The stabbed stone
A symbol of reconciliation.
Firmnal — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Syurida — CC BY 4.0 · Syurida — CC BY 4.0 · BP48Fadhillah — CC BY-SA 3.0
A small stone site in the village of Limo Kaum near Batusangkar carrying an important symbol of Minangkabau history: a dark stone pierced by a hole, whose name means the stabbed stone. The story goes that the two founding leaders of the Minangkabau's two customary systems, Datuak Parpatiah Nan Sabatang and Datuak Katumanggungan, quarrelled, and one stabbed the stone with his dagger instead of his brother, as a sign of reconciliation and an end to the dispute. The stone stands in a stone-paved square called Medan Nan Bapaneh, once a council ground where clan leaders deliberated, surrounded by old seats and standing stones, in a quiet spot among rice fields. Entry is a token fee. The site is small, a quarter to half an hour, but its story explains the heart of Minangkabau culture, built on consultation and reconciliation. The site is minutes from Batusangkar, so combine it with Pagaruyung Palace and the Rao Rao mosque in one day.
A symbol of reconciliation.
An old consultation ground.
The two Minangkabau systems.
Limo Kaum, Tanah Datar regency, near Batusangkar
It is a founding tale passed down the generations, expressing the Minangkabau value of reconciliation more than a precise historical record; the stone itself is a protected ancient monument.