Diverse Cultural Expressions of Vernacular Architecture of Eclectic Style: The Case of Dharma Rakhita Temple in Jamblang, Indonesia

Susanti, Elizabeth and Kusbiantoro, Krismanto and Halim, Erwin Ardianto (2023) Diverse Cultural Expressions of Vernacular Architecture of Eclectic Style: The Case of Dharma Rakhita Temple in Jamblang, Indonesia. ISVS E-Journal, 10 (7). pp. 195-210. ISSN 2320-2661

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Abstract

With a long historical background, Indonesia has a diversity of cultures; there are Chinese, Dutch, and local Indonesian cultures. These cultures manifest especially in architecture. For example, in Java, many European buildings from the colonial period exist, known as the Indische buildings. They are a mixture of European, Javanese, and Chinese cultures. As times changed, these ancient buildings have also changed their functions. European heritage buildings are generally used as government offices and places of businesses. Chinese-style buildings are still used by people of Chinese descent. Buildings that still leave complete traces of Chinese culture are temples. This can be seen from the shapes of the roofs, the ornaments, and the use of colors, all of which display the uniqueness of Chinese culture. Similarly, the Dharma Rakhita Temple, built hundreds of years ago, displays Dutch, Chinese, and Javanese cultures. The purpose of this study is to examine the values and historical and cultural significance of the temple because, until now, there have been very few written references to this temple. The research employs field research involving observation, interview, and descriptive analysis methods to analyse the field data. The cultural elements in the temple are arranged based on literature to provide a narrative interpretation. No previous writing has discussed the fusion of cultures in the vernacular temple architecture. This article thus provides a reference source to understand the Dharma Rakhita Temple. Currently, people's understanding is based only on myths and varied stories.

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