History of Batik Indonesia

Batik is historically derived from the time of the ancestors known since XVII century that was written and painted on the leaf Lontar. At that time batik motif or pattern is still dominated by the form of animals and plants. However, in the history of its development to the development of batik, the pattern of color-painting animals and plants slowly move on the abstract patterns that resemble a cloud, temple reliefs, wayang beber, and so forth. Then through the merger with the art style paintings decorating clothing, batik art show as we know now.

Type and traditional batik patterns are very many, but the patterns and variations in accordance with the philosophy and culture of each region is very diverse. Khasanah culture of a nation so rich has been to encourage the birth of various patterns and types of batik traditional with specific own characteristics.


The development of Batik in Indonesia
History Batik in Indonesia related to the development of the kingdom of Majapahit kingdom and beyond. In some notes, the development of batik is done many times in the kingdom of Mataram, then the kingdom of Solo and Yogyakarta.

Batik art is art in the image on the cloth for clothing that was one of the family culture of kings before the era of Indonesia. Originally batik is limited only in the Palace and the results for the king and clothes of the family and followers. Because many of the cohort who live outside the king's Palace, the batik art is carried out by them and the Palace are area each.

The process of making batik
In its development slowly batik art is imitated by the people nearest and further extends into the work of women in the household to fill leisure time. Furthermore, the batik was only clothes the family palace, and then become something that people tune, both women and men.

Of white cloth that is used at that time is the result of the texture itself. Medium coloring materials used consist of plants native to Indonesia made from, among others: tree mengkudu, high, soga, indigo, and sodanya made from soda ash, salt and mud made from clay.

So this handicraft batik in Indonesia has been known since the times of the kingdom of Majapahit and growing up to the next kingdom. The expansion began this batik art become the property of the people of Indonesia and especially after the tribe of Java is the end of XVIII century or early-to-XIX century. Batik produced batik is all up to the beginning of the century to the XX-and cap batik, known after the new world after the first war or around 1920. Batik is now a part of the traditional Indonesian clothing.


Pekalongan Batik
Although there is no official record at the start batik in Pekalongan, but according to estimates batik in Pekalongan have been around 1800. In fact, according to data recorded in Deperindag, batik motif was created in 1802, as a small tree motif shirt material.

However, a significant development after the war is going great in the kingdom of Mataram in 1825-1830 often called the war with the Diponegoro war or Java. With the occurrence of this war and urged the family of the Palace many followers who leave the kingdom. They then spread to the East and West. Then in the region - the region is the new family and followers develop batik.

To the east of Yogyakarta and Solo batik perfect batik patterns existing in Mojokerto and Tulungagung to spread to Gresik, Surabaya and Madura. Towards the West is being developed in batik Banyumas, Kebumen, Tegal, Pekalongan and Cirebon. With this migration, the batik Pekalongan that have been previously growing.

Over time, Batik Pekalongan experienced rapid growth compared with other regions. Batik in this area developed around the coastal region, namely in the area of the city and region Pekalongan Buaran, Pekajangan and Wonopringgo.

Museum Batik Pekalongan
Pekalongan meeting people with different nations such as China, Dutch, Arabic, Indian, Malay and Japanese at the time of yesteryear have been coloring the patterns and dynamics of governance color batik art.

Accordingly several types of batik motif results from the influence of various countries who became known as the identity of Pekalongan batik. Motif that is batik Jlamprang, inspired from Indian and Arab Affairs. Then Encim batik and Klengenan, influenced by Chinese hybrid. Dutch batik, batik Pagi Sore, and batik Hokokai, growing rapidly since Japan's occupation.


The development of culture techniques in print motif close to the dye using the night (candle) at the top of the cloth, which was then called batik, indeed can not be released from the influence of the countries. This shows the context kelenturan batik from time to time.

Batik Pekalongan be very special because bertopang entirely on the hundreds of small entrepreneurs, not the handful of large employers have capital. Since ten past year until now, most of the production process is done in batik Pekalongan homes. As a result, batik Pekalongan integrates closely with the community life of Pekalongan is now divided into two administrative regions, and the Municipality of Pekalongan Kabupaten Pekalongan.

Tidal development batik Pekalongan, Pekalongan show to be feasible for the development of the icons of batik in Indonesia. Icon for works of art that never surrendered to the development of the age and always dynamic. Batik is now a breath of daily life and the people of Pekalongan is an excellent product. This is due to the many industries which produce batik. Because with the famous product its batik, Pekalongan, known as BATIK CITY. Nickname came from a tradition that is rooted in the old Pekalongan. During the period that is long, diverse nature, purposes multiformity, type design, and quality of batik is determined by the climate and the presence of local fiber-fiber, historical factors, trade and goodwill in the community understand and accept new ideas.

Batik is the art culture of the world be admired, among multiformity produced with traditional technology dye occupied, not one that is able to attend as beautiful and as soft Pekalongan batik.