Batik Solo, a fabric full of Philosophy

Batik Solo, a fabric full of Philosophy

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Indonesia, a paradise in the equatorial zone, is a country that is not only rich in natural resources but also rich in a mix of art and culture. The island stretching from east to west holds a variety of ethnic, cultural and regional characteristics.

One of the distinctive features of the Indonesian nation that has become the national identity of the nation and penetrated the international market share is Batik Fabric. The activity of making batik is the art of drawing or decorating on plain cloth with the technique of painting cloth using wax on the undesirable parts to be colored, and the dyes used are still using materials from nature.

This activity really requires patience and accuracy. This batik culture has developed in Indonesia since the days of the Majapahit Kingdom. In Indonesia there are 50 kinds of batik from various regions, in a previous article I had already discussed about Batik Bogor in West Java and its manufacturing process, but now I will discuss one more place in Central Java, Indonesia which is also famous for the rich variety of batik cloth, which is the City of Solo.

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The city is located in the province of Central Java, and entered into the Surakarta Residency. So that the solo is a place that is very guarding the culture and customs of the Javanese. Solo is a city that is not too big but crowded, and has the thickness of culture that becomes its own charm. With the slogan “The Spirit of Java”, the city has a commitment to remain strong in preserving culture.

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The place that became the center of batik centers in Solo was Laweyan Village. Here, we can find various types of typical solo batik motifs that are rich in philosophy. Each type of motive has its own meaning. However, the characteristic of batik from solo is its small sized motif and is usually geometric in shape. In the era of the palace, batik activities became daily activities and became exclusive activities for women in Solo. The following are some of the famous solo batik motifs and are in the spotlight.

Slobog Batik Pattern

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Slobog in Javanese dialect the meaning is large or loose and has a triangular geometric pattern.The shape is square and diagonally separated. On one side of the motif that is separated by a line, there is a circle surrounded by six dots. Batik This batik is usually worn at the time of the death ceremony in the hope that the departed spirit will not get hindered and his kindness will be received by God Almighty.

This certainly involves religious beliefs that state life after death. Not only that, batik is also commonly used during the inauguration ceremony of government officials in the hope of being given instructions in leading and carrying out their responsibilities during the tenure.

Parang Batik Pattern

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Parang comes from the Javanese word dialect, ‘pereng’ or if interpreted as a slope. Perengan draw a descending line from high to low diagonally. Parang is the oldest batik motif in Indonesia. The intertwined ‘S’ pattern symbolizes of continuity. Batik with this type of pattern has a high and deep meaning.

This pattern has the meaning of never giving up in any case and continuing to strive to improve oneself, social welfare efforts, and other enthusiasm. The passionate meaning of making batik is usually used at the opening ceremony in the hope that each event participant can strive to continue to do their best for the smooth and sustainable event.

Sawat Batik Pattern

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Sawat in Javanese means throw. In ancient times, people still believed in the existence of a god who could control the power of the universe. One such god is Batara Indra. Batara Indra has a wing shaped weapon and is used by throwing. This Batara Indra weapon by local residents is manifested in the motifs on the fabric. This pattern has a meaning for the user so that his life is always protected.

Kawung Batik Pattern

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This batik has a circular pattern similar to the kawung (a type of coconut) arranged neatly geometrically so it is called Batik Kawung. This kawung pattern is often regarded by Javanese as a lotus flower with 4 wide leaves that break. For the Javanese, the lotus flower symbolizes purity and the ability to control lust and guard the conscience. The meaning for the user, is expected to be a wise person and useful for the surrounding community. In the past, this batik can only be used by the royal circles so that this batik also symbolizes authority in leading.

Truntum Batik Pattern

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Truntum comes from the word tumaruntum which means to grow and develop. Truntum Batik has a pattern of small motifs resembling flickering stars with a basic coloring is black. This batik has a philosophy of unconditional sincerity of love that continues to grow and last for life.

Usually, this batik is worn on a Javanese traditional wedding procession in the Surakarta style and is worn by the bride’s parents. The use of batik in the procession is expected that the bride’s parents can set an example for their children in fostering the household with sincere love and affection that continues to grow.

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Some of the batik motifs above are examples of various types of batik found in Indonesia. Batik, is the identity of the Indonesian people who continue to be maintained and developed its sustainability. Even now the Java Private Tour has become one of the online distributors of Batik Solo, in accordance with the vision and mission of the Java Private Tour is to continue to explore various positive potentials from various aspects of social, cultural, art and economic empowerment of local communities, as well as learning and education aspects to make Indonesian people more creative and able to develop themselves in the midst global competition.

If you visit Indonesia, don’t forget to buy batik cloth as a souvenir for relatives. Different motives, have different meanings. This uniqueness has succeeded in attracting the attention of world citizens and bringing batik through cross border markets.

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For ordering Batik Solo fabric, style desires, motifs and information about prices, please contact us on info@javaprivatetour.com or connect with our customer service representative +6281281873800 (available for whatapps & telephone).

Written by @nsnov

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