Massaung Manuk (South Sulawesi)

1. Origin

Massaung manuk is Buginese folk game which means “cockfight”. A long time ago, it was only played by kings and noblemen, in the morning and the afternoon, when welcoming traditional ceremonies such as crowning, marital, and harvesting ceremonials were conducted. It was assumed that the game was originated from the preference of the king in denunciating all young men staying in the kingdom‘s territory in order to seek for tubarani-tubarani (knight) of the king that would be brought to the battlefield. At the time, the cockfight was not represented by cock itself but executed by human. Through the years, the human‘s fighting was changed into cockfighting and named as massaung manuk.

Since that time, the game was not only performed in the kingdom area, but also executed among the kingdoms. The aims were not only for joy but also for competition of achievement, prestige, and gamble. The owner of the winner‘s cock would be accounted as succees people in training the cockfight, and his social status automatically would be better than the others. The winner‘s cock in every games would become the icon of the kingdom and would be used as the symbol of courageous. The name of the cock‘s owner would be known by civilians in the kingdom and the others. At the time, some of Buginese heroes had utilized the famous cock‘s names in their country such as, I Segong Ri Painaikang, Buleng Lengna Lantebung, Cambang Toana Labbakang, Korona Jalanjang, Campagana Maccinibaji and so on.

Practically, the massaung manuk game was not only for the noblemen, but also for the commoners. The game can be played in any time without waiting for traditional ceremonies. In recent days, the massaung manuk game is banned by the government, because it focuses more on the gamble and considered as rough game that will humiliate human‘s dignity. In fact, according to traditional community of Bugis that every game which causes to injuries and bloody is believed as medium to motivate their courage and increase their strength.

2. Players

The players of massaung manuk are not limited. As the competition‘s game, the amount of the player should be at least two players. Massaung manuk is only played by men ranging from the teenager to old people.

3. Places

Massaung manuk game can be played in every place with 5 x 5 meters of the minimum circular arena. Hence, the game can be performed in the house‘s yard and the field. The game is usually played in the morning and afternoon.

4. Tools

There are many tools used in the game: cock, taji (cock‘s spur), and wooden pole. The gamecock is not normal cock, but it must be strong, big, and fighter cock. The chosen cocks will be treated by proper treatment. Those cocks, some times, will be prayed in order to defeat the opposite cock. The taji ( artificial cock‘s spur) is weapon bounded on the cock‘s foot to support the effective attacks. The taji is made of metal with pointed shape which is similar to keris or small badik. The wooden pole should be put on the neck of the defeated cock in order to give opportunity for the winner‘s cock to peck it.

5. Rules

The rules of massaung manuk game are very simple. If two cockfights are competed, and one of them is defeated or die, the cock which is able to defeat the other is the winner.

6. Process

The game is begun by raffling the cocks to decide whose cock will fight against the others. After deciding the schedule of the fight, the first cock will be placed in the arena. Based on the agreement of the owners, one or two tajis will be hanged on the cock‘s feet. In the Buginese community, the procession of hanging taji is known as rinrelengngi, while the Makassar people name it as nibulanggi. After that, the gamecock will be competed until dying. When both of the cocks are fighting, the audience will cheer their fan cocks. At the time, the owner of the cock will take around to support his cock by his loud shout, and at the same time, he has to control his gamecock. The defeated cock will be put the wooden pole on its neck. The winner‘s cock has to peck thrice on the head. When the winner‘s cock is not able to peck the defeated cock thrice, the game will be considered as  drawing game.

7. Cultural Values

Even though most of the Buginese and the local government perceive that massaung manuk game is in contradiction with human right and religious values, but there are valuable values in human‘s daily life. These values are hard working, creativity, and sportivity. The hard working value is represented by the special treatment of gamecock that is better than the other cocks. Besides treating the cock, the cock‘s owner has to train his gamecock to be stronger and more energetic in the fighting. The creative values can be seen from the ways of the cock‘s owner chooses the best gamecock and uses curtain taji in order to be winner as soon as possible. The sportive value is represented by the players who have responsibility to accept the defeat with open heart when his cock become loser. (TN/trj/37/11-07)

References :

Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. 1980. Permainan Rakyat Suku Bugis Makasar di Sulawesi Selatan. Ujung Pandang: Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.

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