batik cirebon

Batik Cirebon

In history, batik Cirebon pattern modes can not be separated from collaboration of religions, arts, cultures brought by various ethnics and nations in the past. Before 20th century, Cirebon, which had sea harbor, became a city which was trading various products coming from many islands, visited by many traders from various ethnics including entrepreneurs from China and Middle East.

This ethnics and cultures gathering, which was caused by trading, has given influencing access to Cirebon arts and cultures motives. These culture influences can be seen from the greatness carts located at both palaces in Cirebon, which are “Singa Barong” cart at Kasepuhan Palace and “Peksi Naga Liman” Cart at Kanoman Palace. The shapes of imagination animals like “Singa Barong” and “Peksi Naga Liman” are reflected in batik Trusmi pattern modes.

Batik Palace pattern modes divided into 2 types. First, the type that is usually used by “punggawa” or “abdi dalam” (internal palace servant). Batik for “punggawa” has big and strong pattern modes. The second type is the type used by aristocrats, with soft and small pattern mode. The colors of original Cirebon batik usually comprise of sogan, black, dark blue, and yellow.

Culture and religion influences to batik Cirebon pattern modes are also symbolized at plate batik and “selampad” plate batik. Pattern modes at those batiks are inspired by China porcelain plate arrangement used for wall decoration at Astana Gunung Jati Palace. These “China style” pattern modes are the accumulation of the tastes of china descendant traders.

Batik from those china descendant traders generally has red, blue, green, and white colors and become the trade mark of coastal area batik.

Pattern modes are also adopted from symbols related to history myths such as Earth Centrum patterns showing a hole on top of Jati Mountain where Islamic scholars having meeting and discussion. “Ayam Alas Gunung” pattern symbolizes Islamic teaching and spreading from Jati Mountain. Also “Taman Arum Sunyaragi” batik symbolizes a beautiful, fragrance park where Kings meditate to close themselves to God.

One of the of culture and religion influences can be felt significantly through mystic such as “Kapal Keruk” batik. This batik, as per the mystic belief, is very useful to be used during seeking knowledge. On the other hand, “Kapal Kandas” batik is useful to be used by adult and mature people who are tough in facing difficulties in life and in reaching their goals. (resumed from various sources)