"Once
upon a
time there was a giant living... at the foot of Mount Kinabalu."
- Ansow Gunsalam,1983
THE
LEGENDS
Until
now, Kinabalu's
name is still a mystery.
The most popular view derives it from the Kadazan
words, Aki
Nabalu,
meaning 'the revered place of the dead'. The local Kadazandusuns
belief that their spirits dwell on the mountain top. Among the bare
rocks of the summit grows a moss which early Kadazandusun
guides said provided
food for the spirits of their ancestor.
Aki Nabalu,
meaning 'the
revered place of the dead'.
Many of
the
mountain's early
explorers reported that their Kadazandusun
guides performed religious
ceremonies upon reaching the summit. Sir
Hugh Low
wrote that his guide carried
an assortment of charms, pieces of wood, human teeth, and other
paraphernalia weighing three kilograms (seven pounds) up to the summit.
Whitehead recorded the slaughter of one white chicken.
These ceremonies
were performed to appease the spirit of the mountain as well as the
ancestral spirits who lived there. Nowadays, a ceremony is conducted
annually by the Kinabalu
Park's
guides. Seven chicken and eggs, as well
as cigars, betel nuts, sirih leaves, lime and rice are sacrificed, and
later enjoyed by the guides.
Another theory
about the mountain's
name comes from the derivation of Kina meaning "China"
and Balu, meaning "widow".
A Kadazandusun
legend
tells the story of a Chinese
prince ascending the mountain. He is
seeking a huge pearl on the top which is guarded by a ferocious dragon.
The prince succeeds in slaying the dragon and stealing the pearl. He
then marries a Kadazan
woman,
but soon abandons her and returns to
china. His wife, heartbroken, wanders to the mountain to mourn. There
she was belief to turn into stone.
KADAZANDUSUN
BELIEFS
An
ancient mythology lies at the heart of Kadazandusun
culture. A Kadazandusun
creation myth tells how the supreme deities Kinohiringan
and his wife Umunsumundu
made
the earth while Kinohiringan
created
the
sky and the clouds. But the clouds were smaller than the earth and
Kinohiringan
was ashamed. To save his pride, Umunsumundu
reshaped the
earth, making
it smaller, and thus created Mount
Kinabalu,
the mountain that
we know today.
A
Kadazandusun
story tells of a
giant king named Gayo
Nakan ('big eater') who lived
at the base of the mountain. His
people tired of his enormous appetite and were had pressed to feed him.
Hearing their complaints, the king told them to bury him alive at the
top of the mountain. Bringing all their tools they laboured in vain,
until the king uttered magic words and sank into the rock up to his
shoulders. He then told his people that, due to their lack of patience,
drought and famine would afflict them - but promised to help them in
times of war. Fearful and penitent, the people made their first
sacrificial offerings at the wishing pool below the summit that was Gayo Nakan's
grave.
go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kinabalu for the love story about Mount Kinabalu.. *wink*
Magh Kota Kinabalu
Posted at 10:27am on Friday, July 11th, 2008
i've never experience it yet but i'll climb it as soon as possible...travel the exitment.....
claire kota kinabalu
Posted at 12:14pm on Monday, May 26th, 2008
for those who know the real ancient story abount mt kinabalu, pls2 email me. as a sabahan, i realy need to know about the ancient stories. the above story is too simple bah. usagi_81@hotmail.com. thank you in advanced.
sakura keningau
Posted at 2:45pm on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
i want 2 know the true legend of kinabalu..i already see this cartoon story that the legend of kinabalu is about love.
BB kundasang
Posted at 10:49am on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008
i'm near the mount kinabalu..it's too
cold..harder to breath..this month is
always raining so the tourist can't climb up the mountain...
nokopojulan kota kinabalu
Posted at 10:43am on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008
i herad this story from my husband eventhou'it simple but it so interesting...
rasydan p.pinang
Posted at 6:22pm on Monday, March 17th, 2008
hopefully i will reach the top of mt.kinabalu..
irsyad ahmad hostel
Posted at 8:26pm on Thursday, February 14th, 2008
it was a great experince at the top of Mt Kinabalu.I enjoyed the journey and the legend told by the guide.Whoever have not climb Mt. Kinabalu,better do it.you won't reger
adrianjawing Perak
Posted at 4:10pm on Thursday, October 11th, 2007
nice but to simple.. not so interesting for tuorist
Vivien Chiew kota kinabalu
Posted at 1:26pm on Sunday, May 27th, 2007
i think its quit a legendtic story i think my friend would like 2 here this.
