SIMBUR CAHAYA

The type of society lives in indonesian archipelago orginacally and generally has a
characteristic genealogy either based on family system, clan, tribes, or etc. Besides, it also
has a territory, for instances, village, territory of the kingdom and etc. From the explanation
above, South Sumatera people (society) is formed based on the combination between
territorial system and geneological system. Meanwhile, its family system follows patrional
system at the fact, influence toward social and the cultural values of South Sumatera
society.Besides to describe about cultural art of people of South Sumatera.

So related to the explanation above, i will describe about the local wisdom in my area,
South Sumatera which is still upheld today. Simbur cahaya is a law issued by Ratu Sinuhun,
so it’s called Ratu Sinuhun Law. Ratu sinuhun is famous as smart woman. She did many
things in an effort to regulate goverment and make regulations for the people of Palembang.
In its development, this law is maintained in the form of coustumary law and some chapters
in this law still used till now.

At the beginning, the book of Simbur Cahaya denotes a region act or regulation that
be basic and guidance of King (Sultan) to govern the goverment.It’s declared about the
sketch of social and cultural live of South Sumatera society. First chapter includes the
tradition regarding the intercoourse between male and female and marriage in general and
moral acts and noble behaviour amoung the youth in particular and related acts. And this first
chapter affects the relationship between theboys and Palembang’s girls, they still defend
themselves from all the temptations of youth until later marriage or they keep themselves as
Bujang and Gadis. As you must know Bujang and Gadis is a Palembang’s watchword for
those who are not married, this watchword is very influence youth in Palembang to keep
themselves from the free sex until they married. It has big influence in daily life also in
society culture of Palembang’s youth.

The second chapter of Simbur cahaya contains the basic principle relating to
administration and the clan policy. Over about goverment affairs, its content closed relation
with society behaviour of the region, and also completed by explanation. The third chapter
talking about the regulation of village and the farming, the content of this chapter covers
them administration system of the village around, also about land affairs regulation. South
Sumatera’s goverment adopt this chapter to make modern law that we used now, so the
chapter of Simbur Cahaya is very influence us in this modern era.

The fourth chapter contains the provisions of the rules of people, stated at the clan
level, the higher authority to deal with maritals problems, divorce, inheritance, zakat fitrah,
maintaining mosques, keramat (grave figures) and carving dead bodies. Penghulu in carrying
out its duties is assisted by preachers and people. Pasirah and Penghulu are required to care
for orphans until they are 14 years old. Thus, position of the head and the apparatures is very
strategic in dealing with issues related to islam. Provisions for raising orphans are very useful
so that there are no abonded children in Palmebang area. The condition does not seem to be
much different compared to the present. Problems related to the above are handled by the
Office of Religious Affairs(KUA) at the village level. However, the problem of orphans, the
handling is left to families of these children. This is possible because usually the orphans are
managed by their families, both on their’s father and mother’s side.

There is also a tradition adopted from the rules in the book of Simbur Cahaya, it is
called The Birth Celebration Tradition in South Sumatera society live if there a newborn baby
usually celebrating a particular celebration(Sadaqah) in order to the newborn baby save and
get protection from descendant spirits and disappear creature in order new born babies save
until they become adult and they marry, then celebrating hair shaving that followed by
family, closed relatives of family, member of society both male and female, either gentleman
or ladies till adult people. In this sense, tradition (adat) celebrating guided by custom leader,
the celebrating that based on islamic teaching guided by moslem chief. From this explanation
show that Simbur cahaya also contains the tradition that give big impact for society.

So for all the explanation, it is evident that Simbur Cahaya not only a book of rule but
also contains many values of local wisdom as well as treaditions,slogans,proverb that is
highly upheld and influential in the socio-cultural life of Palembang People.