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An Enclosure in the Garden of Love1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Robert Wessing
Affiliation:
Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen

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
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1991

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References

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26Dan ada di-sisi gunong itu kandang baginda, dan dewala kandang itu di-turap dengan batu puteh, di-ukir pelbagai warna, dan nakas, dan selimpat, dan tembus, dan mega arak-arakan. Dan itu (a)dalah ia menguchap selamat akan Nabi s.m. Dan ada-lah dewala yang di-dalam itu beberapa beteterapan batu puteh belazuwardi, perbuatan orang benua Turki. Dan tiang ka(n)dang itu bernama Tamriah, dan Naga-Puspa, dan Dewadaru, dan pegawai-nya daripada kayu jentara mula. Dan ada-lah hatap ka(n)dang itu dua lapis, sa-lapis daripada papan di-chat dengan lumerek hitam, gemerlap rupa warna-nya, saperti warna nilam, dan sa-lapis lagi hatap ka(n)dang itu daripada chat hijau, warnanya saperti warna zamrud. Kemunchak daripada mulamma dan sulor bayong-nya daripada perak dan di-bawah sulor itu bayong-nya itu buah pedendang daripada chermin, kilau-kilauan di-pandang orang. Dan di-hadapan kandang itu sa-buah balai gading….”

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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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