Orang Bunian

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foxxyeclipse
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Does anyone here have any experience with a bound Orang Bunian? They seem to not be "trendy" among spiritkeepers compared to the other races but I'm fascinated by them.

They seem to enjoy kidnapping people in the forests for some reason. This is an interesting backgrounder I came across: https://youtu.be/RdcZpemaF5s


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darkwing dook
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I guess one of the problems is the definition of Orang Bunian.

-For some, it's an umbrella term for spirits, like djinn or siluman. Bunian itself can mean "sound" from "bunyi" making it "whistling people", or "concealed" from "buni" making it "hidden people" (please be advised, the link contains pictures that may shock some):
https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-ge ... ger-009733

-For others, it's any spirit from the forest. Thus, Orang Pendek and Orang Mawas are included in the Orang Bunian category:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orang_Pendek
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orang_Mawas

-There are some who consider them deity-like, comparable to Hyang from other region:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyang

-The recent popular one is equating them with elves or fairies, whether traditional or modern interpretation of them.

Therefore, when they said Orang Bunian kidnapping people, which definition were they using? The same with keeping Orang Bunian, some local practitioners just consider it as djinn keeping (or khodam).


"Often the truth is in front of your face, but your eyes and heart are so full of lies that you can't see it." Shannon L. Alder

"May you live in interesting times, may you be recognized by people in high places, may you find what you’re looking for."
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darkwing dook wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 2:21 pm I guess one of the problems is the definition of Orang Bunian.

-For some, it's an umbrella term for spirits, like djinn or siluman. Bunian itself can mean "sound" from "bunyi" making it "whistling people", or "concealed" from "buni" making it "hidden people" (please be advised, the link contains pictures that may shock some):
https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-ge ... ger-009733

-For others, it's any spirit from the forest. Thus, Orang Pendek and Orang Mawas are included in the Orang Bunian category:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orang_Pendek
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orang_Mawas

-There are some who consider them deity-like, comparable to Hyang from other region:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyang

-The recent popular one is equating them with elves or fairies, whether traditional or modern interpretation of them.

Therefore, when they said Orang Bunian kidnapping people, which definition were they using? The same with keeping Orang Bunian, some local practitioners just consider it as djinn keeping (or khodam).
in Malaysia and Singapore, they are their own race, so to speak. accounts of people being kidnapped by them are usually of ethereal-looking humanoid beings.

they could be elves or fairies as you mentioned. but a lot of races from multiple accounts of human cultures around the world seem to share similar qualities. but I guess they developed their own tribe and identity and call themselves by different names along the way. it's like how "djinn" is an umbrella term for any sapient, sentient entity that is not of physical matter like humans according to a lot of Muslim cultures, but a lot of us here accept that there are diverse unique races besides djinns.

I've never heard orang bunian being lumped into the same categories as orang pendek or orang mawas as those 2 are generally considered cryptids by people in my region than interdimensional beings.


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darkwing dook
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foxxyeclipse wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 3:01 pm

I've never heard orang bunian being lumped into the same categories as orang pendek or orang mawas as those 2 are generally considered cryptids by people in my region than interdimensional beings.
It's because the term "bunian" itself is not a specific thing; either "hidden" or "whistling", so cryptids can be bunian (hidden) as well. People from various place may as well consider bunian as cryptid, or include humanoid cryptids as orang bunian. This article mentions that it is a common misconception, i.e. a lot of people do conflate them:
https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Orang_Bunian

If you can read the language, you can find Indonesian articles like this:
https://solo.tribunnews.com/2016/09/01/ ... g?page=all
Translation of part of it:
Some people still believe this myth to this day. It is not only the Minangkabau people who know the myths of Orang Bunian. In Bengkulu, Orang Bunian are also called Sebabah. Sebabah is thought as creatures that are shaped like human, but they are small and their feet turned backwards.

Meanwhile, the people who live in the inland have other understanding of the Orang Bunian creature. People in the inland of Sumatra more often call it Gugua. Gugua has big stature, hairy, shy, and likes to imitate human behavior.

In Mount Sebelat (Kerinci National Park) Orang Bunian are often called Uhang Pandak. Uhang Pandak means people of short stature. This creature is believed to have existed for decades. However, until now no one has found physical evidence of the existence of this creature. There are only a few people who often report meeting this creature by accident. Besides Uhang Pandak, there are various names for Orang Bunian which are believed by people in various regions.

Some people think that Orang Bunian are not a kind of spirit creature. They are just creatures that resemble humans and have slight differences.


