The Fundamental And Philosophical Values Of Javanese Culture In The Decorative Art Of Wuwungan In Kudus Traditional House

Abstract

In Javanese tradition, the development of a house is inseparable from the ornament or decoration of the rooftop. Many houses in Demak Central Java have such ornaments as a series of terracotta or earthenware in the shapes of popular puppet figures. Or else, the ornaments take the shape of gunungan (mountain) surrounded by various kinds of plants. Because the terracotta or earthenware are ornamented with glass mosaics, in the midday they will reflect a glowing shine Wuwungan Kudus is very unique and exclusively has some fundamental values which are absent in other regions of Java. The decorative art of wuwungan takes the shape of sulur-sulur. In the central part of the top there is a wuwungan rojo and a pengapit ornamented with some glass mosaics. Therefore, they look like a gunungan (mountain) or a royal crown. On the four sides towards the top of the pillars of blandar penuwun there is another decorative art known as wuwungan jengger or wuwungan cekak. At the wuwungan jengger there is no glass mosaics. It is locked with the wuwungan bulusan at the lowest side. The corners of the 4 sides are not ornamented with glass mosaics either. Therefore, the fragmented triangular clear glass is only applied as the ornament of the top of the blandar penuwun.