History of batik in Indonesia

Batik is the art of drawing on fabric for garments made with the technique of wax resist, using the material. The word batik is derived from the Java language, which means writing. Batik technique has been known for thousands of years ago. There is no historical information is quite clear about the origins of batik. Some suspect this technique comes from the Sumerian, then developed in Java after being taken by Indian traders. Batick, batic, bathik, battik, batique and Batek and batix is another term batik cloth. Currently batik can be found in many countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and Iran. Besides Asia, batik is also very popular in some countries on the African continent. However, batik, which is very famous in the world is derived from Indonesian batiks and batik in Pekalongan an iconic development of the archipelago, so called as a BATIK TOWN

Batik historically been known since XVII century, written and painted on palm leaves. Batik motif at that time dominated by animals and plants. But then the motif was developed into shape like a cloud, temple reliefs, wayang beber, and others.

The history of batik in Indonesia associated with the development of the Majapahit kingdom and the kingdom afterwards. In some records, the development of batik is mostly done during the dark days of the Mataram kingdom, then in the kingdom of Solo and Yogyakarta.

Batik art is the art of drawing on the fabric for clothing that becomes one of the family culture Indonesian kings of old. Batik initially worked in the palace just limited to clothing and the result was the king and family and his followers. Because many of the followers of the king who lived outside the palace, the art of batik was brought by the palace and carried them out in place of each.

In the development of batik art was gradually imitated by the people nearest and subsequently expanded into the work of women in the household to fill his spare time. Furthermore, batik clothing was only the royal family, then became a popular folk clothes, both women and men.

White fabric that is used when it is the result of homespun. Coloring materials being used consists of plants native to Indonesia who made their own from among others: noni tree, tall, soga, indigo, and materials made from soda ash soda, as well as salts made from mud.

So this batik in Indonesia has been known since the days of the Majapahit kingdom and continue to grow until the next kingdom. As for starting the spread of this batik art belong to the people of Indonesia and Java in particular tribe is after the end of the century or the beginning of XVIII-XIX century. Produced batik batik is all until the early twentieth century and printed batik is known only then after the world wars or the unity around the year 1920. Now batik has become part of traditional Indonesian clothing.

Indonesian batik, as the overall engineering, technology, and development-related motives and culture, UNESCO has been designated as a Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity since October 2, 2009.