The three-dimensional wood carving of buah buton: Influence of leaders as symbols of socio-community formation

AbstractCarving is a historical art form utilized for adornment and as a status symbol worldwide, and buah buton is no exception. Therefore, this article aims to establish a relationship between buah buton’s wood carving and social leadership. Other than that, this study uses qualitative research methods, including fieldwork and interviews. The fieldwork targets traditional houses around Luak Tanah Mengandung, Negeri Sembilan, with buah buton. Moreover, interviews were conducted with heirs, customary leaders, researchers, and local community members. According to the findings of this study based on two methods, buah buton can only be discovered in traditional houses belonging to customary leaders and the nobility. In the Adat Perpatih community, the buah buton serves as a significant symbol of authority, social hierarchy, and communal values. It is not only a decorative embellishment. Its presence in traditional houses conveys a clear impression of the moral character of leaders and their dedication to maintaining this unique Malaysian community’s customs and traditions. Therefore, buah buton is a justification that verifies a person’s status within a communal group by applying the subject to specific parts of their residence. This research’s findings can serve as a guide for the design of houses that employ buah buton involving philosophy, aesthetics and meaning to refer to the context of the symbolism of leadership in the contemporary era.