Social Cohesion Constrution in the Space of the Astana Gunungjati

Abstract

Astana Gunungjati is a complex of cemeteries for Cirebon Sultanate kings and their descendants. The Kasepuhan Palace, Kanoman Palace, and Kacirebonan Palace are the three palaces or known as keraton that still serves as the current physical representation of the Cirebon Sultanate. Sunan Gunungjati, one of the kings, is also a Muslim evangelist or the Wali Songo, who is interred at Astana Gunungjati. One of the pilgrimage tourism attractions in Cirebon Regency is the tomb complex. Although the heritage values of the buildings and traditions are still well preserved, the social cohesion that is formed from the existence of the cemetery which has been established since the 14th century is not well documented. A component of the area’s intangible assets that must be documented for area conservation is social cohesion. The purpose of the research is to describe how the Astana Gunungjati space was built and how it contributed to social cohesiveness. The Assabiyah Concept from Ibn Khaldun is the approach method that is applied, along with the hermeneutic approach. The findings show the quality of the community such as (1) obedience to unwritten rules; (2) pride and sincerity to be a kuncen; (3) recognition of the existence of Sunan Gunungjati as King and Guardian who brings the truth of Islam. The study findings in the form of the construction of social cohesion became the material for the documentation of intangible heritage in this area.
 Keywords: cohesion-social-Assabiyah, hermeneutics, intangible-heritage