"Often the truth is in front of your face, but your eyes and heart are so full of lies that you can't see it." Shannon L. Alder

"May you live in interesting times, may you be recognized by people in high places, may you find what you’re looking for."
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darkwing dook wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 2:23 am
foxxyeclipse wrote: Fri Oct 15, 2021 3:01 pm

I've never heard orang bunian being lumped into the same categories as orang pendek or orang mawas as those 2 are generally considered cryptids by people in my region than interdimensional beings.
It's because the term "bunian" itself is not a specific thing; either "hidden" or "whistling", so cryptids can be bunian (hidden) as well. People from various place may as well consider bunian as cryptid, or include humanoid cryptids as orang bunian. This article mentions that it is a common misconception, i.e. a lot of people do conflate them:
https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Orang_Bunian

If you can read the language, you can find Indonesian articles like this:
https://solo.tribunnews.com/2016/09/01/ ... g?page=all
Translation of part of it:
Some people still believe this myth to this day. It is not only the Minangkabau people who know the myths of Orang Bunian. In Bengkulu, Orang Bunian are also called Sebabah. Sebabah is thought as creatures that are shaped like human, but they are small and their feet turned backwards.

Meanwhile, the people who live in the inland have other understanding of the Orang Bunian creature. People in the inland of Sumatra more often call it Gugua. Gugua has big stature, hairy, shy, and likes to imitate human behavior.

In Mount Sebelat (Kerinci National Park) Orang Bunian are often called Uhang Pandak. Uhang Pandak means people of short stature. This creature is believed to have existed for decades. However, until now no one has found physical evidence of the existence of this creature. There are only a few people who often report meeting this creature by accident. Besides Uhang Pandak, there are various names for Orang Bunian which are believed by people in various regions.

Some people think that Orang Bunian are not a kind of spirit creature. They are just creatures that resemble humans and have slight differences.
maybe it's a cultural thing from where you're from vs where I'm from in southeast Asia. in my culture bunian is exclusively a race of their own and not a generic term for all those you mentioned. definitely not hairy ape-like creatures.


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foxxyeclipse wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 1:44 pm
maybe it's a cultural thing from where you're from vs where I'm from in southeast Asia. in my culture bunian is exclusively a race of their own and not a generic term for all those you mentioned. definitely not hairy ape-like creatures.
I think you missed the article.
It's an article from Indonesia.
Indonesia is in Southeast Asia.


"Often the truth is in front of your face, but your eyes and heart are so full of lies that you can't see it." Shannon L. Alder

"May you live in interesting times, may you be recognized by people in high places, may you find what you’re looking for."
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darkwing dook wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:48 pm
foxxyeclipse wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 1:44 pm
maybe it's a cultural thing from where you're from vs where I'm from in southeast Asia. in my culture bunian is exclusively a race of their own and not a generic term for all those you mentioned. definitely not hairy ape-like creatures.
I think you missed the article.
It's an article from Indonesia.
Indonesia is in Southeast Asia.
I think you missed my point: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia have distinct cultures. similar elements and beliefs, but distinct in its own. as someone from Singapore, I cannot relate to indonesia's definition of orang bunian.


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foxxyeclipse wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 1:44 pm
I've never heard orang bunian being lumped into the same categories as orang pendek or orang mawas as those 2 are generally considered cryptids by people in my region than interdimensional beings.

maybe it's a cultural thing from where you're from vs where I'm from in southeast Asia. in my culture bunian is exclusively a race of their own and not a generic term for all those you mentioned. definitely not hairy ape-like creatures.
[/quote]

i do agree with you that orang bunian is considered as one race. i've not heard of it being labeled the same as orang mawas or orang pendek.


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darkwing dook wrote: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:48 pm
I think you missed the article.
It's an article from Indonesia.
Indonesia is in Southeast Asia.
i read the article. it is said sometimes the orang bunian kidnap people. i have also heard that last time it's a common story to hear people marrying into the orang bunian, and have children together. but the human gets old so they often leave the orang bunian world and return to the human's world. their kids were raised by the orang bunian spouse, and they would visit their mortal parent on frequent basis.

i have also heard that sometimes people accidentally enter their world. that's why in south east asian countries, it's commonly heard from the tour guides that hikers must not pick up anything from the jungle/forest they enter. even if they want to answer nature's call, they must ask for permission. i have read somewhere that the entrance to the orang bunian can be identified. often between the bamboo like a low clean walkway.


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here's a video of orang bunian. the youtuber was sharing his family's experience of one of them being kidnapped by three orang bunian. unfortunately there's no english subs, but you can see some videos capturing them.

https://youtu.be/va4ShVzD7Bc


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