Unveiling the Philosophical Meaning of the Four Pillars of the South Sulawesi Religious High Court: Symbolism and Relevance Within the Judicial System

Abstract

Abstract: This research examines the philosophical meaning of the four pillars on the facade of the West Sulawesi High Court of Religion through a hermeneutic approach within the frame of local culture. The pillars not only function as structural and aesthetic elements, but also represent the core values of the judiciary: justice, legal certainty, expediency and integrity. The architectural symbolism was analyzed in relation to the social, cultural and religious context of the local community. The methods used included literature studies, visual observations, and interviews with judicial officials and cultural figures. The results show that the four pillars reflect the principles of Islamic law such as al-'adl (justice), al-ḥikmah (wisdom), al-mīzān (balance), and al-qudwah (exemplary). These values are reinforced by the integration of motifs typical of the three main ethnic groups of West Sulawesi Mamasa, Mamuju, and Mandar. Mamasa motifs highlight courage and spirituality, Mamuju emphasizes cosmic harmony and balance, while Mandar promotes collective order and regularity. This integration deepens the symbolic meaning of the four pillars as moral reminders and reflections of cultural identity. As such, the pillars are not merely architectural artifacts, but symbolic instruments that reinforce legal values and local identity in judicial institutions.

Keywords: Judicial architecture; four pillars; legal philosophy; Sulawesi High Court of Religion.

Abstrak: Penelitian ini mengkaji makna filosofis empat pilar pada fasad Pengadilan Tinggi Agama Sulawesi Barat melalui pendekatan hermeneutika dalam bingkai budaya lokal. Pilar-pilar tersebut tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai elemen struktural dan estetika, tetapi juga merepresentasikan nilai-nilai utama peradilan: keadilan, kepastian hukum, kemanfaatan, dan integritas. Simbolisme arsitektural dianalisis dalam kaitannya dengan konteks sosial, budaya, dan religius masyarakat setempat. Metode yang digunakan mencakup studi literatur, observasi visual, dan wawancara dengan aparat peradilan serta tokoh budaya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa keempat pilar mencerminkan prinsip-prinsip hukum Islam seperti al-‘adl (keadilan), al-ḥikmah (kebijaksanaan), al-mīzān (keseimbangan), dan al-qudwah (keteladanan). Nilai-nilai tersebut diperkuat oleh integrasi motif khas tiga etnis utama Sulawesi Barat Mamasa, Mamuju, dan Mandar. Motif Mamasa menonjolkan keberanian dan spiritualitas, Mamuju menekankan harmoni kosmis dan keseimbangan, sementara Mandar mengusung ketertiban dan keteraturan kolektif. Integrasi ini memperdalam makna simbolik empat pilar sebagai pengingat moral dan refleksi identitas budaya. Dengan demikian, pilar-pilar tersebut bukan sekadar artefak arsitektural, melainkan instrumen simbolik yang menguatkan nilai hukum dan identitas lokal dalam institusi peradilan.

Kata Kunci: Arsitektur peradilan; empat pilar; filosofi hukum; Pengadilan Tinggi Agama Sulawesi.