Bidayuh women in Semban still wearing copper rings! ; Part IX

A coil of copper ring belonging to Sagen’s late grandmother- pic by Meun

I didn’t know that Bidayuh women wore copper rings on their arms and legs as a sign or beauty and status until I saw it for myself in Semban. Our guide Danny did mention it but I never thought much of the rings back then. Now that I have seen them myself, I have to agree that they are most beautiful and in its own way very majestic. The sad thing is that there are only 7 of the women left who are still wearing the rings.

I am not all that sure if the rings are made of copper or brass. But an old newspaper cutting in Sagen’s house stated that the rings were actually made of yellow copper. Called Rasung and Ruyang where believed to be obtained from foreign traders 100 years ago and wearers back then are considered to be ‘somebody’.

Rasung worn on the calves and Ruyang on the arm

Seems that there are only 7 Bidayuh elder women left in Semban village who are still wearing the copper rings. Many years ago, according to Sagen (local Semban guide), many women would still be wearing them but slowly things changed and many of the younger generations prefer bracelets and anklets. Things didn’t look promising for the tradition of wearing the rings when even school teachers begin to ban students from wearing them.

Wearing the rings is more of a personal choice. While the signify beauty and status, the wearer is subjected to physical pain, often having to grow up with atrophied limbs.

It is clear that the rings do inflict pain and the risks of atrophied limbs are very real

The Bidayuh women in the picture above came to meet us in their finest. They seem very proud of the rings they are wearing and their clothes have been beautifully decorated with beads of all kind. One thing I also notice is that they go everywhere with their chewing kit, known as ’Lonok’.

They come in their finest to meet us…what an honor

The Bidayuh ladies always have their chewing kit or ‘Lonok’ with them

A close-up of ‘Lonok’ chewing kit…would love to see how they make them

We were told that several months ago, there used to be more women in Semban village that are still wearing the copper rings. 2 of them passed away and the remaining 7 would be the last surviving ‘real’ wearers of the rings. For someone to wear those rings since the age of 12, and still did everything anyone else did (they still work on their farms even with the rings on!), I would say that these women are really a respectable lot. As the lure of big cities and the prospect of an easier life vacuums away the younger generation from the village, the practice of wearing copper Rasung and Ruyang will soon be a thing of the past. A sad end to such beauty and charm of the Bidayuh’s in Semban.

Meun and I with the Bidayuh women

Other posts/ videos on Semban:

• Part I- A visit to Semban, the village above the clouds
• Part II- The hanging bamboo bridges of Semban
• Part III- The long walk up to Semban
• Part IV- The waterfalls at Semban
• Part V1- The Bidayuh’s traditional cutting tools
• Part V2- The kitchen and bamboo blades of the Bidayuhs in Semban
• Part VI- Traditional bamboo smoking pipe and great food
• Part VII- Sunrise and morning walk around Semban
• Part VIII- Old tools used by the Bidayuhs in Semban
• Part IX- Ladies of the rings in Semban
• Video- The bidayuh’s hill paddy
• Video- The home made wooden pack that carries EVERTHING up Semban!
• Video- Bidayuh’s traditional furnace
• Video- Bidayuh’s traditional blades