Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy


Publications

Learning from the Subak World Heritage Property: The Importance of Co-Creation for Water Management and Climate Adaptation

2025 — Article — WHE78282CABA6

Co-creation and local knowledge significantly enhance the resilience and sustainability of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as demonstrated by the Subak irrigation system in Bali. This ancient cultural landscape, facing threats from climate change and tourism, benefits from integrating community-led practices into management plans. By aligning conservation goals with adaptive local strategies, co-creation improves water management effectiveness and climate adaptation, ensuring long-term preservation. The study highlights the critical need for World Heritage management to incorporate these localized approaches, offering a more responsive and sustainable framework.

Perlindungan Hukum terhadap Pariwisata Cagar Alam dan Budaya di Bali

2025 — Article — WHEACD81780A7

Bali's Subak System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site reflecting the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, faces significant threats from uncontrolled tourism, which disrupts its sacred cultural and natural integrity. This study reveals that while legal frameworks such as Law No. 5 of 1990 (Conservation of Biological Natural Resources) and Law No. 11 of 2010 (Cultural Heritage) provide a foundation for protection, their implementation is hindered by rapid tourism growth. The research employs normative juridical methods to analyze these legal gaps and policy challenges, including Bali's provincial regulations like Governor Regulation No. 97 of 2018 (Single-Use Plastic Waste Limitation). It concludes that stronger enforcement and integration of sustainable tourism strategies are essential to preserve Bali's unique heritage.

Studi Pola Ruang dan Fungsi Ruang Puri Agung Kerambitan, Kecamatan Kerambitan, Kabupaten Tabanan, Provinsi Bali

2024 — Article — WHE808F09DF78

Puri Agung Kerambitan, a unique cultural landscape in Bali Province, exhibits distinct spatial patterns and functions rooted in the Tri Hita Karana philosophy. The study identifies nine primary spaces within the site, each aligned with the Sanga Mandala principle, alongside three additional functional areas: saren gong, teba puri, and telajakan puri. These spaces serve specific purposes tied to traditional Balinese governance, residence, and heritage tourism. Through a survey method involving observations, interviews, and literature review, researchers mapped these patterns to preserve cultural heritage while promoting sustainable tourism. The findings underscore the site's potential as both an educational resource and a tourist attraction, advocating for government support in its preservation and promotion.

Dinamika ekologi manusia dalam toponimi Subak Gede Pulagan-Kumba

2023 — Article — WHE401038C9A4

A study of Subak Gede Pulagan-Kumba, part of Bali's UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape, reveals that the toponymy of this ancient irrigation system embeds deep empirical knowledge about human-ecology interactions. This dynamic relationship, rooted in the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, has sustained for centuries and is critical to the conservation of the Subak system. The research used qualitative methods—interviews, observations, and literature reviews—to uncover how local communities perceive their role within the ecosystem, emphasizing the need to preserve this cultural-ecological balance.

Karakteristik dan Nilai Situs Warisan Budaya Dunia Catur Angga Batukau Kabupaten Tabanan

2023 — Article — WHECA6AA0E65B

Catur Angga Batukau, part of Bali's UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape, exhibits unique characteristics rooted in the mandala concept, featuring five sacred temples (Pura Luhur Muncaksari, Petali, Besikalung, Tambawaras, and Coughau) that embody the Tri Hita Karana philosophy. This study highlights its significant values across history, science, education, culture, and religion, yet reveals a critical gap in community awareness and information dissemination, rendering the site vulnerable to neglect. Qualitative descriptive analysis was employed to systematically document these attributes, offering a foundational understanding essential for conservation efforts. The research underscores the need for targeted educational initiatives to preserve this intangible cultural heritage.

Pkm Badan Peleburian Pusaka Indonesia (Bppi) dalam Pemetaan Kawasan Subak Selat

2022 — Article — WHEF9E77800C4

UNESCO's recognition of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province highlights the evolving Tri Hita Karana (THK) philosophy, embodied by the subak system—a traditional Balinese irrigation method. However, land conversion threatens the integrity of these terraced rice fields, shifting their use to residential, industrial, and tourist purposes. To counter this degradation, the Indonesian Heritage Preservation Agency (BPPI) collaborates with local stakeholders through initiatives like the Bali International Field School for Subak (BIFSS). A key strategy involves mapping subak areas, such as Subak Selat in Karangasem Regency, to preserve their cultural and ecological value while enhancing their potential as tourist attractions. This approach combines conservation efforts with educational outreach, aiming to sustain the subak system's continuity in Bali.

