Literacy and Adaptation on the Spatial Orientation System in Nusa Penida Settlements, Bali – Indonesia

Abstract

Orientation systems with high and low values have a cosmological impact on the geographical organization of Balinese ethnic community settlements. High-value orientation is indicated by a mountain, a high place, or a sunrise direction, and a low place or a sunset direction indicates a low-value orientation. In both flatland and highland Balinese villages, this orientation is now used as a general guide to determine the direction of kaja-kelod and kangin-kauh or the direction of luan and teben. The concept of the spatial orientation of settlements in Nusa Penida, which is in the southeast of the island of Bali and divided by the sea, is different. It combines local orientation with that of southern Bali, which is influenced by geographical circumstances, hilly topography, South Balinese cultural influence, and Desa Pakraman (traditional village) layout. Once Nusa Penida joined the Klungkung region, southern Bali’s influence grew, which led to the acculturation of towns’ spatial orientation. The people of Nusa Penida respond to southern Balinese culture through literacy and acceptance of the concept of southern Bali while maintaining local wisdom values, for the concept of orientation to the settlement of Nusa Penida is a culture that existed before receiving influence from southern Bali. Adapting settlement components using regional and southern Balinese notions is a sort of exercise in spatial literacy. As a method of acclimation to the local culture and southern Bali, this study tries to understand and discover the meaning of the spatial orientation of communities in Nusa Penida. Domain, taxonomy, componential, theme, and meaning analysis are used in the research approach, which is interpretive qualitative. According to the study’s findings, the spatial orientation of the region in Nusa Penida represents a syncretism and assimilation of the indigenous culture with that of southern Bali.