Balinese Family Compound
Bali’s heart of culture life is in their family compound. The compound is build to follow the concept of Tri Hita Karana, the central creed of the Balinese cosmos. It demands that the harmony of the universe always be preserved between man and God, between Man and the physical world, and between man and man.
For example, the house shrine is always in the kaja-kangin (north-east), the pigsty is at kelod (south) or the seaward part of the compound. In between are the pavilions for ceremonies, sleeping, and daily activities.
Picture by Bruce G.
Here is the description of each number from the picture above:
- Family Temple.
The house temple called Sanggah or Merajan, is the place to worship the ancestor and the Hyang Guru.
- Sleeping Pavilion.
This building usually a large eight-post structure on a high base. A terrace usually attached for receiving guests at family ceremony.
- West Pavilion
The west pavilion or Bale dauh, is the workhouse of the compound. Serving the variety of purposes, from gathering place to sleeping quarters.
- Ceremonial Pavilion
The east pavilion, or bale dangin is the ceremonial pavilion. The place is where the life rites and death rituals occur.
- Sakenam
The guest pavilion for relatives and children varies in size and number according to the needs.
- Granary
Or the lumbung or jineng is the storage area for rice.
- Kitchen
Or paon is in the south because of the association with Brahma (the god of fire) whose place in the south.
- Protective Wall
Or aling-aling, most behind the gates to deflect the malign influences.
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21 Responses to “Balinese Family Compound”
June 6th, 2007 at 2:39 am
hey this rox 4 my project!! thx alot!!
Tjelempung
July 15th, 2007 at 7:06 am
[…] Even thought they live in a simple life, people are so friendly, smiley and real proud of their village by keeping it well maintained. Streets village, the gate house (angkul-angkul) are clean and greens. Roads are not busy with motorbikes, here you can always have fresh air to breath. Their compounds are based on strict of religious rule, for example, family shrines are always in the north-east, kitchen on the south side, etc (please see articles about Balinese family compound). […]
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:00 pm
maybe u retards should put a traditional balinese tolite in there duhh
August 5th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Its amazeing who they live.
When i nwas in bali, it was similar to that I admire balinese architecture and balinese people they r soi friendly
August 8th, 2007 at 1:04 am
What is number 9?
August 8th, 2007 at 2:06 am
#Bintang
No 9 … It’s called angkul-angkul, a gate to your the house. Balinese traditional house usually have this. It has door just like your house door.
August 10th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
dis site helpd mi projct SSOOOOOO frikin much, and it woz du da nxt day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!thx soooooo much
August 10th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
da directions r al unco u no? try figerin out wich ways nrth bi reedin all da directins. U CANT!!!!!!! any way, it helpd me so much so i ges its alrite
August 11th, 2007 at 4:07 am
#direction?
this is the clue, family temple is always in between north - east of your house.
August 11th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Hey dee, the family temple is not always in the north, isn’t it? But it is built in the direction toward the mountain, since it is the sacred direction. For people who live in North Bali, i.e. the mountains are in their south, they will build their family temple in the south. In north Bali, they will call south as “kaja” because kaja is does not actually mean north but “toward the mountains”. The opposite is kelod which means “toward the sea”. This is in contrast with people who live in south Bali.
But, anyway, I think there is something wrong with the picture above. If you face north, then you turnright 90 degrees you will face east. So, number 3 is in the east, not in the west like what is shown. North east is between 2 and 3. And, number 4 should be the western direction.
Thanks, it’s great blog! Keep up the good work.
August 12th, 2007 at 8:28 am
#putu
yes you are right about the \”kaja-kangin\” philosophy, that is why I did not mark the direction in above picture for which are north or east (because of the kaja-kangin thing).
Anyway, … thanks for the additional info.
October 15th, 2007 at 2:27 am
This is OK
October 15th, 2007 at 2:30 am
This website is thoroughly useful. I recommend you go to it! No1 WEBSITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you all LOVE it !
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October 15th, 2007 at 2:31 am
THE BEST WEBSITE! I MEAN IT 1
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January 17th, 2008 at 3:57 am
I think this web is useful so much. as balinese i want to say thank to make this web so that people are know about our heritage!!!
February 27th, 2008 at 12:07 am
hi this is okay but can someone tell me what a banjar is
thx
February 28th, 2008 at 2:19 am
Banjar is a group of family in a village, in one village there are more than one Banjar.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:19 am
hi, i’ve put a link to this post on my website : http://www.fortunatur.com/v4/ubud-arts-shopping/ .. i also paste the description of the Balinese Compound. i hope you don’t mind with that.
Thanks and best regards.
October 30th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
good info ….!
you have best site blog on this bali island
December 6th, 2008 at 8:58 am
[…] By Dee Bali […]
April 19th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Banjar is a group of family in a village, in one village there are more than one Banjar.