In Sumatra, South Aceh there is a legend of a hollow in the shape of a large footprint, Tapaktuan, then in one of the villages in West Nusa Tenggara a legend emerged Jempang prays. Japan1 means footprints (marks). While Pray2 A type of large creature. The Jempang Mendoak mythology originates from Kalimntong Village, Brang Ene District, West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.
Mendoak is a depiction of a large creature, often likened to King Kong. However, several sources interviewed indicated that Mendoak is more accurately depicted as a combination of humans. However, not a conventional human, but rather a creature of enormous stature, more or less like a giant.
This legend has become a hot topic among the people of Kalimantong Village. Many people from other villages have also been drawn to this phenomenal legend after hearing about it. Over the years, this story has become a topic of conversation among the elders and elderly in the Kalimantong village.
It is said that a corner of this village was once stepped on by a large-footed creature called Mendoak or a super-large creature. Most people, especially village elders, believe in this mythology. Maybe they had also heard this legend from the ancients ancestors (ancestors) passed down from generation to generation and then retold to the next generation.
Out of curiosity, the author once asked several elders who still remembered this legend for information. According to the village elders, it turns out that Mendoak's footprints were not only found and imprinted in Kalimantong Village. However, the giant footprints were also found elsewhere, far above the rocky mountains. These enormous footprints varied in size.
The existence of Mendoak's footprints in Kalimantong Village can be found on a hill called 'stone of pisak' (black stone). The distance is approximately 5 kilometers from the village. To get to the 'batu pisak' hill, you have to cross the river and pass through the residents' plantations around the river. There are 3 (three) types of (jempang footprints) Mendoak embedded in this batu pisak. Footprints First, It measures approximately half a meter, or the smallest. It has five toes, like a normal human foot, but what sets it apart is its size. The giant creature's big toe is 10 (ten) times larger than an adult's big toe.
Meanwhile, the other toe prints were identical, each 10 times larger than a normal human foot. The footprints totaled five toes. Second, Only a heel impression. There are no traces of big toes or other toes. There is a heel imprint embedded in the surface of the black stone. Judging by its shape, it is possible that Mendoak walked on his heels (tiptoe) or stepped without using the soles and toes completely. It is possible that his heel was the largest, so it stepped on the black stone because it was so large that it left an imprint. The depth of Mendoak's heel embedded is approximately half a meter.
Japanese shape third, Complete or perfect. Its size is five times larger than the first form. What's interesting about this last Mendoak footprint or imprint is complete with the heel, big toe, and all four toes. It looks very clear, similar to a human footprint. Only, the size is very different. Even now, the footprint remains unchanged. Even though it has been decades, even hundreds of years, imprinted on the Pisak Stone Hill.
Curious to see for ourselves and prove whether this mythology was true, in 1999, while still in junior high school, the author and several friends went to see the location where the Jempang Mendoak trail was located. It was out of curiosity that we decided to head to Batu Pisak Hill.
Unfortunately, technology like cameras and cell phones was still rare at the time, so we didn't have time to capture the moment and evidence of the large creature's footprints. We set off at eleven o'clock in the morning, armed with only basic equipment, such as a knife, a machete, and a wooden stick to protect ourselves from wild animals.
After walking across a river for about an hour and a half, we arrived at Batu Pisak Hill. We had to find the easiest way up the rock. After finding the easiest way up, one by one, our friends began to crawl up. Finally, we reached Batu Pisak Hill. Surprisingly, the small rock we had seen from across Kalimantong Village, when we saw it, appeared large, black, and tall.
We scattered to find the location where Jempang Mendoak was. With mixed feelings of joy and excitement, our friends' voices called out to each other. It turned out one of our friends had found traces of Jempang Mendoak. We immediately ran to the location and gathered together to see clearly that the footprints were real. Our eyes widened when we saw the size of the super-large creature's footprints. The giant creature's thumb was approximately half a meter long. It's easy to imagine the size of a giant like in the movies; The Big Friendly Giant (BFG) starring (Mark Rylance) as a giant and Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) as a human. Or it could also be like in the film Jack the Giant Slayer starring the larger-than-life Jack (Nicholas Hoult).
If it's that big in fiction, then it's unimaginable if it actually exists in the real world. The author muttered to himself when he saw the Jempang Mendoak footprints, "Wow, that creature must be really big, it's really real." "That giant creature really exists," another friend replied. And we saw it with our own eyes. It could be said that at that time we were playing on the footprints of a giant creature, which is unknown whether the creature actually lived or not. What is clear is that the Jempang Mendoak footprints are on the Pisak stone.
It is said that the Pisak Stone was once frequently visited by residents for animist-dynamist worship rituals, which were a strong belief system in the community at that time. For example, the practice of 'pay your intention'4. However, the tradition of paying one's intention is now rarely found, because people's understanding of Islam is better. So the practice... pay the intention began to be abandoned because it conflicted with sayri'at Islam
This mythology was once commonly told to naughty children. If they rebelled or defied their parents, teachers, or others, if the word Jempang Mendoak was mentioned, the children would cry, fearing they would be taken to the Batu Pisak (stone of desolation).
In the author's opinion, the legend of Jempang Mendoak can be used as material experiment for researchers archaeologist To visit and see the footprints of this great creature firsthand. Regardless of whether the Jempang Mendoak marks are the result of an artist's carving or the impact of rocks, or something else, this needs to be subject to field research. And the results can be documented, as is the case in Aceh.
- Japan, or lampak ([Taliwang language] if translated into Indonesian means footprints. In the KBBI dictionary the word 'tapak' is divided into three meanings. 1. The lower part of the foot, can be used for stepping; area. 2. Footprints (footprints) left behind. 3. Land where plants grow.
- Say Pray has not been found in the KBBI (Big Indonesian Dictionary). It's probably an old word that wasn't included in the Indonesian vocabulary. Then, its meaning was agreed upon by the people of the time. If readers have a clear reference to the meaning of "Mendoak," please correct them.
- A belief system that worships ancestors. This includes certain objects believed to possess magical powers. Therefore, these objects are revered and considered sacred. See Wikipedia for animism-dynamism.
- Pay your intention, (paying intentions) in Islamic terms is called vowThe difference is, while a vow is performed through offerings of alms or fasting, paying one's intention tends to involve visiting a sacred grave or tomb. This means not just any grave. For example, the graves of saints, kings, and the like. For more information on the traditional practice of pay the intention Please read Syamsul Arifin's thesis, with the title; The Tradition of Paying Intentions in Diverse Communities….” 2019.
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