Strengthening the Supporting Factors of Jatiluwih Subak for its Sustainability as World Cultural Heritage Bali, Indonesia

2022 — Article — WHEBC90720951

Jatiluwih Subak, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bali, Indonesia, faces significant challenges to its sustainability despite its cultural and ecological significance. Key supporting factors such as land availability, water quality, irrigation infrastructure, market access, and farmer prosperity are under threat due to land use changes, water scarcity, degradation of water quality, high maintenance costs, market difficulties, and a declining interest in agriculture among younger generations. The study identifies an integrated management system involving farmers, subak leaders, and government as a potential solution to address these issues. This approach aims to sustain the subak's cultural landscape by balancing social, economic, ecological, and governance aspects from upstream to downstream.

Potential Development of Balinese Water-Control System (Subak) Based Agro-Tourism in the World Cultural Heritage Site of Catur Angga Batukaru

2021 — Article — WHE287A0CC182

Research identifies significant potential for developing agro-tourism around the Balinese water-control system (Subak) in Catur Angga Batukaru. The study reveals 20 existing Subak systems across the area, with three distinct tourism opportunities: sightseeing, spiritual tourism, and trekking. These activities leverage the cultural landscape's rice terraces, temples like Tamba Waras and Muncaksari, and traditional agricultural practices, including red rice cultivation and religious ceremonies. While safari tours and spiritual tourism show early growth, they remain underdeveloped due to lack of organization by local authorities and government support. The findings underscore the need for structured community-led development, facilitated by training and consultation, to preserve and enhance the site's cultural and ecological value.

Rural cultural landscapes and the purposes of heritage

2019 — Book chapter — WHE9909198559

Heritage designation of the Balinese subak system, recognized for its cultural and natural significance in 2012, reveals complex outcomes for rural landscapes. While such listings aim to preserve diverse traditions, the case of Bali's subaks—irrigated rice terraces and temples—highlights challenges in defining heritage purposes and conservation goals. The study examines whether designating everyday farming areas as 'heritage' achieves meaningful preservation or merely symbolizes recognition without tangible benefits.

Cultural Landscape: A Bridge Between Deforestation and Local Community?

2018 — Article — WHE86AF9D4663

Deforestation, though initially beneficial to local communities, leads to severe long-term consequences such as drought disasters. However, it also drives the creation of cultural landscapes that foster harmony with nature, as demonstrated by the Subak system in Bali. This study reveals that local communities in Selat Village, Buleleng Regency, have transitioned from deforestation to sustainable practices rooted in the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, which emphasizes balance among God, humans, and the environment. The research approach involved examining the experiences of local communities, highlighting their shift towards living harmoniously with nature as a result of learning from deforestation's negative impacts.

Pengelolaan Cagar Budaya untuk Kepentingan Publik di Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali

2018 — Article — WHED762CA462F

A collaborative management approach between local government and communities effectively sustains public use of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Gianyar, Bali. These sites—including Pegulingan Temple, Tirta Empul, Mengening Temple, Gunung Kawi, and Goa Gajah—demonstrate how the Subak irrigation system's Tri Hita Karana philosophy (harmony with gods, people, and nature) underpins cultural heritage preservation. The study employed qualitative methods: field observations, interviews, and literature reviews to analyze data. Findings reveal that community involvement through Community Resource Management (CRM) not only benefits locals but also strengthens the sites' archaeological significance by integrating them into daily life. This model offers a sustainable alternative to top-down conservation strategies.

