balaksuji

{{Short description|Staircase in front of Rumah Panggung Betawi}}

File:Balaksuji rumah si pitung.jpg

Balaksuji is the staircase in front of Rumah Panggung Betawi.{{Sfn|Swadarma|(2014)|p=66 : “Balaksuji is the staircase construction of a Betawi house ..."}} Among the Sundanese people, this kind of ladder is nicknamed "golodog".{{Sfn|Swadarma|(2014)|p=22 : “In West Java, this kind of ladder is called golodog. The golodog steps are usually no more than three pieces, with the function of cleaning the feet of people who will climb into the house ..."}}

In Betawi culture, balaksuji is considered to have a philosophical element. Balaksuji is believed to be a means to ward off disaster. In addition, before entering the house through balaksuji, Betawi people must first purify themselves by washing their feet. The purpose is so that the owner is already in a "holy" and "clean" state when he enters the house.{{Sfn|Wijayanti, dkk|(2019)|p=52. :" Balaksuji itself has a philosophy as a household, and also as a means to reject disasters and purify oneself before entering the house ..."}}{{Sfn|Swadarma|(2014)|p=66 : “In a Betawi house on stilts, anyone entering the house must go through the stairs first ..."}} Balaksuji itself is a figure of speech that means "cooling area".{{Cite web|url=https://warisanbudaya.kemdikbud.go.id/?newdetail&detailCatat=516|title=Rumah Panggung Betawi|website=kemdikbud|access-date=18 April 2019}}

Nowadays, balaksuji is no longer built in modern Betawi houses because it is considered troublesome. However, "balaksuji" can still be found in many mosques built in Betawi architectural style.{{Cite news|url=https://properti.kompas.com/read/2018/07/11/133426121/arsitektur-rumah-betawi-sarat-nilai-filosofis?page=all|title=Arsitektur Rumah Betawi, Sarat Nilai Filosofis|last=Haryanti|first=Rosiana|date=11 July 2018|work=Kompas.com|access-date=15 April 2019}}{{Sfn|Swadarma|(2014)|p=66 : “Balaksuji is now rarely found in traditional Betawi houses and has been converted to stairs in mosques ..."}}