Slamet Supriyadi, Nadia Sigi Prameswari, Endang Widiyastuti, Muhammad Rahman Athian
The Menara Kudus Mosque, built-in 1549 AD has been influenced by some civilizations and is currently used as a site of worship and pilgrimage for Muslims. This research examines the Menara Kudus Mosque building that has similarities with the Hindu temple heritage of the Majapahit Kingdom, which was acculturated with Islamic teachings. The study uses qualitative research methods. It was conducted in May-June 2022 with a case study at the Menara Kudus Mosque. Data was collected using observations and interviews with visitors, mosque administrators, and the community around the Menara Kudus Mosque. The research uncovers that the tower’s architecture is distinctive in that it takes the shape of a Hindu temple and incorporates aspects of Javanese culture. Islamic ornaments account for 38% of the building, followed by Hindu ornaments (18%), Buddhist ornaments (5%), and Javanese ornaments (15%), Mughal-Indian ornaments (2%) and Dutch-Indies ornaments (1%), and 34 porcelain ornaments (21%) in the shape of pottery mounted on the outer walls of the Menara Kudus building. The condition of the Mosque does not vary from the Islamic principles in its construction. Islamic ornaments dominate the mosque structures. Islamic ornaments signify the Mosque’s existence in a multicultural context. On the other hand, Hindu-Buddhist ornaments are used to respect the local culture and as an Islamization of the society. The Javanese ornamentations represent a Walisongo mosque construction style for years. Meanwhile, jewelry from the Dutch East Indies and Mughal-India is utilized only as a compliment. The Menara Kudus Mosque has an impact on people’s religious sentiments as well as other parts of their lives. The findings reveal that the cultural acculturation at the Menara Kudus Mosque represented aesthetic decorations and the community’s customs. The community’s practice of appreciating and assisting one other’s religious activities demonstrates tolerance amongst the religious groups. The Menara Kudus Mosque can improve the economy of the neighbourhood around the Mosque and the Kudus’s regional income. This Mosque has survived as a place of worship, a historical structure, and a symbol of tolerance amongst religious communities in the Kudus Regency © 2022, ISVS e-journal.All Rights Reserved.
Art Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia; Department of Visual Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