Tata letak tanaman pada rumah berkonsep arsitektur tradisional Bali di Kota Bangli, Kabupaten Bangli Provinsi Bali

2018 — Article — WHE04AD0BD370

Balinese traditional architecture, deeply rooted in the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, is significantly influenced by land area constraints, particularly in Bangli Regency. The study reveals that while aesthetic considerations dominate plant layout decisions, the underlying cultural philosophy—embodied in concepts like Asta Kosala-Kosali, Tri Mandala, and Tri Angga—is often overlooked. This research highlights a disconnect between modern applications of traditional architecture and their philosophical foundations, despite the adherence to ancient spatial rules. The findings underscore the need for integrating Balinese cultural principles more holistically in contemporary architectural practices.

The implementation of Tri Hita Karana on the world heritage of Taman Ayun and Tirta Empul temples as tourist attractions in Bali 1

2018 — Book chapter — WHEB432599B55

Research reveals that the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, centered on harmony between religious, social, and natural environments, underpins the UNESCO World Heritage status of Bali's Cultural Landscape. This study demonstrates how Taman Ayun and Tirta Empul temples, integral to this heritage site, embody this philosophy while serving as key tourist attractions. The findings highlight that Tri Hita Karana not only defines the Outstanding Universal Value of the site but also shapes Bali's cultural tourism programs, aligning heritage conservation with sustainable tourism practices.

The Implementation of Tri Hita Karana on the World Heritage of Taman Ayun and Tirta Empul Temples as Tourist Attractions in Bali

2017 — Article — WHE41C0DC8329

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bali Province, recognized for its outstanding universal value rooted in the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, faces challenges in maintaining harmony and balance between religious, social, and environmental aspects due to touristification. While the temples of Taman Ayun and Tirta Empul are managed with proper environmental practices, there is a notable neglect in preserving their social and religious dimensions as tourist attractions. The study highlights that tourists are allowed entry without adhering to traditional dress codes or restrictions on sacred areas, undermining the authenticity of these sites. Additionally, essential information about shrines, ceremonies, and local guides is lacking, further eroding the cultural integrity. To sustain the site's value, a balanced implementation of Tri Hita Karana is crucial, ensuring that tourism development does not compromise its philosophical foundations.

Universal heritage meets local livelihoods: ‘awkward engagements’ at the world cultural heritage listing in Bali

2017 — Article — WHE14136E89D0

The UNESCO World Heritage listing of Bali's Cultural Landscape, recognizing the Subak system as a manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, has led to significant 'awkward engagements' on the ground. These challenges include uncontrolled development, disputes over benefit allocation, and governance issues, which stem from the gulf between global World Heritage standards and local community needs. Through ethnographic study, the research highlights how local agencies, left to manage the site independently, face complex problems that undermine the intended benefits of heritage recognition. The findings underscore the unintended consequences of such listings when local contexts are not adequately considered in implementation.

Perkembangan Desa Wisata Jatiluwih setelah UNESCO Menetapkan Subaknya sebagai Bagian dari Warisan Budaya Dunia

2015 — Article — WHE012466BD93

UNESCO's designation of the Subak system in Bali's Jatiluwih village as a World Heritage Site in 2012 has significantly enhanced its social, cultural, and economic development. The study reveals that traditional farming practices, mutual cooperation, and rituals remain robustly maintained, while local arts are conserved and developed. Economic benefits, including job opportunities and income growth, have improved due to increased tourism, with active community participation in planning and management. However, challenges persist, particularly regarding the poor condition of public facilities and information services, which negatively impact tourist perception despite their generally positive views on the rice field attraction. The research employed qualitative methods, including observation, interviews, and documentary analysis, to assess these developments.

The Catuspatha Pattern in Balinese Palace: Architectural Conservation and Challenges

2015 — Article — WHE4666255AF1

Balinese palaces, rooted in pre-colonial architecture and deeply intertwined with the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, face significant conservation challenges amid tourism development and globalization. These structures, historically located at road intersections (catuspatha) and embodying sacred values like pempatanagung, retain their cultural significance despite Bali's unified governance. The study reveals that while these palaces symbolize a bygone era of Balinese society, their preservation must balance modern pressures with traditional reverence. Through extensive literature reviews, surveys, and observational inventories at multiple palaces, the research highlights the need for strategies that respect Balinese cultural heritage while accommodating global influences.

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