The Kadriah Palace: The Forgotten Glory

When the sun was going to set at 5.48 p.m., the crews of MelayuOnline.com went inside the Kadriah Palace, which is surrounded by the inhabitants‘ houses. The halcyon atmosphere, where the only four people visiting the location and the inhabitants were enjoying their spare time, was the first impression of MelayuOnline.com crews when entering the palace. It is an artistic palace, where the wonderful Malay ornaments decorate every corner of the palace such as the Arabic calligraphy sounding Istana Kadriah (The Kadriah Palace). It is well-organized, proven by its yard that is clean and wide. Moreover, the wonderful garden, which is full of green grass, surrounds the complex of the palace.

Thirteen archaic cannons made in Portugal and France, are situated in the right side, in front of the palace. It was used for defensive purpose against the enemy‘s onset. According to a member of the Kadriah Palace family, those cannons were erected by Sultan Abdurrahman Alkadrie, the founder and the first sultan of the Kadriah Palace, by one hand. An incredible thing remembering that the weight of each cannon is around a hundred kilograms. In the past, it should be there 10 people to erect those cannons. Considering the truth and lie of that miracle, it is interesting one to discuss some tales existing among the inhabitants, which are regarded as reality, in the end of this article.

A room called Anjungan that is located above the terrace connected by a ladder in the right side is usually used by the Sultan to watch out the attack of the enemies and to observe the activity of common people while enjoying the beauty of the Kapuas River and the Landak River. Moreover, an alarm bell called Genta is also in this room. It is commonly functioned to sign the coming danger and to indicate that there will be cataclysm.

Taking footstep entering the palace by the ladder, visitors must take off their footgear. The wooden floor within seems so clean and light, so everyone taking footstep above the floor will feel its rough surface. MelayuOnline.com crews took a rest in the terrace, waiting for Mr. Syarif Selamat Joesoef Alkadrie commonly called Mr. Simon, who had been asked for help by MelayuOnline.com crews to accompany and guide the crews during the cultural journey in Pontianak, especially in the Kadriah Palace. Mr. Simon is a descendant of the Kadriah Sultanate who was inaugurated as Ketua Umum Majelis Musyawarah Istana Kadriah (Head of the Deliberation Committee of the Kadriah Palace). MelayuOnline.com crews would like to deliver the deepest gratitude for Mr. Simon for spending the time for MelayuOnline.com crews, accompanying and guiding the crews during the visit to the location. It is an incredible occassion remembering that not every person get the occassion observing all the detail parts of the Kadriah Palace.

This 60 x 25 meters square palace, which the floor is 1,5 meters high above the earth surface, is dominated by high quality of belian woods. A crown with three symbols of moon and stars, the symbols of the Islamic Sultanate, is at the front door. The hall is dominated by yellow, such as the yellow curtains decorating the photographs of the Sultans and the yellow valances at the throne of the Sultans and the consorts.

Yellow, in the Malay tradition, is a symbol of authority and high sincerity. The hall is commonly used to receive honoured guests considering the hall is too width. In addition, it is also functioned to celebrate some religious events such as tahlilan, and yasinan (Praying the soul of dead body), especially on the first day of Hijriyah (The Islamic Calendar).

Both on the left and the right side of the hall, there are six rooms, which one of them is the sultans‘ private room that is full of yellow colour while the other rooms are bathrooms and dinning rooms. Each room is 4 x 3,5 meters square. On the back of the hall, a room that is not too width is functioned to keep the sultanate‘s heritage properties, such as the Sultans and the Consorts‘ clothes, the family photographs, and war equipments.

Historically, the Kadriah Palace was built by Sultan Syarief Alkadrie (1738 – 1808 A.D.) started from 1771 A.D. then finished in 1778 A.D, along with the inauguration of the First Sultan of Pontianak. It stands in the meeting point of two rivers, the Kapuas River and the Landak River. Administratively, it includes into Beting, Bugis Dalam village, East Pontianak sub-district, West Kalimantan province.

A hundred meters westwards of the palace, there is an ancient mosque built by Sultan Syarief Abdurrahman in 1771 A.D. It was refurbished by Sultan Syarif Usman, The Third Sultan of Kadriah (1819 – 1855 A.D.) in 1821 A.D. Nowadays, it is called Masjid Jami‘ Sultan Abdurrahman.

The Indonesian public space concept is the enormous influence on the building process of both the palace and the mosque. Those are located in the riverside of the Kapuas River where mosque, palace and alun-alun (public space) are situated in the same location. Those three places represent the unity of politic, economic and religious activities. Based on the Islamic tenets, those aspects are inseparable. It represents the mindset of the stakeholders since the religious values that must be applied in daily life.

The Masjid Jami‘ Sultan Abdurahman is the oldest mosque in Pontianak City which is 33,7 meters in length and 27,74 meters in width. It is a mosque with conical four-stacked roof that the top of the roof resemble a crown or a giant bell. As the enormous influence of the Dutch architecture, both the roof of the Kadriah Palace and the Sultan Abdurrahman mosque are the same.

There are six massive pillars and 14 supporting pillars sustaining the centre room of the mosque. It is intentionally built at 1,5 meters above the earth considering the location that is near the Kapuas River. It is aimed to prevent from the rising water of the Kapuas River. The European architectural styles on the windows and the doors are clearly seen while the Middle East architectures are on the mihrab (chamber in mosque indicating the kiblah) and the pulpit. Above the mihrab, a green iron plate decorated by Arabic calligraphy stating that it was built by Sultan Syarif Abdurrahman on Tuesday, Muharram in 1237 Hijriyah. 

The entire physical building of the mosque is neatly organized and clean. Most of its parts are kept on its original shapes even though it was refurbished for several times. Unfortunately, the historical value of the mosque is deteriorating because some areas do not apply the sultanate governmental system, forasmuch as it is just a residence of the sultanate family. Moreover, the efforts of the local government to preserve its historic value seem not so serious.

For instance, entering every room of the Kadriah Palace, the visitors will not find any written information, such as brochures, leaflets, or placards explaining the interior history of the palace such as the ideas‘ developments. There is no material culture without the contributions of ideas appearing at the certain time and place. Hence, the visitors only discover the exterior history of the palace, such as the sultans of the palace, the date of its founding, the sultans‘ weapons, and the motives of the ornaments. 

Thus, it is sincerely hoped for the participation of the local government in preserving and developing the heritages and the historical value to be socialized to common people. Obviously, it will be very useful in appreciating the history of Indonesia, making it as a valuable item and as a motive to set a better future.

Without carefully reading the history of the palace, we would not know the meanings of the symbols or ornaments within the palace and the tales about the location. the fence of the palace which was intentionally built not in high construction is the symbol of egalitarianism. It was proposed to keep the sultans on having close relationship with the people without any physical or physiological boundaries.

In addition, the tales about the miracles of the sultans and the others symbolize the authority of the sultans‘ power to control and unify the people in the same nation. According to Kuntowijoyo, Such phenomenon can be closely observed not only on its exterior history, but also on its interior history within. We hope that the government would like to set cooperation with historians and other relating parts to deeply reveal the historical values of Indonesia.

After hours spending the time in the Kadriah Palace, MelayuOnline.com crews continued the journey to visit the Mempawah Palace and the Sambas Palace. To be continued.

(NI/ter/06/03-08)

Credit photo : www.wisatamelayu.com
     

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