Wood-carving arts in Malaysia started out in the 14th century with Animism and then the Hindu- Buddha influence. The motifs and patterns were mostly flora and fauna based. But with the rise of Islam in the 15th century, the art was basically resurrected with appearance that is accordance to the Islam Law. Though, there might be a slight issue in knowing the difference of motifs between the eras and why certain motifs are no longer used now. Carving is one of the branches of art that the Malays have as a traditional legacy. High level of skill and techniques are needed in the art of wood-carving as it is both a decoration, an art form as well as a display of symbolic carved elements. That is why ratherthan totally abandoning the art form, to comply with the Islamic rules, it is evolved into something beautiful and at the same time showing obedience to the creator, Allah SWT. For that, it is important to understand the evolution of Malay wood-carving motifs before the rise of Islam and after it is implemented. After conducting a research on multiple past papers, the reasons and proof on why there are woodcarving motifs that are forbidden and some are allowed, were found. This article will discuss some aspects in traditional wood-carving concepts, history and after the emergence of Islam. Keywords: Wood-Carving, Animism, Islamic Influence, Tanah Melayu.

With modernization, historical structures are threatened by extinction. Preservation efforts are made, but eventually, maintaining the drawing’s physical form is no longer manageable. Hence, digital archiving is the best solution to preserve data. The research approach is a design-based study that aims at data collection and analysis of website development while reviewing many aspects of digital archiving in architectural heritage. The methods involved data compilation, sustainable digital archive development, and the arrangement of data digitally. Documentation of heritage digital archive model development is made to ensure the data of building a sustainable archive is available for future reference.

Wood carving is a common trait seen in a Malay traditional house. Different types of wood carvings can be found in a Malay house based on the owners' status, wealth, culture, and religion. After Islam was introduced to Malaysia and became the main principle and guide for the people, they began to adopt Islamic values in their daily lives, including the illustration of the wood carvings. These beautiful wood-carving motifs were designed as a symbol of obedience toward a higher power. Unfortunately, over time wood carving has been neglected and is no longer a popular trend, leading to abandonment and ruins. Without proper acknowledgement, total loss of heritage and identity may happen. Hence, by employing qualitative methods such as literature review and observational study on selected heritage houses, the researchers managed to identify the typology of wood carvings in Malay traditional houses. The findings showed a wide variety of wood carvings based on the different placements in the traditional house. The motifs used during those times were floral, geometric, and calligraphy. Understanding the motifs would be a good start before introducing them to the public and educating them on the importance of conserving these motifs for future generations.

Wood carving is a common trait seen in a Malay traditional house. Different types of wood carvings can be found in a Malay house based on the owners' status, wealth, culture, and religion. After Islam was introduced to Malaysia and became the main principle and guide for the people, they began to adopt Islamic values in their daily lives, including the illustration of the wood carvings. These beautiful wood-carving motifs were designed as a symbol of obedience toward a higher power. Unfortunately, over time wood carving has been neglected and is no longer a popular trend, leading to abandonment and ruins. Without proper acknowledgement, total loss of heritage and identity may happen. Hence, by employing qualitative methods such as literature review and observational study on selected heritage houses, the researchers managed to identify the typology of wood carvings in Malay traditional houses. The findings showed a wide variety of wood carvings based on the different placements in the traditional house. The motifs used during those times were floral, geometric, and calligraphy. Understanding the motifs would be a good start before introducing them to the public and educating them on the importance of conserving these motifs for future generations.