Architecture, Building and Planning - Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 1 of 1
-
ItemEarth, land, landscape : Javanese perceptions of landscape in the Mataram kingdom( 2002)This thesis explores the philosophy of nature as manifest in the landscape realms of the royal court (kraton) and village (desa) of the Mataram kingdom (8l C- 19'h C), which is recognised until now as the centre of Javanese culture. The Javanese are the dominant ethnic group in Indonesia and their culture has a great influence on the way people think, make decisions, and act in the Indonesian environment. This study is an initial investigation in the field of landscape architecture in Indonesia, providing a basic understanding of the traditional beliefs and concepts of landscape as found in the dominant culture. It describes and discusses the perceptions of nature and landscape amongst the Javanese nobility (priyayi) and common people (wong cilik) in the kraton and desa. Such knowledge can form future policies for landscape planning of the region, which is undergoing great change. The research focused on several key realms in the study area, including the still surviving Royal Tomb and the Great Mosque complex at Kota Gede, the Surakarta kraton and desa in its surroundings, the Yogyakarta kraton and some traditional desa in its surroundings which were investigated through field studies and archival searches. Javanese attitudes and philosophies relating to nature, land and landscape were investigated through its cultural products including archaeological artefacts, chronicles and wayang shadow puppet ritual. The research benefited from a number of old and new chronicles translated from the Javanese language into Indonesian and English and past descriptions of traditional desa in Java from Indonesian and Dutch sources. Since the nature of this study is to explore relationships between cultural media and manifest landscape form, the techniques used are descriptive, analytic and interpretative. It was found that in Java, the people's beliefs and concepts of nature and the landscape are an amalgam of beliefs, rituals and myths. For example, the mountain, tree, and water were and still are taken as important symbols that influence how landscapes are made. There is a rich cultural heritage in the living landscape of both kraton and desa, which is now being overtaken by development. The findings of this research can, however, influence this process of landscape change for the better. The most representative examples of both landscapes of kraton and desa in Surakarta and Yogyakarta regions should also be the focus for future conservation efforts. These should include at least the Royal Tomb and Great Mosque complex at Kota Gede, the whole kraton sites in Surakarta and Yogyakarta and their sacred sight line areas, the sacred forest/grove such as the Krendhawahana forest, some traditional desa in the surroundings, and some forbidden landscape areas (punden, keramat) like the Imagiri and Mangadeg royal tomb hills, the kraton Ratu Baka hill complex, Kayangan site, Gua Semar amongst others.