Indonesian Batik from Time to Time

Already know the meaning of the word batik? The word batik comes from Javanese language. It is a combination word of 'amba' which means 'write' and 'titik' which means ‘drip the wax using canting’. So that it can be said that the meaning of batik is a process of making patterns by shedding the wax.

G.P. Rouffaer, one of the authors of the book entitled "De Eerste Schipvaart Der Netherland Naar Oost Indie Onder Cornelis De Houtman (1595-1597) ", argued that batik techniques were most likely originating from India or Sri Lanka in the 6th or 7th century. He also argued that the Gringsing pattern had been known since the 12th century in Kediri, East Java, and such pattern could only be formed using a canting, so he concluded that canting was also found in Java in the same period. Another thing showed that batik pattern is complicated and can only be made with canting has been known in Java since the 13th century. It was the discovery of fabric carvings that resembled batik patterns worn by Prajnaparamita statue, the wisdom goddess of Buddhist in the 13th century in East Java.

Batik is not only recorded in Indonesian literature but also in European literature. The batik technique was first told in the History book of Java, London, 1817 written by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. In 1873 a Dutch merchant named Van Rijekevorsel gave a piece of batik which he obtained during a visit to Indonesia to the Ethnic Museum in Rotterdam in the early 19th century. From that time batik was increasingly known outside Indonesia. Even more when it was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, Indonesian batik fascinated the public and artists.

In the past time, batik skills became the livelihood of women. However, since the era of industrial revolution, new types of batik emerged, namely printed batik, which gave men the opportunity to enter the batik world. In different case, for people living on the coast, batik work was not only engaged by women but also men. Batik tradition is indeed a hereditary tradition from Javanese society. In the past, even batik motif can determine the user's social status. Until now,  the traditional batik motif has only been used by royal families of Yogyakarta and Surakarta.

UNESCO  recognition of batik as a cultural heritage and the stipulation of National Batik Day every October 2, made batik not only a culture but an identity even national identity  Indonesians. (MLL). Source: (http://sejarahri.com/sejarah-batik-indonesia/)