THE VISUAL ORNAMENTS OF THE RIFA’IYAH PELO ATI BATIK AS A MODE OF ISLAMIC PROSELYTISM
Abstract
Batik is a
traditional cloth decoration technique. In 2009, UNESCO recognized Batik as an
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from Indonesia. In recent times, batik
has started declining towards being a lost art, much of which the collective
responsibility of the Indonesian nation.
Batik
features a variety of visual ornaments containing life sayings and messages
embedded by its designers for their audiences. However, many of such cyphers
are yet to be decoded. Decrypting the embedded messages left by elders in the
visual ornaments of classic batik motifs is a worthwhile endeavour and
manifestation of the Indonesian nation’s effort to preserve batik. Among batik
visual ornaments laden with philosophical meanings is the Pelo Ati batik of the
Rifa’iyahs. The visual ornament incorporates the teachings of Sheikh Ahmad
Rifa’i's brand of tasawwuf, wherein man may be considered as virtuous or unvirtuous
by his heart.
This study
is limited to the Pelo Ati visual ornament of the Rifa’iyah batik. Future
studies shall focus on the visual ornaments of other batik cloths. The limit is
imposed in order to preserve and socialise the meanings of the visual ornaments
of batiks found in the Indonesian Archipelago. In addition, a number of
Indonesians are still ill-informed of the implicit messages on batik cloths. This
study employs ethnographic methods accompanied by a literature review on the
history of the Rifa’iyah community in Kalipucang-Batang, its batik, and its culture.
This study also uses in-depth interviews with batik experts, Rifa'iyah Batik
experts, and Rifa’iyah religious figures. For a period of time, residence is
taken within the Rifa'iyah community in Kalipucang-Batang.
Keywords
References
- Amin, Ahmad Syadzirin, 1996/1997, Gerakan Syaikh Ahmad Rifa’i Dalam Menentang Kolonial Belanda, Jakarta: Jama’ah Masjid Baiturrahman Astuti, Soekma Yeni, 2006, Bentuk Ragam Hias Batik Rifa’iyah Di Kalipucang Wetan, Kabupaten Batang, Skripsi Program Studi S-1 Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia Surakarta Geertz, Clifford, 1992, Kebudayaan dan Agama, Yogyakarta : Kanisius Prizilla, Bulan, 2013, Perancangan Ragam Hias Batik Rifa'iyah, Tesis Program Studi S-2 Institut Teknologi Bandung Rizali, Nanang, 2014, Nafas Islami Dalam Batik Nusantara, Surakarta : UNS Press Sa’ad, Mukhlisin, 2004, Gerakan Mengungkap Gerakan dan Pemikiran Syaikh Ahmad Rifa’i (1200-1286 H / 1786-1875), Penerjemah: Ahmad Syadzirin Amin, Pekalongan: Yayasan Badan Wakaf Rifa’iyah Sunaryo, Aryo, 2009, Ornamen Nusantara, Semarang: Dahara Prize
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
-
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Aquamila Bulan Prizilla
*
Indonesia
Agus Sachari
Indonesia
Publication Date
December 27, 2017
Submission Date
October 27, 2017
Acceptance Date
February 8, 2018
Published in Issue
Year 2017 Volume: 3 Number: 9
Cited By
Batik Rifa'iyah Sebagai Dokumen
Jurnal Ilmu Informasi, Perpustakaan, dan Kearsipan
https://doi.org/10.7454/JIPK.v23i1.001Tradition and Spirituality: Exploring the Motifs of Rifaiyah Batik in the Context of Islamic Values
IBDA` : Jurnal Kajian Islam dan Budaya
https://doi.org/10.24090/ibda.v23i1.12930