Mystical Philosophy of Syncretism: Research on Rectangular Structures in the Visual Illustrations of the "Pelaga Lembu" Manuscript

Abstract

The dimension of traditional arts in the Malay world is famous for its diversity of elements of mystical syncretism. At the same time, it reflects the local community’s intellectual and cultural thinking. This intermingled and cross-cultural practice is manifested in every discipline through a visual sign system that has existed for a long time until it has caused confusion between what is true and false. This study in the context of visual arts will involve several basic structures of the square in the practice of translating visual imagery, in particular the optical illusion effect of the visual illustration of chapter marks and wafak found in the Pelaga Lembu manuscript from Kelantan-Patani, kept by the National Centre for Malay Manuscripts, National Library of Malaysia. The sign and meaning system of this element is interpreted using theoretical methods from the semiotic framework of the Inderalogy Model. Each basic frame of the square that becomes the reinforcement structure of the visual component is separated in the strain of rare knowledge. In order to scientifically balance the influence of mystical syncretism and the material of traditional arts, the researcher also looked at the meaning of this element through various cultural perspectives that once inhabited Malay culture. The results of the study found that there is an overlap of double meaning values from Pythagorean philosophy, Sufism, Hinduism and Buddhism, Kabbalah, animism and Israelite influences, which have been processed and accepted systematically into the core of common sense and integration.

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