Google Doodle Commemorates Pinisi Ships As UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage

Google Doodle of Pinisi ship (photo: Google)

JAKARTA - The Google Doodle on Thursday, December 7 commemorates the cultural heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Pinisi ship from South Sulawesi.

Launching from the Ministry of Education and Culture, on December 7, 2017, the Pinisi ship from South Sulawesi was officially designated as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO at the 12th Session of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Committee on Jeju Island, South Korea.

This determination is a form of international recognition of the importance of knowledge of traditional shipping techniques owned by the ancestors of the Indonesian nation which are passed down from generation to generation and which is still developing today.

History Of Pinisi Ships

Poinisi ships have existed since the 1500s in Indonesia. In the past, this ship was often used by sailors Konjo, Bugis, and Mandar for trade purposes such as transporting goods. But now, this ship is used as a tourist attraction in South Sulawesi.

The Pinisi ship has its own characteristics, where you can see the use of 7-8 screens, as well as 2 main poles on the front and rear of the ship.

In addition, this traditional Indonesian ship is also made of wood. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) said that generally, there are four types of wood that are usually used to make phinisi ships, namely iron wood, bitti wood, Kandole/extortion wood, and teak wood.

Processes Of Making Pinisi Ships

The process of making a phinisi ship is divided into three stages. The first is the determination of a good day to look for wood to make a phinisi ship. Usually, good days looking for wood fall on the 5th or 7th day of the ship's construction month.

The second stage is entering the process of logging, drying, and cutting wood. After that, wood will be assembled into each part of the phinisi ship.

The last stage is the process of launching the phinisi ship into the sea. However, before it is launched, a maccera lopi ceremony is usually held, or purifying the phinisi ship. This ceremony is marked by the slaughtering of cattle or goats.