Perception and Appreciation of The Tumpang Village Community Towards The Representation of Flora Diversity In The Relief Of The Jago Temple

Abstract

This study aims to identify the diversity of flora reliefs, philosophical meanings, and the perception and appreciation values of the Tumpang Village community towards the representation of flora diversity in the reliefs of Jago Temple, Malang Regency. The method used is descriptive exploratory through initial exploration, observation of the flora relief at Candi Jago, inventory of species and symbolic meanings, and semi-structured interviews with 30 respondents to determine the perceived value and appreciation. The study identified 20 plant species from 9 families, with 15 species identified and 5 species yet to be identified. The floral reliefs are dominated by the Arecaceae family. Not all plants depicted on the temple reliefs have symbolic or philosophical meanings; three plants have specific meanings in Javanese culture and Buddhist teachings. The remaining 17 plants do not have specific symbolic meanings but are useful plants for the community. The public's perception and appreciation of the representation of floral diversity on the Jago Temple reliefs ranged from 64% (fair) to 91% (very good), with the younger age group reaching 89.58% and the older age group at 73.61%. This study highlights the importance of preserving local knowledge about culture, temples, and floral reliefs as both cultural heritage and a source of knowledge, thereby serving as a reference for research, education, conservation, and the development of local wisdom.