Securing Cosmic Balance in an Uncertain World: Documenting Asmat Longhouse (Jee) Construction in Papua, Indonesia

This project aims to document the extensive knowledge and practices surrounding the construction of longhouses (jee), a cornerstone of Asmat culture in southwest Papua, Indonesia. Historically, the jee played a central role as a gathering place for warfare and for display male prestige related to headhunting. Most important though the jee represents the cosmic center connecting the earthly realm and the upperworld, a sacred origin space of harmony and balance. The construction of jee reconnects these two worlds and follows sacred principles, reaffirming ancestral ethics and cosmic order, making it the most significant ritual act in Asmat society. Christianisation and Indonesian governmental policies in the 1950s disrupted these traditions, with jee burned and rituals suppressed, leaving communities unable to maintain cosmic balance. However, the Catholic Church’s cultural support in the 1970s sparked a revival of jee construction, reflecting the Asmat’s desire for autonomy amidst modernisation. Despite this resurgence, knowledge about rituals, songs, and construction techniques has eroded, raising concerns about their proper execution. Guided by Asmat cultural leader David Jimanipits, this project seeks EMKP funding to create an archive documenting jee construction through video recordings and transcriptions of related lore. The archive will serve as a resource for Asmat communities, supporting future rituals and inspiring the revival of marginalised cultural practices. By preserving these traditions, the project seeks to ensure that the jee remains a beacon of autonomy and cosmic balance, fostering cultural resilience against external influences.