Batik Fabric: Each Pattern has Meaning

Batik fabric is a lot and each of them has meaning. That is why Javanese people (in which most of Batik is from Java) are very selective to choose it. They have to match the batik with occasion due to the fact that each pattern has meaning. Therefore, if you go to Javanese wedding ceremony, only certain batik pattern is worn by guests. When they go to other occasion, they wear batik with another pattern.

In fact, they don’t use batik only because they like the pattern. They have already known that batik pattern contain philosophy and philosophy has meaning. Those who make batik fabric have awareness that it is usual fabric which will be used for clothes. On the other side, they are aware that fabric contains certain meaning.

Therefore, if you would like to wear cloth made of batik, it is important for you know the meaning. Here is information about many different patterns and their meaning.

1. Udan Liris Pattern

Based on the history of Batik, it has been told that Udan Liris is one of the oldest patterns of batik. In the past, only those who live in palace in Java can wear this batik. This pattern was special.

However, for the times being, everyone can wear batik fabric in this pattern. The aesthetic of this pattern can be easily seen. Even, for those who have already been familiar with batik, they don’t need long time to know name of this batik.

How do you know that the pattern is Udan Liris? This batik pattern has only a drawing or picture of mountain slop. This pattern would like to describe the beauty and prosperity of the earth. In this case, the earth is Indonesia since batik is made in Indonesia. So, it is reasonably if this batik fabric was only used by people who live in palace. The palace is a symbol of prosperity.

2. Barong Seling Nitik Pattern

Barong Seling Nitik Pattern is one of favorite batik patterns right now. Adult like to pick this batik because it is simple. However, the appearance is not too traditional like Udan Liris pattern. Frequently, this batik is made of two different colors which are contrast each other.

So, what is the meaning of those contrast colors? They symbolize difference. It has been known that Indonesia is a place in which many people from different tribes, religion, color of skin, and the others. Even, those from other countries finally become Indonesian citizen like China and middle-east people. They have been parts of Indonesia people.

It is surprising when certain batik pattern is made by Chinese or Tionghoa people. In this article, you will find batik and its original place. Batik from Rembang is batik whose pattern is influenced by Chinese culture.

3. Parang Parikesit Pattern

This is truly Javanese pattern. Parang is a special weapon which is usually used by people in the past for war. It is like sword. Meanwhile, Pari means rice. Kesit is white and clean.

What is the meaning of pattern? It has meaning that those who wear this batik fabric have clean heart. They don’t have any bad to do something bad. Meanwhile, Parang is a symbol that Javanese are people who are brave. Therefore, it can be drawn such a conclusion that this batik pattern symbolizes that Javanese people are brave to do the right thing.

Actually, this pattern has historical side. In the past, there was a war which was won by the king named with Parikesit. That is why there is special weapon drawn in the fabric as the special pattern. It might be also a symbol of a war won by King Parikesit.

4. Semen Sidomukti Pattern

The batik fabric with this pattern is recommended to use for those who has wedding. The couple should wear this batik since there is a pray and hope in this pattern.

Sidomukti is from two different words. Sido means becoming and Mukti mean prosperity or noble. Therefore, there is a hope in this pattern in which the couple who is married will be given prosperity and noble in the future.

Usually, this batik fabric is used by both couples during Ijab Kabul (the special moment when the couple say promise to love each other). This pattern is truthfully sacred and many Javanese people still believe that batik fabric with this pattern should only be worn during wedding.

5. Gringsing Sudara Werti

This pattern has a hope as well in which the wearers will be always healthy and there is no evil inside of their soul. This meaning is described from the pattern. Gring means sick and sing means not. Therefore, Gringsing means that it is hope not to be sick.

Meanwhile, Sudarawerti actually is a character in Pewayanagan (Javanese story that is usually told using wayang kulit, special tool which is made of leather). Sudarawati is told as a woman who is able to defeat the enemy.

However, the enemy here is not a real enemy. It is an invisible enemy. It is evil inside of one’s soul. Evil doesn’t only trigger somebody to do bad thing, but it also makes them sick. It is like what physiologist said that when people sick because they don’t find tranquility while tranquility only can be found when they don’t have revenge, anger, jealous, and other evil’s characteristics.

Those are some patterns of batik fabric that you should know. However, do you know that batik is coming from different part of Indonesia? Not all batiks are original from Java like Pekalongan. In addition, batik from one and the others places influences its pattern as well.

Batik from Pekalongan

Pekalongan has been well-known as a place where batik originally comes from. It has been long before UNESCO officially makes decision batik as cultural heritage, people know that Pekalongan is a city of batik. Even, some of them only understand that batik is from Pekalongan. They don’t want to wear batik if it is not from Pekalongan.

In fact, there are batiks from other places, not only from Pekalongan. However, Pekalongan batik is the favorite one since the pattern has been influenced by Islamic culture. As you know that Moslems from middle-east in the past came to Pekalongan in the past. They finally live in Pekalongan as seller and they spread out Islam there.

