Papuan have a very unique tradition. Based on their daily habit, Papuan usually hunt for their food or just to stay alive. That’s why they have a lot of traditional weapons. There are a lot of unique Papuan traditional weapons and one of them is Jee Jugum. It’s very popular in Papua and people there use this almost everyday. Let’s take a closer look at this traditional weapon.
About Papuan Traditional Weapons, Jee Jugum
Jee Jugum is a traditional weapon that is shaped like an ax. It’s an icon of Irian Jaya and you will find this weapon easily in Papuan’s home. They usually use this tool in their daily activities. It’s very useful and easy to use, that’s why this tool is very popular.
Not only easy to use, this weapon is also very easy to make. Assembling this traditional weapon is very easy. What you need to do is tie a stone to a tree which will later be used as a grip handle. Papuan made this weapon by themselves and they will make the new one if the other one was broken.
Jee Jugum is not really big. It’s very easy to handle but still has great power. This weapon is not only used for hunting but also for self-defending. Please note that there is no need for technology to make this weapon. It’s traditionally made but very strong and Papuan can be used for a very long time.
History of Jee Jugum
Every traditional weapon has its own history, including Jee Jugum. In ancient times, Papuans used stone axes to cut a tree and make sago. This practice is gradually abandoned because they see it’s inefficient and consumes a lot of energy. Also, this practice is a waste of time and people get tired of it.
Later, Papuan use Jee Jugum as a traditional weapon to protect themselves. It’s a self-defense weapon to fight with other people or animals. But as time went on, more people used this weapon as a tool for sharpening other weapons or knives. Also, Papuan usually use Jee Jugum to break the wood.
The shape of Jee Jugum also changed as time went on. This weapon becomes flat and slim so it becomes easier to use. There are some Papuan that make this weapon with a very slim shape for peeling the bark used as material for building houses.
Material of Papuan Traditional Weapons, Jee Jugum
Papuan traditional weapons are usually made from natural material. Jee Jugum is made from sharp stones and they use wood for the handle. The important key that will affect the quality of this weapon is the rope. Papuan usually use rattan ropes to tie the stone into the wood. Also, the rattan ropes should be tied strongly so the stone will always be attached well.
The design and its material make this weapon very easy to use. You just need to tap on the rock right on the object you want to cut. You need to give a strong tap on the object so it will be cut as you want.
Actually, most of the traditional weapons in Papua are made from stone and wood. They have different shapes and people use them for different occasions. The interesting fact about this weapon is that the Asmat tribe sees this tool as a luxury thing. It happens because this weapon is made from a stone and they see a stone ax is a great thing to have.
Final Words
There are various Papuan traditional weapons with different functions. All of those weapons are used by Papuan everyday to collect food, cut the tree, hunt, and so on. Traditional weapons are a part of their culture and it’s very interesting to know that they still keep them alive.
