Konstruksi Pengetahuan dan Kompetisi pada Penyembuh Tradisional di Desa Paran Julu Kecamatan Sipirok Kabupaten Tapanuli Selatan

Abstract

This article examined the knowledge-building and competition among traditional healers (traditional therapists and pangarut) in Paran Julu village. Emically, the healers distinguished themselves by their healing techniques; traditional therapists only use their hands, but pangarut may also use tools. In general, both can be called massage healers. The main reason I was interested in researching this topic is that the residents of Paran Julu village still use traditional medicines as their main or alternative treatment to minimize the side effects of modern medicine and the price is more affordable. The issues of knowledge construction and competition is an interesting ones to study because they have many different ways to build knowledge and there is a latent competition among healers. This study used a qualitative method with fieldwork. The initial process of writing the thesis, collecting field data, and collecting additional data took a total of five months. Data collection techniques were used in the form of direct observations and in-depth interviews, as described in the field notes. The main informants were the four traditional healers in Paran Julu village because they were the subject of my research. In addition, the patients were also important informants, as they were part of the knowledge-building and competition of healers. Through their experience as patients, they provided information about healer advertising and competitive strategies. The village BPD members and the tribal council in the village were also important informants for explaining the history and the cosmological aspects of the village related to the healing process. The study also used secondary data on the area and the village populations obtained from the staff of the Paran Julu village chief's office. A review of the literature was also conducted to improve understanding related to the concepts of construction and competition as well as cases of traditional and pangarut therapists.