Unsur seni Islam Turko - Parsi dalam seni ragam hias ukiran kayu di Alam Melayu

Abstract

The Malay Archipelago is a prosperous and rich region historically due to its relationship with the Arabs, Europeans, Chinese, Indians, and Persians before the emergence of Islam in the 7th Century CE. Despite of this, the Persian and Turkish contribution in the formation of Islamic art culture of the Malay world is rarely discussed by scholars even though most of the Islamic regions (Anatolia, Iran, Iraq, Central Asia dan India) is influenced by the Turco-Persian tradition from the 10th until 19th century CE. Hence, this study employs the Islamic art history approach and visual semiotic theory to examine the elements of Islamic art in Anatolia (Mahmut Bey Mosque, Kastamonu) and the Malay world to understand the development, dissemination, and relationship between the two regions from a cultural point of view. The study discovered that the Turco-Persian elements can be found in the art of woodcarving, particularly in Terengganu, Patani and Kelantan which entered the region since the 11th century CE. The same elements were also found on tombstones and tombs in Aceh (Sumatra) and Champa, several objects made from wood, metal (silver, copper, and gold), paper (Al-Quran) and (to a lesser degree) textile. The Turco-Persian elements were identified based on its basic form which has a specific shape, motif, and characteristics despite having several variations. It was also discovered that the Turco- Persian elements in the Malay world stems from the Ghaznavid Dynasty (977-1186CE) and Seljuk Dynasty in Iran (1037-1194CE) and Anatolia (1077-1308CE). This shows that the Malay world has a strong cultural relationship with Anatolia compared to other Islamic regions that is also influenced by the Turco-Persian tradition. However, these elements and influences were selected and adapted through the process of ‘purification’, where the elements were given new meaning based on the Islamic teachings of Sufism.