Batik History

Definition of Batik
Batik is a culture that has long developed and known by the people of Indonesia. The word batik has some understanding. According Hamzuri in his book entitled Batik Classic, the sense of batik is a way to provide decoration on fabric by covering certain parts using barriers. Substances barrier is often used candles or malam.kain already drawn using the night then given color by the night pencelupan.setelah removed by boiling the fabric. Finally produced a piece of cloth called batik in the form of a variety of motives that have special properties.
Etymologically the word comes from the Javanese batik, namely "tick" which means point / automatic (verb, make a point), which later evolved into the term "batik" (Indonesia Indah "batik", 1997, 14). In addition, it has a meaning associated with making a point or shed a night on the cloth. According KRT.DR. HC. Kalinggo Hanggopuro (2002, 1-2) in the order book bathik as Clothing and guidance writes that, earlier writers use the term batik that are not written with the word "Batik" but should "bathik". This refers to the Java letter "tha" rather than "ta" and pemakaiaan bathik as a series of points is not quite right or be wrong. Based on the etymological actually identical batik is associated with a technique (process) from start to pelorodan depiction motif. One of which is characteristic of batik is pengambaran motifs way is through a process that is mengoreskan pemalaman wax placed in a container called canting and cap.


History of Batik
Judging from the development, batik has been known since the time of Majapahit and a spread of Islam. Batik initially only be limited by the palace. Batik worn by the king and his family and followers. By his followers batik is then taken out of the palace and developed in the community today. Historically, the period of development of batik can be grouped as follows:


Majapahit Kingdom era
Based on the history of its development, batik has evolved since the time of Majapahit. Mojokerto is the center of the Majapahit kingdom where batik was known at the time. Tulung is a city in East Java, which is also recorded in the history of batik. At that time, the Supreme Tulung still a swamp known as Bonorowo, ruled by Duke Kalang who do not want to submit to the kingdom of Majapahit until there was a police action launched by the Majapahit. Duke Kalang killed in fighting around the village Kalangbret and Tulung successfully controlled by Majapahit. Then many soldiers who live in the area Bonorowo (Tulung) to bring the culture of batik. It is they who develop batik. In its development, Mojokerto batik and Tulung much influenced by batik Yogyakarta. This happens because at the time the Dutch colonial army clash with the forces of Prince Diponegoro, a portion of Kyai Mojo forces withdrew eastward in Majan area. Therefore, the characteristic of batik Kalangbret of Mojokerto almost equal to Yogyakarta batik, which is essentially white and color coraknya brown and dark blue.

The spread of Islam era
Raden Katong Batoro a descendant of the kingdom of Majapahit brought Islam to Ponorogo, East Java. In the development of Islam in Ponorogo there is a boarding school located in an area that nurtured Tegalsari Kyai Hasan Basri. Kyai Hasan Basri was the son-king Kraton Solo. Batik, then still limited within the palace finally brought out of the palace and batik developed in Ponorogo. Tegalsari boarding schools educate their students to master the fields kepamongan and religion. Old batik area that can be seen now is that Kepatihan Wetan Kauman area extends to the village Ronowijoyo, Mangunsuman, Kertosari, Setono, Cokromenggalan, Duchy, Nologaten, Bangunsari, force, Banyudono and Ngunut.

Batik Solo and Yogyakarta
Batik in the area of ​​Yogyakarta known since antiquity to the Mataram kingdom-I during the king Panembahan Senopati. Plered the first batik village. Batik-making process at that time is still limited within the royal family and carried out by women maid of honor. At the time of the royal official ceremony, the royal family to wear a combination of batik and striated. See clothing worn royal family, the people interested and emulate so that eventually batikan out of the walls of the palace and widespread among the common people.
When the Dutch colonial period, where frequent wars that led to the royal family were displaced and settled in other areas such as Banyumas, Pekalongan, and to the east Ponorogo, Tulung and so then make batik more widely known.

Batik in Other Regions
Banyumas batik development in the area centered on Sokaraja. In 1830 after the war Diponegoro, batik was brought by followers of Prince Diponegoro who mostly settled in the area Banyumas. Banyumas batik motif known and special color and is known for Banyumas batik. In addition to Banyumas, there are also followers of Prince Diponegoro who settled in Pekalongan batik in the area and develop Buawaran, Pekajangan and Wonopringgo.
In addition to the region of Central Java, batik is also growing in West Java. This happens because the people of Central Java migrate to cities such as Ciamis and Tasikmalaya. Batik area in Tasikmalaya is Wurug, Sukapura, Mangunraja and Manonjaya. In the area of ​​Cirebon batik began to evolve from the palace and has its own characteristics.