Identiti ukiran kayu bagi rumah limas Johor

Abstract

Every country, ethnic group or culture has its own traditional heritage, including Malaysia with cultural variations between the different states which makes up the west and east peninsular. Wood carving is one of the distinct heritages that can enhance the identity of a region or place. However, current practices of selecting designs and motifs which do not belong to the local region pose a threat to the local identity and the authentic value of the original heritage. If such practices continue and the identity of the local heritage is not identified and recorded, the traditional designs and local motifs left by the locals’ ancestors will eventually be lost. One such example is the Johor wood carving. Currently, no efforts have been made to review, analyse and identify the Johor wood carving identity. Thus, the objective of this study is to identify the placement of wood carvings, the typology of design compositions and motif of wood carvings which forms the identity of the rumah limas Johor. Site visits were conducted to 110 traditional Malay Johor houses with 50 rumah limas Johor selected for the case study in which the houses and wood carvings were examined, photographed and documented. Interviews were also conducted with house owners or occupants as well as wood carvers. The samples were analysed using the ‘S’ Code method and statistics and percentages were obtained via Window Excel and NVivo softwares as well as discussion with experts for verification. The findings revealed 10 wood carving placements with the highest percentage of placements found at the ventilation panel of windows (jerejak tingkap), at the top window panels (kepala tingkap) and at the top of door panels (kepala pintu). 40 wood carving design composition typologies were produced and coded. Floral motifs are found to dominate the percentage with pumpkin motif the most widely used. The findings of this research suggest that the placements at the bottom ventilation panel of windows (jerejak tingkap) and top window panels (kepala tingkap) at the covered raised porch or anjung with the typology combination of “JT2-P5+KT7” with ‘labu maya’ motif using perforated panel with non-overlapped and non-relief technique were identified as the identity of wood carving in rumah limas Johor. This research contributed three terms which are ‘rapat bertaut’, ‘labu maya’ and ‘flora disinari mentari ufuk’ and an additional three terms for the 'S' Code which is ‘daun lebar’, ‘pucuk tajam’ and ‘daun jambul’ under the ‘H’ Code. It is hoped that the findings of this research will help others to recognise the Johor wood carving and acknowledge its own unique identity to be used and sustained for future generations as well as a valuable guide for wood carvers.