TY - JOUR
T1 - The Use of Traditional Conservation Methods in the Preservation of Ancient Manuscripts
T2 - A Case Study from Indonesia
AU - Rachman, Yeni Budi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2017.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Indonesia has a rich heritage of manuscripts that represent the cumulative knowledge, values, experience, and practices of its people. This knowledge needs to be preserved. However, preservation does not need to use expensive equipment and materials. This paper examines some of the traditional methods and materials used to conserve manuscripts, and the philosophical viewpoints that underlie the traditional methods in Indonesia, based on a case study at Rekso Pustoko library at the Mangkunegaran Palace in Surakarta Province, Indonesia. This study used a qualitative approach with two research methods: A survey of manuscripts and one-on-one interviews with staff at Rekso Pustoko. The findings from the interviews indicated that traditional conservation methods are still applied by the caretakers of manuscripts. The use of vetiver and incense, of lemon grass, and the adjustment of air ventilation are the primary methods used in preservation. The findings also show that Javanese traditional philosophical understandings influence their conservation practices. The staffs believe that manuscripts are heirlooms from their ancestors, and if they disregard the ancestors, they will face hardships because of karma. The findings from this study are important in documenting empirical experiences in implementing traditional conservation methods to preserve the manuscripts' intellectual content.
AB - Indonesia has a rich heritage of manuscripts that represent the cumulative knowledge, values, experience, and practices of its people. This knowledge needs to be preserved. However, preservation does not need to use expensive equipment and materials. This paper examines some of the traditional methods and materials used to conserve manuscripts, and the philosophical viewpoints that underlie the traditional methods in Indonesia, based on a case study at Rekso Pustoko library at the Mangkunegaran Palace in Surakarta Province, Indonesia. This study used a qualitative approach with two research methods: A survey of manuscripts and one-on-one interviews with staff at Rekso Pustoko. The findings from the interviews indicated that traditional conservation methods are still applied by the caretakers of manuscripts. The use of vetiver and incense, of lemon grass, and the adjustment of air ventilation are the primary methods used in preservation. The findings also show that Javanese traditional philosophical understandings influence their conservation practices. The staffs believe that manuscripts are heirlooms from their ancestors, and if they disregard the ancestors, they will face hardships because of karma. The findings from this study are important in documenting empirical experiences in implementing traditional conservation methods to preserve the manuscripts' intellectual content.
KW - Manuscript preservation
KW - cultural heritage
KW - indigenous knowledge
KW - libraries and archives
KW - preservation in Indonesia
KW - traditional conservation methods
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85031929596&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1515/pdtc-2017-0006
DO - 10.1515/pdtc-2017-0006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85031929596
SN - 2195-2965
VL - 46
SP - 109
EP - 115
JO - Preservation, Digital Technology and Culture
JF - Preservation, Digital Technology and Culture
IS - 3
ER -