Taman Sari and Demang Tegis<\/p>\n
While I agree with Laretna that Demang Tegis of Portugal never
\nexisted (The Jakarta Post, April 27, 2002), I don't think Demang
\nTegis is a mystery.<\/p>\n
About 15 years ago, I wrote in a newspaper published in
\nYogyakarta refuting that Taman Sari had been built by a
\nPortuguese architect as told in a brochure on tourism in
\nYogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Dutch library sources say that in about 1755, Sultan
\nHamengkubuwono I sent the regent of Mangundipuro to Batavia to
\nlook at modern buildings there. He met with a Bugis building
\ncontractor experienced in constructing modern buildings in
\nBatavia. Mangundipuro took this contractor to Yogyakarta along
\nwith a number of artisans from the contractor's area. This made
\nsense. The contractor did not speak Javanese and would have
\ndifficulty communicating with artisans or laborers from
\nYogyakarta.<\/p>\n
These Bugis people, who hailed from Makassar, stayed in a
\nvillage later called the Bugisan village. For their services in
\nthe construction of Taman Sari, these Bugis people were later
\nappointed as royal staff and were given the rank of demang, an
\nequivalent to a district head.<\/p>\n
In this context, I would also refute that Vredeeburg Fort was
\nbuilt by Sultan Hamengkubuwono I. It was built by the Dutch. If
\nwe look at the walls of the fort carefully, we'll find that there
\nare holes in these walls which would be large enough for the
\nbarrels of cannons directed toward the palace and Taman Sari.
\nThey were never intended to drive away enemies coming from
\noutside the city.<\/p>\n
SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/taman-sari-and-demang-tegis-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }