Physical Analysis of the 19th Century AD East Coast Red Quran Bindings

Ros Mahwati Ahmad Zakaria,Ramli Zuliskandar

doi:10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4p390

Abstract

This research is to reveal the East Coast Malay Peninsula's Quran binding design and decoration. There are many varieties of materials, colours, techniques and designs used in the Malay Archipelago to decorate bookbinding, including the Quran. One of the famous Malay illuminated Qurans is known as the East Coast Quran style, which is designated to Terengganu and Kelantan, located in the East Coast area of the Malay Peninsula. This Quran binding style was mainly wrapped with red leather as their covers. This is why it is called red Quran bindings. The aim of this research is to develop a set, of which can be used as another method to identify the origin of the Quran production, besides the illumination styles. Unlike Qurans from Turkey and Persia, which were signed, Qurans in this area were not signed and it is difficult to identify their origins. This research applies a typological methodology to set a standard template for the designs and decorations. Kelantan and Terengganu were famously known as Islamic learning centres in this region in the 19th century and rich with traditional local arts and culture. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4p390

Highlights

Red Quran binding is a name given to one of the East Coast of the Malay Peninsula Quran styles known as the Terengganu style, as described by Gallop (2005) in her findings as the most beautiful illuminated Malay Quran
The East Coast area refers to Kelantan and Terengganu, which were famously known as Islamic learning centres and where Islamic writings such as manuscripts including Qurans flourished
The findings identified in this research are useful to future researcher to enhance the East Coast Quran

Summary

Introduction

Red Quran binding is a name given to one of the East Coast of the Malay Peninsula Quran styles known as the Terengganu style, as described by Gallop (2005) in her findings as the most beautiful illuminated Malay Quran. The East Coast area refers to Kelantan and Terengganu , which were famously known as Islamic learning centres and where Islamic writings such as manuscripts including Qurans flourished. The East Coast area of the Malay Peninsula was highly recognised as a cradle of local culture and art by the English officers and travellers who did their anthropological studies and government reports in the 19th and 20th centuries. Terengganu and Kelantan were known to the Dutch and British officers as learning centres and where they could get copies of Malay manuscripts. It is not impossible that this area produced a hidden gem of bookbinding art in their history

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