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

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

Architecture of Indonesia
Religious architecture
Rumah adat
(the traditional vernacular)
Balinese • Enggano • Gayonese • Javanese • Minangkabau • Aceh • Nias • Batak • Toraja • Banjar • Sasak • Mentawai • Dayak • Sumba • Papuan
Palaces
Dutch colonial
Post independence & contemporary architecture
Post independence architecture in Indonesia • Jengki style • Resort and villa architecture in Indonesia
Category
Historic Mosques in Indonesia
Sumatra
Masjid Agung Palembang • Masjid Ikhsaniyyah • Masjid Raya Baiturrahman • Masjid Tuo Kayu Jao
Java
Masjid Agung Al-Azhar • Masjid Agung Demak • Masjid Agung Semarang • Masjid Agung Tanara • Masjid Al-Akbar • Masjid Al-Ittihad Jatibarang • Masjid At-Tin • Masjid Cheng Ho • Masjid Cut Mutiah • Masjid Dian Al-Mahri • Masjid Istiqlal • Masjid Jami An-Nawawi • Masjid Jami Pringapus • Masjid Luar Batang • Masjid Mantingan • Masjid Agung Manonjaya • Masjid Ampel • Masjid Raya Bandung • Masjid Menara Kudus • Masjid Saka Tunggal • Masjid Sholihin Surakarta
Kalimantan
Masjid Agung Al-Karomah • Masjid Ba'angkat • Masjid Babul Chair • Masjid Djami Keraton Landak • Masjid Islamic Center Samarinda • Masjid Jami Aji Amir Hasanuddin • Masjid Jami Banjarmasin • Masjid Jami Keraton Sambas • Masjid Jami Pontianak • Masjid Jami Sungai Banar • Masjid Jami Tuhfaturroghibin • Masjid Jamik Sultan Nata • Masjid Keramat Banua Halat • Masjid Kiai Gede • Masjid Muhammadiyah Kelayan • Masjid Nurul Huda Sungai Jawi • Masjid Pusaka Banua Lawas • Masjid Raya Darussalam • Masjid Raya Imanuddin • Masjid Raya Sabilal Muhtadin • Masjid Shiratal Mustaqiem • Masjid Sultan Suriansyah
Sulawesi
Masjid Agung Wolio • Masjid Agung Awwal Fathul Mubien • Masjid Tua Palopo
Bali & Nusa Tenggara
Masjid Agung Al-Baitul Qadim • Masjid Al-Muhajirin Kepaon • Masjid Al-Muqarrabin • Masjid Bayan Beleq
Maluku
Masjid An-Nur Batu Merah • Masjid Sultan Ternate • Masjid Wapauwe
Western New Guinea
Masjid Tua Patimburak