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An Enclosure in the Garden of Love1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Robert Wessing
Robert Wessing
Affiliation:
Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen
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Extract

In a recent article I looked at the Gunongan (Plate 1) in Banda Aceh, Indonesia in the context of both the stories surrounding this structure and its symbolism. Space did not permit an analysis of a second structure, the kandang (enclosure) that stands slightly to the north of the Gunongan. In this paper therefore I will take a closer look at the kandang and some of the stories surrounding it.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , March 1991 , pp. 1 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1991

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References

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“…pertama-tama diperbuat-nya batu terhampar kira-kira dua belas depa pada suatu sagi. Maka ada-lah perbuatan itu empal persagi, dan batu mengampar berkumai saperti perbuatan peterana. Dan ada-lah pada empat penjuru-nya itu berchanggai, berukir awan, dan mega, dan beberapa kalok. Maka di-atas batu mengampar itu-lah di-tambak-nya tanah kira-kira dulapan hasta tinggi-nya. Maka sakalian-nya itu di-susun dengan batu yang berbagai-bagai warna-nya, ada puteh, ada kuning, ada hijau, ada merah, ada hitam, ada ungu, ada jingga, ada ablok, ada berkurai, ada biru, ada pancawarna, ada saperti warna paru-paru. Maka di-perbuat-nya maka di-kerawang-nya pada lingkar tepi-tepi kumai itu, dan beberapa perhisannya terkena.”

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“Shahdan ada-lah perbuatan arah ka-paksina itu suatu pintu, bergelar Seri Muka. Maka ada-lah perbuatan pintu itu berkerawang…. Maka ada-lah segala pegawai Raja Kandang Daru'd-Dunia itu daripada kayu jati, dan gaharu, dan chendana, dan kelembak, dan kayu harang. Diperbuat-nya hatap Raja Kandang itu tiga lapis, salapis yang pertama daripada papan berchat merah, dan ada-lah perselangan-nya hatap-nya itu di-rapat-nya chermin atas angin berkeliling. Dan lapis yang kedua di-perbuat-nya daripada batu yang di-susun. Ada pun batu itu ada merah, ada puteh, ada kuning, berbagai-bagai warna-nya. Dan lapis yang ketiga daripada afdah perbuatan Andalus…. Maka adalah kemunchak Raja Kandang itu daripada perak, dan sa-genap penju(ru)-nya di-bubohnya buah berembang.”

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