Tetum Ghosts and Kin

Fieldwork in an Indonesian Community

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2571364
AutoresJ Peacock (0000-0003-2028-1471), David Hicks (0000-0003-0506-9720)
Año1978
Volumen13
Número1
Páginas152
Fecha de publicación1978-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaMan (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0025-1496 • E-ISSN: 2397-2548
EditorialJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/2801095
OpenAlexW603952441
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas24

This article explores the complex interplay between social organization, kinship structures, and traditional beliefs among the Tetum of Indonesian Timor. Focusing on the significance of ghosts and ancestral spirits in Tetum society, Peacock and Hicks analyze how these beliefs influence social interactions, inheritance patterns, and the maintenance of social order. Based on fieldwork conducted in 1974, the authors detail the intricate rituals and ceremonies associated with ancestor veneration and the role of kinship in mediating relationships with the spirit world. They argue that Tetum beliefs about ghosts and kin serve not only to explain misfortune and illness but also to reinforce social cohesion and regulate behavior within the community. The article provides valuable insights into the dynamics of a traditional Indonesian society undergoing rapid social and political change

Archaeology · Indonesian · Linguistics · Next of kin · Sociology · Asian Studies and History · Gender Studies · History · Philosophy