The Two Alun - Alun of Malang

• Main Author: Purnawan Basundoro
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Tuta Sub Aegide Pallas 1683 2015
• Subjects: AZ200-361 History; CB History of civilization; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: http://repository.unair.ac.id/91949/; http://repository.unair.ac.id/91949/2/18%20The%20Two%20Fulltext.pdf; http://repository.unair.ac.id/91949/1/18%20The%20Two%20Peer%20Review.pdf

Arguably the most prominent characteristic of a typical town in Java is the presence of an alun-alun or town square. In general an alun-alun is a large open space; ordinary citizens often think of it as a field in the centre of the town. In some cities the alun-alun takes the form of a square studded with shady trees. An alun-alun is usually imagined as the core of the Javanese town, in part because it typically forms the 'heart' of a whole network of streets. But more significantly, the alun-alun carries symbolic significance because, traditionally, it was located directly in front of the palace (kraton), or regional kabupaten, the traditional seats of Javanese power. The traditional model on which all such alun-alun drew and in terms of which they were imagined was the Kraton of Yogyakarta. This was located on an imaginary line, which connected the Southern ocean, the south ern alun-alun, the palace itself, the northern alun-alun, and Mount Merapi on a north-south axis.