The Characteristics of Traditional House as a Cultural Patrimony of Clan in Manggarai Society (Semiotic Analysis)

This study explores the characteristics of traditional house as a cultural patrimony of clan in Manggarai society in terms of its forms, functions, and meanings. The study is viewed from the perspective of cultural semiotics. The study is descriptive-qualitative as it aims to describe the characteristics of traditional house as a cultural patrimony of clan in Manggarai society in terms of its forms, functions, and meanings. The results of study show that the characteristics of traditional house as a cultural patrimony of clan in Manggarai society are unique and specific to Manggarai culture in its forms, functions, and meanings. The name of traditional house belonging to Manggarai society is mbaru gendang ‘drum house’ because there stores gendang ‘drum’ which is believed as the image of the ancestors of the wa’u as a patrilineal-genealogic clan who owns the house. In terms of its design, the traditional house is of two forms, mbaru niang ‘cone-shaped house’and mbaru lopa ‘prism-shaped house’. The traditional house of Manggarai society as the identity marker of the wa’u as a patrilineal-genealogic clan functions as the place to live, to conduct meetings, to carry out rituals, to keep cultural heritages, and to store foods. Along with its functions, the traditional house of Manggarai society shares a set of meanings, especially socia and religious meaning.