Damar Kurung: A Practice of Chinese-Javanese Cultural Acculturation in Gresik
Keywords:
Damar Kurung, Acculturation, Chinese Culture, Javanese Culture, Gresik, Cultural HeritageAbstract
This study aims to identify and describe the elements of Chinese and Javanese cultural acculturation in Damar Kurung, analyze the acculturation process that occurs, and understand the social and cultural significance of Damar Kurung, including its philosophical and historical values. Using a qualitative approach, primary data were obtained through direct observation and in-depth interviews with crafters, cultural experts, and local historians, while secondary data were collected from literature studies, archives, and visual documentation. Data were analyzed through reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing with triangulation verification. The results show that Damar Kurung is a concrete representation of successful cultural acculturation between Chinese and Javanese. Physically, Damar Kurung has a distinctive shape of a cage that functions as lighting and is full of meaning, with Chinese influence on the basic function of the lantern and Javanese influence on local materials and the structure of the "cage" as a symbol of protection or a traditional house. The motifs are a visual fusion of Chinese (dragon, phoenix, lotus, Fu characters in bright colors) and Javanese (wayang, batik, local flora and fauna in muted colors) symbolism, creating a rich hybrid visual narrative. The acculturation process in Gresik, as a trading center, shows the adaptation of Chinese lantern functions into local traditions and the reinterpretation of Chinese motifs through the lens of Javanese culture, resulting in a unique new "visual language". Damar Kurung has profound significance as a "living heritage", proof that local identity can be enriched through intercultural interaction, and a symbol of ethnic tolerance and coexistence in Gresik. Its philosophical value symbolizes protection or unity, while its historical value records the long interaction between the Chinese and Javanese communities in Gresik. This documentation is crucial to ensure the sustainability of traditions in the midst of modernization
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