Now, Islam becomes religion believed by majority people of Indonesia. So, it is reasonable that Indonesia people know more about Pekalongan batik than the others.

Batik from Rembang

Another part of Central Java which has batik with certain pattern is Rembang. Most part of Rembang is sea and in the past many seller from China came to Indonesia through Rembang.

Like people from middle-east in Pekalongan, many Chinese people live in Rembang and they influence Rembang culture. If you visit Rembang, you will not find any difficulty to see old buildings which are designed and decorated like in China.

Now, it is not only buildings, but you can also enjoy the Rembang batik which has been influenced by Chinese culture as well. Dragon picture must be found in batik fabric from Rembang. As you know that Dragon is closely related to Chinese culture. Besides dragon, there are other chine patterns like turtle, golden fish, bat, and snakes.

However, it doesn’t mean that Java pattern is not found here in this Rembang batik. There is sekar jagad, parang udan riris, and grapes. Combination between Chinese and Javanese pattern shows that Rembang accept cross culture. They are tolerant toward the difference.

Batik from Solo

Solo is a place in Java which still has a palace. And Solo batik has relationship with a palace. The main characteristic of this batik is the color. It is easy to find out that it is batik from Solo or not. If the batik fabric is dominated with calm colors like blue and brown, possibly it is batik from Solo.

Up to now, the most frequent color used for Solo batik is brown. It is a color of the ground. It is a symbol of Solo land which is fertile. Besides, brown is also a symbol of strength, wealth, and sensuality for Solo people.

In terms of the pattern, batik Solo has certain characteristic. There are a lot of patterns but the most popular ones are Parang Kusumo, Sidoasih, Kawung, Sekar Jagat, and Truntum.

Batik from Jogjakarta

Jogjakarta has been told as a place which strongly preserves their culture. Like Solo, Jogjakarta has a palace and a king. Even, it is ruled by the King up to now. Therefore, it is not difficult to find the real characteristic of Jogjakarta city. You can see from the batik fabric.

The main characteristic of Jogjakarta batik is the pattern. Frequently, the batik from Jogjakarta is decorated with bird pattern. Other animal patterns are also used. Meanwhile, most of batik from Jogjakarta is made of two different colors. Both colors are combined. They are white and chocolate or black.

If you want visit Jogjakarta for holiday, it is not perfect you don’t buy Jogjakarta batik. Nevertheless, you have to be careful since there are three kinds of batik offered in several stores in Jogjakarta.

There different Kinds of Batik

First is batik tulis.  It is the most expensive one. Batik tulis can be said as hand-writing batik. It is batik which is purely made by hand. The process is very complicated. Only those who have mastered in painting batik can make it. They use special tools to draw pattern in fabric. Moreover, it takes 2-3 months to make one piece of batik fabric. Indeed, it depends on how complicated the pattern.

Second is batik cap. Actually, it is more about technique to make batik pattern. When batik tulis uses hand manually, batik cap uses special tool made of copper. There is printing on the copper and to make one piece of batik, it only takes 1-2 days.

Compared to the previous one, this type of batik is much cheaper. The process is simpler and it doesn’t need technique of painting batik because actually there has been printing.

The last is Batik Lukis. This type requires similar technique like batik tulis. It is written using hand. The difference is on the pattern. When batik tulis has certain pattern like dot and line, pattern for batik lukis is like animal, plantation, or human.

The process of making this batik lukis could be much longer than making batik tulis. It is due to the fact that the painters needs to explore their imagination of drawing certain object, unlike batik tulis which only needs to combine certain pattern like dot, line, curve, and many others. In short, batik lukis is much more complicated and probably it takes longer time to make it perfect.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that all batik fabrics with batik lukis pattern are sold in high price. The price is usually determined by the pattern. When the pattern is much complicated, the price is much more expensive. And in this case, batik tulis is sometimes much more complicated.

Where Can You Buy Batik Fabric?

In this digital era, it is not difficult to find almost anything. You can buy batik in online store. You see the pattern, pick, and send the payment. Your ordered batik will be delivered into your house.

However, if you really want to see the sensation of purchasing batik, it would be better if you visit the place where batik is made. For instance, you can come to Jogjakarta for having vacation and also for hunting batik fabric. This is a recommended place to hunt fabric because a lot of fabrics with different pattern from different place like Pekalongan, Solo, Rembang, and of course Jogjakarta are sold in this place.

Another reason why you should buy batik in Jogjakarta is that because you probably can see directly the process of making batik. If you want, there is a short course which will teach you how to make batik. You make your own batik and you bring it to your home. Isn’t that interesting?

Now, you have already known about batik. It is not only from Pekalongan. Besides, batik has pattern and each pattern has meaning. Which pattern for batik fabric do you prefer?