A Descriptive Study of Tongkonan: Function, Structure, and Symbolic Meaning in Toraja Culture

Abstract

Tongkonan is the traditional house of the Toraja people in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, which functions not merely as a dwelling but as the center of social, cultural, and spiritual life. This study aims to describe the function, structure, and symbolic meaning of Tongkonan within Toraja culture through a descriptive qualitative approach using library research. Data were collected through literature review, visual documentation, and content analysis. The findings reveal three core functions: as a family deliberation center (ma'tongkonan), a ritual venue (rambu solo' and rambu tuka'), and as a marker of social stratification. Structurally, Tongkonan consists of three parts: sulluk (base), inan (body), and rattiang (roof), reflecting a tripartite cosmological worldview. Symbolic meanings are embedded in passura carvings and the color system, encoding values of justice, prosperity, and purity. This study affirms Tongkonan as an integrated cultural system uniting architecture, social values, and spiritual belief.