10 Great Cultures of Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the major countries in the world. Indonesia is very large in many fields such as economics (members of the G-20), region (the largest archipelago and the largest maritime country in the world located on two continents, namely Asia and Australia), population (the world's top five), nature (second largest biodiversity in the world) and other areas are like mining, agriculture, forestry and so on. Therefore, Indonesia is very well known by the world in these areas. But there is one area where Indonesia is still little known by the world, the field of culture. This is different with other major Asian countries such as China, India, and Japan where the culture is very well known by the world. Even the smaller Asian countries like Thailand and Korea, its culture has also been highly recognized by the world community. This is very strange considering that Indonesia is a large country in Asia and the fact that Indonesia has very big and strong cultures, even one of the oldest and largest in Asia.

Apparently there is one thing that led to the Indonesian culture beyond recognition in the international. The causes are too many cultures in Indonesia so that people outside the culture of Indonesia is difficult to identify. Different from other Asian countries are likely to monoculture, Indonesia is a multicultural country. Indonesia is a country with the world's largest ethnic group, composed of 740 tribes / ethnic groups. It makes Indonesia is the most multicultural countries in the world. Indonesia has a very heterogeneous society. Therefore, the national motto is 'Bhineka Tunggal Ika ' which means unity in diversity. Because so much of both the original culture / endemic and non endemic the world becomes difficult to recognize the culture of Indonesia. To facilitate the understanding of the culture of Indonesia, the Indonesian culture can be divided into 10 major cultures.

1. Great Cultures of Javanese

Javanese is the largest culture in Indonesia. Cultures that make this group include culture of Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese, Banyumas, Badui, Madura, Osing, Tengger, etc. In addition, it is also an endemic and native culture of Indonesia which is not shared with other countries. Therefore, the Javanese culture often represents Indonesia in the world. As the name implies, this culture is endemic in Java, Bali, Lampung, and some provinces in Indonesia.

2. Great Cultures of Malay

Malay is endemic and native culture of Indonesia and some neighboring countries like Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, and Singapore. Cultures that make this group include culture of Aceh, Minangkabau, Malay, Lampung, Betawi, Banjar, Minahasa, Gorontalo, Bugis, Halmahera, etc. Although not the largest but the spread of endemic areas of Malay culture is the most extensive. This culture is covering the majority of Sumatra, Sulawesi, small part of Java and Kalimantan.

3. Great Cultures of Inner Sumatra

Cultures that make this group include culture of Batak, Nias, Anak Dalam, Alas-Gayo, etc. This culture is endemic and native in a small part of Sumatra and also do not share with other countries.

4. Great Cultures of Dayak

Dayak is endemic and native culture of Indonesia and some neighboring countries like Malaysia and Brunei. Cultures that make this group include culture of Ngaju, Kenyah, Iban, etc. Dayak culture is endemic and native in the majority of Kalimantan.

5. Great Cultures of Eastern Islands

Culture of the Eastern Islands of Indonesia is native end endemic in the Eastern Islands of Indonesia like the Moluccas and majority of lesser Sunda Islands. This culture is very similar to the culture of Pacific Islander. Cultures that make this group include culture of Sasak, Sumba, the Moluccas, etc.

6. Great Cultures of Papuan

Papuan is endemic and native culture of Indonesia and some neighboring countries like Papua New Guinea and Australia. This culture is very similar to the culture of Aboriginal Australia. Cultures that make this group include culture of Asmat, Dani, etc. This culture is endemic in Papua and small part of the Moluccas.

7. Great Cultures of Tionghoan

Tionghoan (Chinese Indonesian) culture is a culture of Indonesia with the influence of China. Tionghoan culture is similar to the culture of Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. Cultures that make this group include culture of Hokian, Cina Parit, Khek, Cina Benteng, Hakka, Tiochew, etc. A lot of the Chinese cultures has been assimilated into the native cultures of Indonesia establish a new endemic cultures, especially with Javanese and Malay. Tionghoan culture is mostly found in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Java.

8. Great Cultures with the Influence of Arab

This culture is a culture of Indonesia with the influence of the Arab countries. Cultures that make this group include culture of Arab, Hadramauth, Moro, etc. Even the number of Hadramauth in Indonesia is currently greater than their country of origin. In addition, Arab culture is also widely adopted by non-Arab people in Indonesia since Indonesia is a country with the largest Muslim population in the world. This culture mostly found in Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, etc.

9. Great Cultures of Indoeropa

Indoeropa culture is a culture of Indonesia with influences from European countries. Cultures that make this group include culture of Indo-Dutch, Indo-UK, Indo-Portuguese, etc. Culture is derived from European countries that once colonized Indonesia for more than 3.5 centuries. This culture led to the emergence of mestizo culture, especially in the Moluccas and this is one of the largest in Asia. In addition, Indoeropa culture is also widely adopted by the native Indonesian as the government ordinance, culinary, etc.

10. Great Cultures with the Influence of India

This culture is a culture of Indonesia with the influence of the India. The number is probably at least from other cultures. Cultures that make this group include culture of Keling, Tamil, etc. Indian culture would be seen in many buildings, especially the Hindu temples which are found in Java. Indian culture like Ramayana is also widely adopted in Java. Indian culture is much related to Hindu culture that historically has occurred both in India and Indonesia. Because of this, partly Hindu or Indian culture can be said to be endemic in Indonesia.