Balairung
Balairung is a village hall of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is built in similar architectural form with the rumah gadang, the domestic architecture of the Minangkabau people. Whereas rumah gadang is a proper building, the balairung is a pavilion-like structure used solely for holding a consensus decision-making in the Minang society.
Etymology
According to the Minangkabau Dictionary, balairung is a building where a decision-making consensus is held, led by the chief (penghulu) of the adat society (ninik mamak). Balairung is derived from the word balai ("pavilion") and rung ("building"), referring to the traditional pavilion-like wooden architecture of the building.[1]
The term balairung has been incorporated in the Indonesian language used is used in general. The Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language define the balairung as a balai ("pavilion") or a large pendapa where the king meets with his people (bangsal kencana is the Yogyakarta-Surakarta equivalent). In modern time, any kind of hall was named balairung, e.g. the balairung building of the University of Indonesia which is the main hall of the university and the largest building in the campus.[2]
Architecture
A balairung has the same form as the rumah gadang, employing dramatic curved roof structure with multi-tiered, upswept gables. The walls (if exist) of a balairung is similarly decorated with carvings of painted floral patterns. Also similar with rumah gadang is that the balairung is designed as a raised stage house, supported by posts.[3]
The main difference between a balairung and a rumah gadang is that the layout of the interior is not divided into rooms, but is designed as one room as a whole used for a communal function. Hence the balairung lacks the panel for the door and the windows. Unlike a rumah gadang, balairung does not have the panels for the door or shutters for the windows. Many balairung does not have a wall at all.[4] With no wall, more people can join the meeting from the outside of the balairung.[4] Access to a balairung is provided by a single portal in the middle of the building, linked to the ground with a staircase.[3]
A balairung may be built with the anjung, a kind of raised-platform at the two ends of the balairung building. This raised platform is where the penghulu pucuak should be seated.[4] Some balairung is built with the floor situated at the same level, lacking the anjung. In other types of balairung, such as the balairung koto piliang, the middle part of the building contains no floor, allowing the horse of the penghulu to pass through. The part where the floor disappears is known as labuan gajah. [4]
Function
The balairung is a wooden building where group of chiefs or penghulu, collected under the name of ninik mamak, lead a meeting to solve village affairs. According to its function, a balairung can be divided into two types: the balai saruang and the balai pasujian. Balai saruang is used to hold meetings which resolve disputes or to give punishment to a person. The balai pasujian (a pavilion to prepare) is a platform where a mutual consultation is held before implementing new laws in the village.[5]
A balairung can only be built in a village that already received the nagari status (adaministrative village). Therefore the balairung acted as a kind of town hall for the village.[4]
See also
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References
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- ↑ Mas'oed Abidin 2005, p. 85.
- ↑ Balairung from Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Syamsidar 1991, p. 50.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Syamsidar 1991, p. 51.
- ↑ Syamsidar 1991, p. 49.
