The Symbolic Meaning of Tiang Tuo (old pole) in the Rumah Godang Traditional House in the Life of the Koto Sentajo Community, Riau, Indonesia

Diverse vernacular settlements exist in the Austronesian region as well as throughout the world. They are threatened by extinction due to the growing developments of technologies and information, as well as the disasters and calamities that occur. Efforts need to be made to reduce risks through conservation efforts and studies and research. Malay vernacular architecture in central Sumatra is part of Austronesian vernacular architecture. A traditional House called Rumah Godang in Koto Sentajo is one of its settlements; its existence is an interesting phenomenon because it is located on the banks of the Kuantan River, which is within the cultural border between Malay and Minangkabau. The existence of Malay kingdoms (Indragiri Kingdom) and Minangkabau (Pagaruyung Kingdom) were connected through the Ombilin, Kuantan, and Indragiri rivers which emptied into the Malacca Strait.Of the many Koto on the banks of the Kuantan River, Koto Sentajo is a settlement that still maintains its customs. This paper examines the meaning of the Tiang Tuo (old pole) in the Rumah Godang in Koto Sentajo as part of a symbol of community tradition and culture. This study uses a qualitative approach sequentially combining ethnographic methods and grounded theory. The research collects ethnographic data from the Koto Sentajo community and continued with the grounded theory by looking at field data in the form of artifacts of the 27 existing Rumah Godang. The paper concludes that Tiang Tuo is a mother (female) who protects her children and offspring and is a symbol of protection. Tiang Tuo is also a place to complain or convey grievances. It is a reciprocal relationship between the mother and offspring. Describing who governs superiority through her authority runs the wheel of life in the house.