Batik Patterns & Motifs


Throughout Indonesian batik history, there are thousands of batik motifs created in different regions. Batik motifs are created with philosophy and meaning. Certain motifs have certain meaning and intended to be worn for different occasions, ceremonies, and also there are motifs reserved for royal court.

GEOMETRICAL and NON-GEOMETRICAL are the two main patterns.

GEOMETRICAL includes Banji, Ceplok, Kawung, Nitik, Lereng (diagonal).

NON-GEOMETRICAL includes Semen (spring), lung-lungan, and other influences especially from Islamic culture (brought by Sunni Moslem from Gujarat, India in 12th century), Chinese (brought by traders arrived in Indonesia in 15th century) and European (during Dutch occupation in Indonesia in 16th through 19th century).

Each motif has many different varieties showing creativity of the batik artisans.


GEOMETRICAL batik motifs.

BANJI

The oldest motif, originated from China, from a Chinese word ban:ten and dzi:thousand, the word means good fortune or happiness. Adopted by the Javanese called balok bosok. This motif often decorated with flowers and leaves.

    


CEPLOK

A general name for geometric designs based on squares, rectangular, circles, rhombus, stars, etc.

    


KAWUNG

Kawung means aren in Javanese (palm fruit), intersecting circles looks like palm fruit, usually a group of four ovals. As one of the oldest designs, found on Prambanan, a Javanese Hindu Temple built in 8th century. This motif was reserved for royal court.

    


NITIK

Comes from the word TIK, means dot. A delicate combination of dots and small line imitating a woven fabric. Inspired by woven patola clothes brought by traders from Gujarat, India in 13th century.

    


LERENG (diagonal)

Diagonal rows of patterns. One of the most common diagonal pattern is PARANG motif, which is a series of knife ornament, reserved for royal court. Diagonal motif can also a mixture of geometrical, leaves and flowers.

    


NON-GEOMETRICAL batik motifs.

SEMEN (SPRING)

Capturing new growth on a fertile ground of mount Mahameru (meru). Decorated with plants ( from new growth such as leaves and buds, to flowers), animals (with plants as background) and Lar (Garuda eagle wings combined with plants and animals).

Garuda eagle wings and tail as a combination with plants and animals. One wing:lar, a pair of wings:mirong, and open feather tail:sawat. Lar was a symbol of 17th century's Mataram Kingdom in Central Java under the great Sultan Agung. This motif was also reserved for royal court.

    


LUNG-LUNGAN

Capturing plants and animals images as semen without meru (mountain image). 

Plants - leaves, buds, and flowers.

    

Animals - capturing animals around the area where batik is made. Coastal artisans show sea life, and others show roosters, goat, cow, butterfly, dragonfly, etc.

        


Other influences

ISLAMIC influences

    


CHINESE influence

Motifs include mega mendung (clouds), lion, phoenix, naga (dragon), lotus

    


EUROPEAN influence

Motifs include bouquet, birds, bangau (crane), butterfly, flowers