Lyfta storyworld: A Father's Legacy - Indonesia

Lyfta
Content Team
September 29, 2022
2 min read
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Meet Ahen in Borneo, Indonesia, a spirit medium and leader in the family and community. Find out why the role of the tatung is important and delve deeper into the fascinating history and tradition behind it. Themes of spirituality, religion and faith will be explored and students will discover how learning languages and developing cultural understanding helps Ahen and can help them too!
A Father's Legacy trailer

What is a tatung?

Ahen training and healing people in his community in the storyworld A Father's Legacy.
Ahen training and healing people in his community in the storyworld A Father's Legacy.
A tatung is a person believed to be chosen by god as a link between the physical and spiritual world. Tatungs help people and advise on matters of love, health, business and/or conflict. Ahen, like his father Ajung, gives advice on matters of health and other subjects. He believes that when his father died in 2018 he passed on his powerful spirit to Ahen.
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"My late father always taught me, having a sincere heart is the most important thing"

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AHEN
A SPIRIT MEDIUM AND LEADER IN THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

Training as a tatung

Ahen, a spirit medium
Ahen, a spirit medium
Ahen has to undergo much training to become a tatung. Students can follow him as he visits the Tanjaya temples, deep in the lush indigenous forest, to meet and train with his spiritual guide who teaches him to not be "arrogant" and to help other people if he can.
Students will also see Ahen attending Mandarin classes. He has spent 6 years studying Mandarin because his father advised it as "the gods will speak to us mostly in Mandarin during consultations."
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"Being a tatung isn't easy"

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AHEN
A SPIRIT MEDIUM AND LEADER IN THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

The many roles of a tatung

Ahen has many duties as a medium
Ahen has many duties as a medium
The role of the tatung is complex and not only does Ahen train and heal people, but he also must "be in service for others". Students will discuss what it might mean to be 'in service for others. 360° scenes in the storyworld show Ahen in his community and sewing costumes.
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"I feel fortunate to be a tatung and to be able to help my fellow people."

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AHEN
A SPIRIT MEDIUM AND LEADER IN THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

A Father's Legacy at a glance

  • A powerful short documentary film about Ahen.
  • Four interactive 360° spaces including the city temple exterior, the city temple interior, the Tanjaya temple and the Ahen's workshop, as well as two 360° video scenes.
  • Rich media articles covering:
    • Intercultural understanding
    • What is a tatung?
    • The many roles of a tatung
  • Lesson and assembly plans to be included with this storyworld:
Examples of the rich media articles in A Father's Legacy storyworld
Examples of the rich media articles in A Father's Legacy storyworld
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