Cungkup

Cungkup is an Indonesian square building with a roof made to shade or protect something, usually a grave, inscription, or nameplate. Though they are also used to shade other important objects. The cungkup has also been thought to have inspired the tiered-roof style of Javanese mosques, this theory is supported by the fact that cungkup aren't tiered, with the ''Giri Cungkup'' in East Java as the only known exception.

There are a couple traditional patterns that are often used accompanying cungkup. Some examples would be the cape flower patterns which is thought to be a sign to welcome people to the location, that's why the pattern is usually carved into doorways. Cape flower patterns also have vines and leaves accompanying them to complete the pattern. There's also a jasmine flower pattern which is thought to be a sign of politeness in Palembang traditions. The Malay people see the jasmine flower pattern as holy since jasmine flowers are often used in religious rituals. Lots of these patterns are local and have different meanings in different places.

Applications

Cemeteries

Traditionally, Islamic graves in Indonesia are characterized by three things, which are a grave, a tombstone, and a cungkup. Cungkup are generally built for people who were highly respected in their communities since cungkup are meant to protect the grave. Some notable graves with Cungkup built for them are Sukarno's grave in Blitar, Tuanku Imam Bonjol's grave in Minahasa, and W.R. Supratman's grave in Surabaya The construction of cungkup are usually found in the islands of Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi, though they are not fully exclusive to these places.

Inscriptions

Cungkup are also built for inscriptions if it's outside, this is so it doesn't get damaged by the weather among other things. Usually inscriptions shown in a museum will have a cungkup dedicated to it if it isn't protected by a glass case.

Nameplates

Nameplates for office buildings and other important buildings usually have a cungkup protecting it. This serves as a protection for the nameplate since they are susceptible to weather damage and rust.

Gallery

File:Makam Soekarno.jpg, Cungkup at Sukarno's grave, Blitar.
File:Makam Tuanku Imam Bonjol di Minahasa 5.jpg, Cungkup styled with Minangkabau architecture at Tuanku Imam Bonjol's grave in Minahasa
File:Plumpungan Inscription (4).jpg, A cungkup protecting the Plumpungan Inscription, Salatiga
File:Protective roof of the Belanjong pillar in Belanjong temple.jpg, A cungkup protecting the Blanjong inscription, Denpasar
File:Yogyakarta International Airport signage.jpg, The Yogyakarta International Airport's nameplate with a cungkup above it
File:Kantor Kelurahan Mamburungan Timur, Tarakan.JPG, A cungkup built to protect the nameplates at the Mamburungan Timur office, Tarakan
File:Ganesha Pagaralam Palembang.jpg, A sculpture of Ganesha protected with a cungkup at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum, Palembang
File:Aksara Lontara-10 Papan tanda museum Balla Lompoa.jpg, A nameplate protected with a cungkup at the Balla Lompoa museum
File:Melaka Malaysia Dutch-Graveyard-01.jpg, A cungkup for the information board at the Dutch cemetery in Melaka, Malaysia
File:Teluk Bayur, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan, Indonesia - panoramio.jpg, A nameplate for a public health center protected with a cungkup at Teluk Bayur, Berau
File:Kentungan di Kebalenan, Banyuwangi.jpg, A cungkup at the Kebalenan, Banyuwangi ward office
File:Keraton Ratu Boko-Papan Nama Kantor.jpg, A cungkup protecting an office complex nameplate at Keraton Ratu Boko
File:15 Papan informasi umum Terminal Bayuangga.jpg, An information board with a cungkup protecting it

References

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Architecture in Indonesia