50++ Meaning of Behind the Traditional Indonesian Batik

Yanuar Hadi
3 min readOct 15, 2016

Batik is both an art and a craft, which is becoming more popular and well known in the West as a wonderfully creative medium. The art of decorating cloth in this way, using wax and dye, has been practised for centuries. In Java, Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still made there. The word batik originates from the Javanese tikand means to dot.

Here I include the meaning in every Indonesian batik motifs that always accompanies it.

1. Truntum Indonesian Batik

Truntum Motif from Traditional Indonesian Batik. Via http://obatrindu.com

The Truntum motif was created by Kanjeng Ratu Kencana, the wife of Sunan Pakubuwana III, and refers to revitalized one. She created this motif as a symbol of unconditional, everlasting love that continues to grow (tumaruntum). Because of its meaning, the cloth with the truntum motif is usually worn by the parents of the bride and groom on the wedding day. It is hoped that the love symbolized in this motif will be passed on the bridal couple. It is some times felt that the parents are required to “guide” the bridal couple as they enter a new life together.

2. Kawung Batik Indonesian

Kawung Motif from Traditional Indonesian Batik. Via http://obatrindu.com

The kawung motif is oval, resembling the kawung fruit (a kind of palm whose fruit is sometimes called kolang-kaling), and arrange in a neat geometric patern. Sometimes this motif is also interpreted as the lotus flower with four split petals. The lotus flowers symbolizes long life and purity.

3. Semen Rama Indonesian Batik

The Semen Rama (Pronounced Semen Romo) motif is often connected to the Ramayana story, which features the teaching of Hastha Brata, the Eight Precepts of Good Governance. This invaluable lesson was a gift from Ramawijaya to Wibisana when the latter was crowned King of Alengka. Thus Semen Rama embodies the teaching of the essential qualities of a king or leader.

4. Sekar Jagad Indonesian Batik

Sekar Jagad Motif from Traditional Indonesian Batik. Via http://obatrindu.com

The Sekar Jagad motif embodies the meaning of beauty and grace that impresses people. There are also those who consider the Sekar Jagad motif to come from words “kar Jagad” (Kar=map; Jagad=world), so this motif symbolizes the diversity that is found throughout the world.

5. Sido Luhur Indonesian Batik

Sido Luhur Motif from Traditional Indonesian Batik. Via http://obatrindu.com

The motif Sida Luhur (pronounced “Sido Luhur”) expresses the hope to achieve a high position in society and to become a community leader.

And then, for more reason about 50++ meaning traditional batik from Indonesian.

Check it out on Link “50++ Meaning of Behind the Traditional Indonesian Batik”

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