The Spatial Core of Nusantara Dwellings: Women, Fire and Pawon

Tulistyantoro, Lintu and Sitinjak, Ronald Hasudungan Irianto and Setiawan, Andereas Pandu (2021) The Spatial Core of Nusantara Dwellings: Women, Fire and Pawon. In: ISVS 10 CONFERENCE , 14-02-2021 - 14-02-2021, BHOPAL - INDIA.

	PDF Download (405Kb)
	PDF Download (1771Kb)

Abstract

According to Nusantara culture, women have very important positions in life. The society believes that women are the bearers of the seeds of life. The existence and presence of women are expressed through the placement of safe and tight spaces in traditional dwellings. Meanwhile, in the life of Nusantara people, fire is not only understood physically as part of the cooking process, it is also a non-physical element that has the power to revive. Besides the physical role, fire also has a non-physical role, namely spirituality. Spiritually, fire is a power capable of burning, a symbol of purification and cleansing. The Nusantara people have special beliefs about fire. Fire is the essence of human spiritual life, giving life, warmth and purification. Additionally, pawon or the traditional fireplace is a supporting means of fire, the supporter of family life. Although the pawon is a physical means, its existence is essential and cannot be separated from fire and women. Hence, women, fire, and pawon are three elements that are inseparable parts of the Nusantara people�s lives. Fire always interacts with the pawon and women in every dwelling, because fire is a symbol of womens chastity. The correlation of these three elements forms a spatial core that is always present in Nusantara dwellings, that originated from these three elements. The structure of this spatial core can be divided into two patterns: centralized and linear. This paper is a qualitative research that aims to discover and understand the spatial core of Nusantara Dwellings in relation to women, fire and pawon. Data collection was conducted using ethnography, a method used to understand the mindset of a specified community through direct presence of researchers in the community and being united with them in their daily life to obtain implied data. Data analysis was carried out using a comparative study approach of several samples. Findings reveal that for the Nusantara people, women, fire and pawon are inseparable parts of a dwelling, and even become the core of physical and spiritual life which have very important roles. These three elements are the foundation of the spatial core in the interiors of Nusantara dwellings.

Actions (login required)