The word rangkiang is a shortened version from the Minangkabau word "ruang hyang ", the goddess of rice.
Architecture
A rangkiang is a structure built over a raised pile foundation, an Austronesian legacy that can be found anywhere else in Indonesia. It has a distinguished roof shape known as gonjong roofs, similar to a Minangkabau traditional house, the rumah gadang. The gonjong roof symbolically identifies it with buffalo horns. Similar to the rumah gadang, the roof of a rangkiang is traditionally a thatched roof made of palm fibre, and it is also similarly decorated. The only opening to a rangkiang is a small rectangular hatch high up in the gable end, into which the harvested rice is placed. A ladder is required to reach this hatch. A rangkiang is traditionally built on the courtyard of a rumah gadang. There are three types of rangkiangs according to its function. A rangkiang which is used to store rice that is to be consumed by the inhabitants of the house is known as si bayau-bayau. This rangkiang, the largest of all rangkiang, is traditionally supported by a minimum of six poles; in the case of a royal palace —such as the rangkiang of the Pagaruyung Palace— it can be supported by as many as twelve poles. This rangkiang is traditionally located to the right end of a rumah gadang's courtyard. Another type of rangkiang is si tinjau lauik used to keep rice that is to be sold. The resulting money is used to buy things that the family cannot produce themselves. This rangkiang is traditionally located in the middle of a rumah gadang's courtyard. It is supported by four poles. Another type of rangkiang is the si tanggung lapar or si tangguang lapa or si tangka lapa, which is used to store surplus rice for use in times of scarcity. This type of rangkiang is traditionally positioned to the left end of a rumah gadang courtyard. It is basically identical with the si tinjau laut, being supported by four poles. Other rangkiang, known as rangkiang kaciak, is used to keep rice seedlings for agriculturalpurpose. This rangkiang used a simple gable roof instead of the elaborate Minangkabau roof form, thus it looks the simplest of all rangkiang. The number of rangkiang, as well as the degree of ornaments that decorates the rumah gadang, shows the wealth of the owner. The more rangkiang possessed by a family, the more prestigious the owner is.
Modern use
A facade of a Minangkabau restaurant is sometimes decorated with a single gonjong roof which represents the roof of a rangkiang as a symbol of rice and food provision for people.
