History of Batik

  Batik is originated from the word javanese amba which means to write and tik ( titik ) means point. Batik is one way of making cloth process. Batik itself refers to 2 things which are the coloring fabric called wax resist dyeing which a method where a cloth being colored with candle ( malam ) to resist the entry of other color in order to get the desired color, while the other meaning is a fabric made with particula pattern. The colouring fabric method has existed since the 4th century in Egypt, its been proved by discovery of the mummy covered a fabric which had been coated with wax / candle.

 

batik tiongkok

Asian batik which grew in China that apply techniques such as batik since the 618-907 during the Tang dynasty, when the Japanese in 645-794 during the Nara period, equivalent to India at that time. In Africa, the Yoruba tribe, and Wolof soninke also practice similar techniques.
It is still being questioned, whether developing batik in Java is a native of the local culture, because according to GP Rouffaer, batik technique was introduced by india and srilanka in the 6th and 7th centuries BC. But other expert, JLA Brandes (Dutch archaeologist) and F. A sudjipto (historian Indonesia) said that batik originated from the Toraja, Flores, Papua, and Halmahera, which  places that did not influenced by Hinduism which known technique of Batik.  In Java, batik has been known since the time of Majapahit around 18th century until the beginning of the century to the 20s, while printed batik has become a popular starting in the 1920s. Grinsing patterns that exist in Indonesia, known to exist since the 12th century in Kediri, East Java.

And in the 13th century in East Java found a statue with carving that resembles batik patterns worn by the goddess of wisdom of Buddhism called Pradjnaparamita,  patterns that resemble Javanese batik  are known to the public now and the pattern shows a fairly complicated technique where the technique is made ​​using canting, therefore, be concluded that the pattern of the batik using canting complex engineering has existed in Java since the 13th century or even earlier. History of Java written by Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles in 1817 in London introduced the technique of batik in European literature for the first time, then in 1900 when was exhibited at the Exposion Universelle Museum in Paris, Batik increasingly become so popular during the golden peak. Batik itself became famous when it was first introduced by President Suharto when he attended UN conference. while batik tradition is a tradition passed down from our ancestors, even on pattern of batik can be as an identity of a family origins. But as the matter of time, the pattern has been influenced from various factors such as  bright colors of China, or floral pattern add to the diversity of the nation outside of batik in the country. however for cultural events such as traditional ceremonies,  or weddingh people still use batik traditional pattern and with limited colors  because thepattern in traditional batik has meaning andas   a symbol therefore this ancient heritage has to be respected by the community here.

pola batik pada prajnaparamita