Would the real Undagi please stand up? On the social location of Balinese architectural knowledge

Abstract

According to Howe, '[...] in general carpenters and builders do not learn what is in the texts by reading them [...] they acquire their knowledge by being taught by those already conversant with the trade [...] the rules and regulations [...] are known independently of the texts and constitute a body of knowledge which [...] forms an integral part of village lore.' According to Ubud's senior kepala tukang, once he has the design requirements clear in his mind, he draws a plan (dena) to clarify his own thinking and to transmit the requirements to potential tukang.10 He offers these plans to selected pemborong, asking them to provide detailed design drawings and to quote prices. [...]these books reflect an understanding of undagi-ship that is shared by these modern Balinese architects, who are striving to document, preserve and re-invigorate undagi traditions. [...]the patronage of the Brahmana caste by the Dutch colonial regime enabled Brahmana to assert claims of various kinds (Vickers 1989:132, 147-55) which most likely also extended to knowledge/authority in architectural matters.