Demak Great Mosque, The First Symbol of Islamic Kingdom at Java

Masjid Agung Demak (or Demak Great Mosque) is one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia, located in the center town of Demak, Central Java Indonesia. The mosque is believed to be built by Sunan Kalijaga, one of the Wali Songo (nine Muslim saints) during the first Demak Sultanate ruler, Raden Patah during the 15th century.

The Great Mosque at Demak stands as a symbol of the founding of java's first Islamic kingdom by Sultan Raden Patah at the end of the 15th century. the exact date of its construction is still open to interpretation, yet prevailing opinion tends to fovour the chronogram (candra sengkala) hidden in the omage western wall. The date corresponds to A.D. 1479.

Features

Although it has had a number of renovations, it is thought to be largely in its original form. The mosque is a classic example of a traditional Javanese mosque. Unlike mosques in the Middle East it is built from timber. Rather than a dome, which did not appear on Indonesian mosques until the 19th century, the roof is tiered and supported by four saka guru teak pillars. The tiered roof shows many similarities with wooden religious structures from the Hindu-Buddhist civilizations of Java and Bali. The main entrance of Masjid Agung Demak consists of two doors carved with motifs of plants, vases, crowns and an animal head with an open wide-toothed mouth. It is said that picture depicts the manifested thunder caught by Ki Ageng Selo, hence their name “Lawang Bledheg” (the doors of thunder).

Like other mosques of its era, its orientation towards Mecca is only approximate.

Carving and Historical Relic

Its walls contain Vietnamese ceramics. With their shapes derived from conventions of Javanese woodcarving and brickwork, they are thought to have been specially ordered. The use of ceramic rather than stone is thought to have been in imitation of the mosques of Persia.

Decorative carving on an external pillar (eastjava.com)

 

The religion of Islam, under the guidance of the Wali Songo, influenced the decorative arts. A portion of an ancient batik textile displays a sacred chapter from the Qur'an (eastjava.com)

Ornament above one of the entrance doors (eastjava.com)

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References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demak_Great_Mosque
http://www.eastjava.com/books/walisongo/html/places/demakmosque.html