Editing Minangkabau people (section)

==Customs and religion==
{{Main|Islam in West Sumatra}}
[[Image:Minangkabaumosque.jpg|thumb|A Minangkabau mosque circa 1900]]
Prior to conversion to Islam, [[Buddhism]], especially [[Tantric Buddhism]] was popular in the region. Buddhism in central Sumatra is attested by the [[Padang Roco Inscription]], which states that an [[Avalokiteśvara]] was brought from Java to Dharmasraya, and this act brought great happiness to the people.<ref>Muljana, Slamet, 1981, ''Kuntala, Sriwijaya Dan Suwarnabhumi'', Jakarta: Yayasan Idayu, hlm. 223.</ref> Influential Buddhist kingdoms thrived in the area, including the [[Pagaruyung Kingdom]] and [[Melayu Kingdom]].

[[Animism]] had also been an important component of Minangkabau culture. Even after the penetration of Islam into Minangkabau society in the 16th century, animistic beliefs were not extinguished. In this belief system, people were said to have two souls, a real soul and a soul which can disappear called the ''semangat''. ''Semangat'' represents the vitality of life and it is said to be possessed by all living creatures including animals and plants. An illness may be explained as the capture of the ''semangat'' by an evil spirit, and a shaman (''pawang'') may be consulted to conjure invisible forces and bring comfort to the family. Sacrificial offerings can be made to placate the spirits, and certain objects such as amulets are used as protection.<ref>Dobbin (1983), pages&nbsp;117–118</ref>

Until the rise of the Padri movement late in the 18th century, Islamic practices such as prayers, fasting and attendance at mosques had been weakly observed in the Minangkabau highlands. The Padri were inspired by the [[Wahhabi]] movement in Mecca, and sought to eliminate societal problems such as tobacco and opium smoking, gambling and general anarchy by ensuring the tenets of the quran were strictly observed. All Minangkabau customs allegedly in conflict with the quran were abolished. Although the Padri were eventually defeated by the Dutch, during this period the relationship between ''adat'' and religion was reformulated. Previously ''adat'' (customs) were said to be based upon appropriateness and propriety, but this was changed so that ''adat'' was more strongly based upon Islamic precepts.<ref name="Blackwood2000">{{cite book |title=Webs of Power: Women, Kin, and Community in a Sumatran Village |last=Blackwood |first=Evelyn |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2000 |isbn=0-8476-9911-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Tuanku Imam Bondjol, (1772–1864) |last=Dobbin |first=Christine |year=1972 |journal=Indonesia |volume=13 |issue=April |pages=4–35}}</ref>

The Minangkabau strongly profess [[Islam]] while at the same time also following their ethnic traditions, or ''[[adat]]''. The Minangkabau ''adat'' was derived from hereditary wisdom before the arrival of Islam. The present relationship between Islam and ''adat'' is described in the saying "traditions [''adat''] are founded upon the [Islamic] law, and the law founded upon the [[Qur'an]]" (''[[adat nan kawi', syara' nan lazim]]'').<ref name="OOAL1856" />

With the Minangkabau highlands being the heartland of their culture, and with Islam likely entering the region from coast it is said that "custom descended, religion ascended" (''adat manurun, syarak mandaki'').<ref name="Abdullah1966"/>