KOREA FOUNDATION

There are master craftsmen who build sailboats named “Pinisi,” which have a height of approximately 20 meters, without a single blueprint. Pinisi are native to Indonesia, an archipelago made up of more than 18,200 islands and meandering shorelines. These craftsmen, referred to as the “Bugis tribe,” are descendants of a maritime race who traded with countries in the Indo-China region and as far away as Australia. The Bugis live in a colony that they formed in Bulukumba of southern Sulawesi, the gateway to eastern Indonesia. Their amazing shipbuilding techniques are today one of Indonesia’s most representative intangible cultural heritages. 

   The people of the Bugis tribe, who are born and live their entire lives by the sea, have learned how to coexist with nature from an early age, building Pinisi using shipbuilding and navigation techniques that have been handed down for over a thousand years. There are many different types of sailboats, including those for catching tuna and cruise ships. All traditional Pinisi are made of naturally-sourced timber. Pine trees with excellent waterproofing properties are used for the overall framework of the boat, while Jati (teak) trees that do not easily snap are used for the inner parts of the boat to further strengthen its structure. By subjecting the timber to a flame while spraying it with water to ensure that the timber does not burn, it is possible to bend the timber into the desired shape. This unique technique represents the wisdom of the Bugis tribe in bringing out the natural beauty of timber through the energy of fire. Furthermore, the use of wooden nails (pegs) when connecting timbers that do not rust demonstrates their faith in and affection toward natural materials when building Pinisi.

The people who play the most important roles in the construction of Pinisi are divided into three categories: namely, Panrita Lopi, Sawi, and Sambalu. Panrita Lopi are the master craftsmen who builds the boat and the leaders who pass down instructions on how to do so to younger craftsmen. The Sawi are the core craftsmen who follow the direct instructions from the Panrita Lopi. This group is subdivided into Sawi Kepala (site managers), Sawi Kabusu (senior shipbuilders), and Sawi Pamula (novice and apprentice shipbuilders) in accordance with their skill levels. Lastly, the Sambalu is the client who places a boat construction order to the Panrita Lopi. Because of this, the Sambalu participates in the entire building process both directly, from the conceptualization stage to the actual launching of the boat, and indirectly (by providing information on the desired sizes and types of ships)—which is greatly helpful in making improvements to the Pinisi. All personnel involved in shipbuilding, from Panrita Lopi to Sawi Pamula, tacitly perform their respective roles in the “Tatta drawing” format, which entails mentally visualizing the structure and assembly order of the boat’s inner components without the help of a diagram. 

   The Pinisi is a sailboat constructed entirely at the fingertips of master craftsmen who build solely on the basis of their knowledge and inter-generationally obtained experience. The Pinisi, which historically defended the Bugis’ homeland against foreign forces and led active international trading, has now become a means of livelihood. The Pinisi is clearly a symbol of the pride of the Bugis tribe in both themselves and the objects of their culture.