The Tuo Koto Nan Ampek Mosque ( id, Masjid Tuo Koto Nan Ampek), also known as Gadang Balai Nan Duo Mosque is one of the oldest

mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

s in

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

located in Koto Nan Ampek Nagari, now administratively included into the area of Balai Nan Duo village, West Payakumbuh District, city of Payakumbuh,

West Sumatera West Sumatra ( id, Sumatra Barat) is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the west coast of the island of Sumatra and includes the Mentawai Islands off that coast. The province has an area of , with a population of 5,534,472 at the 2020 ...

. The

Minangkabau Minangkabau may refer to: * Minangkabau culture, culture of the Minangkabau people * Minangkabau Culture Documentation and Information Center * Minangkabau Express, an airport rail link service serving Minangkabau International Airport (''see belo ...

architecture is thought to have been built in 1840, which was originally covered with fiber roofs before being replaced with zinc. Currently other than being used for Muslim worship activities, this single-level mosque is also used by the surrounding community as a means of religious education.

History

It is not known when exactly the mosque was begun building. According to an author Abdul Baqir Zein in his book entitled ''Historical Mosques in Indonesia'', the mosque was estimated to be built in 1840 and named after its establishment, Koto Nan Ampek Nagari. The construction was led by three different leaders from respective tribes in Minangkabau: Datuk Kuniang from the Kampai tribe, Datuk Pangkai Sinaro from Piliang tribe, and Datuk Siri Dirajo from Malayu tribe. Although it is one of the oldest mosques, most of the masts, floors, and walls made of wood have never been replaced since the first time the mosque was built. The mosque hasn't undergone many renovations thus its authenticity is still maintained. Because of erosion, however, the roof which was originally made from fibers was then replaced with zinc.

References

; Footnotes ; Bibliography * * * * * * * Buildings and structures in West Sumatra Cultural Properties of Indonesia in West Sumatra Minangkabau Mosques in Indonesia Religious buildings and structures completed in 1840 Tourist attractions in West Sumatra {{Indonesia-mosque-stub

History

See also

References