The cultural mapping of old Cirebon: Syncretism and eclecticism representation

Abstract

Abstract Modernism and globalism tend to influence people to divert their attention from the local culture. However, postmodernism presents its new view that unique local culture is significant to shape the place identity. In this regard, identifying, documenting, and interpreting local culture’s strengths by using cultural mapping as a tool is essential for future sustainability. This study aimed to explore the evidence of syncretism and eclecticism phenomena through cultural mapping and formulate a conceptual model of these phenomena. The research was a qualitative-inductive analytic using historical source writings and physical artefacts on Cirebon’s old city’s development as units of information. The result showed that 1) ethnic hybridization, strategic location, and royal marital relations triggered the occurrences syncretism and eclecticism; 2) the eclectic space structure and order, and buildings decoration components related to democratic, appreciative, and adaptive local belief values.