Intergration Of Local And Islamic Architecture In Traditional Minangkabau

Abstract

Mosque architecture is an important part in the process of Islamizing societies whose civilizations have had influences from another system of belief prior to the conversion into Islam. The mosque provides a new substitute for a place of ritual and signifies a change in the welsthanchauung where the alien concept of mosque is integrated in the new Muslim community through the incorporation and reinterpretation of local traditional symbols and architectural designs. A fieldtrip, accompanied by a local guide, to ancient Minangkabau mosques, on the Sumatera Island, Indonesia sought to examine examples of Islamicization in mosque architecture. Interview with locals were conducted, photographs were captured and observations made were cross-referenced with available literature to validate interpretation. In these mosques, old designs, thought to be of Hindu-Buddhist origin, such as the stupa (mound-like structure), gunungan (mountain-like feature) and makara (mythical sea-creature) have been retained and incorporated in mosque designs and given new Islamic interpretation. Non-religious designs with strong local affinity such as floral and vegetal motifs using local flower and plant as inspiration are utilized to increase the aesthetic value of mosque. Other examples, like the radiant sun motifs that is peculiar only to Malay mosque, is thought to carry symbolic Islamic meaning whereas gonjong roof (buffalo horn-shaped roof), is incorporated for both cultural identity and functional purposes. In addition, new components, symbols and designs were introduced from other Islamic civilization; examples include features such as crescent and na’al (sandal) motifs.