Demak Great Mosque

Demak Great Mosque
Masjid Agung Demak
Location Demak, Indonesia
Established 1388 Saka or 1466 CE, or 887 H.
Branch/tradition Islam
Administration Demak government
Architectural information
Minaret(s) None

Masjid Agung Demak (or Demak Great Mosque) is one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia, located in the center town of Demak, Central Java Indonesia. The mosque is believed to be built by Sunan Kalijaga, one of the Wali Songo (nine Muslim saints) during the first Demak Sultanate ruler, Raden Patah during the 15th century.[1]

Contents

Features

Although it has had a number of renovations, it is thought to be largely in its original form.[2] The mosque is a classic example of a traditional Javanese mosque. Unlike mosques in the Middle East it is built from timber. Rather than a dome, which did not appear on Indonesian mosques until the 19th century, the roof is tiered and supported by four saka guru teak pillars.[3] The tiered roof shows many similarities with wooden religious structures from the Hindu-Buddhist civilizations of Java and Bali. The main entrance of Masjid Agung Demak consists of two doors carved with motifs of plants, vases, crowns and an animal head with an open wide-toothed mouth. It is said that picture depicts the manifested thunder caught by Ki Ageng Selo, hence their name “Lawang Bledheg” (the doors of thunder).

Like other mosques of its era, its orientation towards Mecca is only approximate.[4]

Carving and historical relics of Masjid Agung Demak

Pictures of Masjid Agung Demak at the end of the 19th century

Its walls contain Vietnamese ceramics. With their shapes derived from conventions of Javanese woodcarving and brickwork, they are thought to have been specially ordered.[5] The use of ceramic rather than stone is thought to have been in imitation of the mosques of Persia.[6]

References

  1. ^ Florida, Nancy K Writing the past, inscribing the future: history as prophesy in colonial Java Durham, N.C. : Duke University Press, 1995 - Chapter. 5. The Demak Mosque: A Construction of Authority (Babad Jaka Tingkir). ISBN 0822316226
  2. ^ Turner, Peter (November 1995). Java. Melbourne: Lonely Planet. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0-86442-314-4. 
  3. ^ Turner, Peter (November 1995). Java. Melbourne: Lonely Planet. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0-86442-314-4. 
  4. ^ Turner, Peter (November 1995). Java. Melbourne: Lonely Planet. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0-86442-314-4. 
  5. ^ Schoppert, Peter; Damais, Soedarmadji & Sosrowardoyo, Tara (1998), Java Style, Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, pp. 41, ISBN 9625932321 .
  6. ^ Schoppert, Peter; Damais, Soedarmadji & Sosrowardoyo, Tara (1998), Java Style, Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, ISBN 9625932321 .

See also


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mosque — A modern style mosque built on water in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia …   Wikipedia

  • Masjid Agung Demak — (or the Great Demak Mosque) is one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia, located in the center town of Demak, Central Java Indonesia. The mosque is believed to be built by the Wali Songo (the nine pious religious leaders) during the first Demak… …   Wikipedia

  • Baiturrahman Grand Mosque — Coordinates: 5°33′13″N 95°19′1.9″E / 5.55361°N 95.317194°E / 5.55361; 95.317194 …   Wikipedia

  • List of the oldest mosques in the world — Mosque of Uqba, founded in 670 in Tunisia The designation of the oldest mosque in the world requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense …   Wikipedia

  • List of mosques — Part of a series on Islamic culture Architecture …   Wikipedia

  • List of mosques in Asia — Part of a series on Mosques Architecture Mihrab Minaret …   Wikipedia

  • History of Islam — This article is about the history of Islam as a culture and polity. For the history of the Islamic faith, see Spread of Islam. For Islamic civilization, see Islamic civilization (disambiguation). For military conquests, see Islamic conquests. For …   Wikipedia

  • Amantis Hotel — (Demak,Индонезия) Категория отеля: 3 звездочный отель Адрес: Jl. Lingkar Demak Kudus …   Каталог отелей

  • Sultanate of Banten — The Sultanate of Banten was founded in the sixteenth century. It is said to have been founded by Sunan Gunungjati, who later went on to found Cirebon.HistoryBefore 526 AD, Banten was not situated on the coast, but about ten kilometers inland in… …   Wikipedia

  • Greater India — Dark orange: The Indian subcontinent. Light orange: Other countries culturally linked to India, notably Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Southern Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. Yellow: Regions with significant cultural Indian …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”