Security Functions Performed by Natural Elements in Traditional Malay Landscapes According to Malay Manuscript

  • Siti Rabiatul Adawiah Jaffar Management & Science University

Abstract

Natural elements in a landscape refer to elements that are naturally present in the landscape. These elements contribute towards creating an aesthetic landscape ecology, which is a landscape that can fulfil the needs of its inhabitants, including security requirements. Traditional Malay landscapes are not behind in this aspect with their natural terrain, water sources, as well as flora and fauna. However, Malay communities today are largely unaware of Malay landscapes, which has resulted in an undefined vision of what Malay landscapes constitute of, and rendered Malay landscapes weaker compared to others. Moreover, studies on landscapes in Malay manuscripts still have not been receiving due attention despite traditional Malay society’s refined skills in choosing and building their own landscapes to the point that it has become a local wisdom. Following this, using library research and the application of the Landscape Aesthetic Theory, this article will identify natural elements in Malay landscapes and explain security elements in them based on the Sulalatus Salatin, Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang China and Hikayat Patani. This manuscript which has been recognised as a Full Registered Heritage and contains pertinent information regarding the subject at hand. There are three types of natural elements in traditional Malay landscapes based on the text, namely highlands, sources of water, and flora and fauna. All three natural elements are seen as security features that protect inhabitants from threats and danger. Therefore, it is hoped that the results of this study could showcase the local wisdom of Malay communities, and consequently become a guide for expanding studies on landscapes based on Malay manuscripts.

References

Abdul Halim Nasir. (1990). Kota-kota Melayu. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Ahmad Zamil Zakaria, Abd Rashid, Mohd Sabrizaa & Syazwani Ahmad. (2017). Hardscape and softscape elements of a Malay garden. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 25, 109-118.
Ahmad Zamil Zakaria, Ismail Hafiz Salleh, Mohd Sabrizaa Abd. Rashid (2013a). Landscape furniture present in the ancient Malay garden according to old manuscripts and their effects on the formation of Malay garden design concept model in Malaysia. Procedia-Social and behavioral sciences, 91, 28-35.
Ahmad Zamil Zakaria, Ismail Hafiz Salleh & Sabrizaa Rashid. (2013b). Malay landscape elements as depicted in the old Malay films. Jurnal Pengajian Melayu/Journal of Malay Studies (JOMAS), 24(1), 122-137.
Ahmad Zamil Zakaria, Ismail Hafiz Salleh & Sabrizaa Rashid. (2012, December). Plants present in the ancient Malay garden according to old manuscripts and their effects on the formation of a Malay garden design model in Malaysia [Symposium]. The 9th Regional Symposium of the Malay Archipelago, SIMPORA 9:2012, Universiti Teknologi MARA.
Al-Ahmadi., A.R. (1994). Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang China: Perspektif Sejarah. Kuala Lumpur.
Appleton, J. (1975). The experience of landscape. Wiley.
Azman A Rahman & Shaharuddin Mohamad Ismail. (2015, September). Menilai estetika landskap kampung tradisional Melayu [Conference session]. Seminar Antarabangsa ke-8: Ekologi, Habitat Manusia dan Perubahan Persekitaran, Langkawi, Kedah.
Bourassa, S. C. (1988). Toward a theory of landscape aesthetics. Landscape and urban planning, 15(3-4), 241-252.
Hasrina Baharum. (2015). Landskap sebagai mekanisme pertahanan diri berdasarkan karya sastera Melayu tradisional. PENDETA: Journal of Malay Language, Education and Literature, 6, 244-259.
Hasrina Baharum & Mariyati Mohd Nor (2016). Ilmu perancangan tapak landskap Melayu dalam karya Melayu tradisional. Jurnal Peradaban Melayu, 11, 45-54.
Lee-Hsueh, L. (2018). Ecological aesthetics: Design thinking to landscape beauty with healthy ecology. In Almusaed, A. (Ed.), Landscape architecture-The sense of places, models and applications. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73615
Md Azalanshah Md Syed, Azizah Hamzah & Halijah Ibrahim. (2019). Taman Melayu: Konsep dan pelestariannya dalam dunia moden. Akademika, 89(2), 83-96.
Mior Ahmad Noor Mior Hamzah. (2003). Bangsa Melayu: Melihat sebuah tamadun sebagaimana yang digambarkan oleh karya sejarah Melayu. JATI:Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 8, 155-182.
Mohd Amirul Hussain, Mohd Yazid Mohd Yunos, Nor Atiah Ismail, Nor Fazamimah Mohd Ariffin & Sumarni Ismail. (2020). A review of the elements of nature and the Malay cultural landscape through Malay literature. Sustainability, 12(6), 2154.
Muhamad Solehin Fitry Rosley, Zainul Hakim Muhd Zain & Noor Aimran Samsuddin (2014, April 25-30). The interaction of culture in shaping the traditional landscape of Johor’s Malay landscape. [Congress]. IFLA Asia Pacific Congress 2014. Kuching, Sarawak.
Mumcu, S., & Duuml, T. (2010). Prospect and refuge as the predictors of preferences for seating areas. Scientific Research and Essays, 5(11), 1223-1233.
Nur Huzeima Mohd Hussain, Khalilah Hassan & Norizan Mt Akhir. (2018). Contemplating the Islamic garden and Malay traditional landscape from the Quran. Asian Journal of Behavioural Studies, 3(13), 46-53.
Siti Hawa Salleh. (1992). Hikayat Patani. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Siti Rabiatul Adawiyah Jaffar. (2018). Budaya ketara dalam teks Sulalatus Salatin dan Misa Melayu. [Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Putra Malaysia].
Siti Rabiatul Adawiah Jaffar, Arba’ie Sujud, Salmah Jan Noor Muhammad & Kamariah Kamarudin. (2017). Kawasan sejarah dari perspektif budaya dalam teks Sulalatus Salatin sejarah Melayu dan Misa Melayu. Rumpun Jurnal Persuratan Melayu, 5(1), 233-265.
Siti Rabiatul Adawiah Jaffar, Arba’ie Sujud, Salmah Jan Noor Muhammad & Kamariah Kamarudin. (2019). Tapak sejarah dalam teks Sulalatus Salatin. Jurnal Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah. 3(9), 421-431.
Sulalatus Salatin (Sejarah Melayu). (1979). Studied and introduced by A. Samad Ahmad. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Zaleskienė, E., & Gražulevičiūtė-Vileniškė, I. (2014). Landscape aesthetics theories in modeling the image of the urban landscape. Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Civil Engineering, 7(2), 10-21.
Published
2022-10-28
How to Cite
JAFFAR, Siti Rabiatul Adawiah. Security Functions Performed by Natural Elements in Traditional Malay Landscapes According to Malay Manuscript. Malay Literature, [S.l.], v. 35, n. 2, p. 227-246, oct. 2022. ISSN 2682-8030. Available at: <https://jurnal.dbp.my/index.php/MalayLiterature/article/view/8266>. Date accessed: 29 mar. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.37052/ml35(2)no4.