Aesthetic and Cultural Values in Lawang Bledheg Ornaments at the Great Mosque of Demak

Abstract

The Great Mosque of Demak is a historical entry of Islam into Java. In its architectural
development, it has been influenced by many non-Islamic cultures such as Javanese, HinduBuddhist

and Chinese. Therefore, the architecture of the Great Mosque of Demak has a
philosophy in every form, especially the variety of ornaments used in the interior of the mosque.
One of the most phenomenal forms of ornamentation is the decoration on the main door, which
is usually called the Lawang Bledheg (lightning door). This decoration is not part of the structure
of the mosque, but rather serves as the aesthetic value of a building which contains cultural
values. The aim of this research is to find out the philosophy of aesthetic and cultural values in
Lawang Bledheg ornaments, this is motivated by the fading of public knowledge about these
ornaments at the Great Mosque of Demak. The research method uses a descriptive qualitative
approach to Lawang Bledheg ornaments through field observations at the Great Mosque of
Demak, interviews with experts, object documentation, and literature studies. The results of this
research prove that the Lawang Bledheg ornaments have high aesthetic and cultural value, where
the ornaments are a source of historical heritage that can be enjoyed and protected by visitors
and worshipers of the Great Mosque of Demak.
 
Keywords: Demak Grand Mosque, Lawang Bledheg, Aesthetics, Cultural Values