to provide materials for the instruction of Batak languages to protestant Christian missionaries. Therefore, many manuscripts in the collection are connected with Batak religious practices and contain myths and stories with a religious meaning. As Van der Tuuk’s personal interest went far beyond religious matters, he also collected more general information on Batak culture and explanations of local customs that were useful to scholars of literature and of “adat-law” as well as to administrators. Following the death of the few scholars of Batak languages, Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscript has long been left unattended. This paper discusses the relevance of this unique manuscript collection for researchers in Indonesia and in the world at large. Special attention is paid to manuscripts in the presently endangered Dairi language Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2007 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/1097/1/Treasures_of_Indonesia%27s_Cultural_Heritage.pdf Brakel-Papenhuyzen, Clara (2007) Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage: Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts in Leiden University Library. SARI: Jurnal Alam dan Tamadun Melayu, 25 . pp. 9-21. ISSN 0127-2721 http://www.ukm.my/sari/index.html
spellingShingle Brakel-Papenhuyzen, Clara
Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage: Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts in Leiden University Library
title Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage: Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts in Leiden University Library
title_full Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage: Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts in Leiden University Library
title_fullStr Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage: Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts in Leiden University Library
title_full_unstemmed Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage: Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts in Leiden University Library
title_short Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage: Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts in Leiden University Library
title_sort treasures of indonesia s cultural heritage van der tuuk s collection of batak manuscripts in leiden university library
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/1097/1/Treasures_of_Indonesia%27s_Cultural_Heritage.pdf
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