Dluwang Cultural-Historical Aspects and Material Characteristics
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DLUWANG CULTURAL-HISTORICAL ASPECTS AND MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS Research Report René Teijgeler Utrecht, July 1995 Leiden University Faculty of Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia and Oceania Projects Department René Teijgeler Springweg 104 3511 VV Utrecht The Netherlands 1 Preface In June 1993, at the instigation of the University of Leiden (Faculty of Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia and Oceania, Projects Department), a subsidy was applied for from the Ministry of Education and Science for the research project, ‘Dluwang’. The subsidy was awarded in December of that year and on 1 May 1994 the one-year project started. This study was also submitted before the Cultural Anthropology Department, Utrecht University in 1996. In that year the author obtained a cum laude Master of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropology. The aim of the study was to increase knowledge about dluwang. The research is focused in particular on the development of the physical characterization of dluwang through the analysis of botanical and biochemical properties. In addition, the project aims to provide insight into the cultural-historical aspects of the manufacture and use of this material. The research focused on the following questions: What is the production process of dluwang? What materials are used for the production of dluwang? Are there any determining botanical and/or biochemical properties based on the composition of dluwang that could enable a quick, adequate distinction between dluwang and other similar proto-papers? By whom, for whom, where and when was dluwang produced; is it still being produced? An interdisciplinary team of scientists carried out several experimental investigations for this project. During the research it became apparent that the proposed test images with X-ray, ultraviolet and infrared radiation would not contribute to a better understanding of the material so this part of the research was abandoned. The National Library of the Netherlands (Koninklijke Bibliotheek) was prepared to share its experiences using the Iso-Electro Focusing separation method for the research: a welcome addition to the other tests. The Central Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science (Centraal Laboratorium voor Onderzoek van Voorwerpen van Kunst en Wetenschap; now part of the Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage) Amsterdam attempted to characterise dluwang with X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) and Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC). i The National Herbarium of the Netherlands (Rijksherbarium) in Leiden examined the anatomy of more dluwang specimens than originally planned at no extra cost. From 31 October 1994 to 10 January 1995, fieldwork in Indonesia (Java, Madura, Bali) and northern Thailand was carried out. The latter has a traditional paper industry that was initially supported by the Thai government 20 years ago in the form of projects and has now become a flourishing cottage industry. The raw material for this industry is the same as for dluwang and in the future such a project could also be realised in Java. Vienna and Paris were not visited, as there was too little new information to be gained. However, the Indonesian collection of the British Library in London was extensively examined. The economic botany collections of the National Herbarium of the Netherlands yielded a surprising amount of interesting information as it holds parts of collections from the Colonial Institute, afdeling Handelsmuseum (Colonial Institute, department Trade Museum) and from the Technische Hogeschool, Delft (Delft University of Technology). Very valuable data was also collected at the Paper-historical Department (Papierhistorische afdeling) of the National Library of the Netherlands in The Hague. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the research at the Central Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science lasted longer than planned, so that the final phase of the dluwang project was delayed. It only remains to extend my thanks to the many in the Netherlands and Indonesia without whom this project could not have been realised, including in particular Prof. W. Stokhof (International Institute of Asian Studies) for his efforts in getting the project off the ground, Dr. W. van der Molen (University of Leiden, Faculty of Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia and Oceania) for his enthusiastic commitment and linguistic advice, Dr. H. Porck (Paper-historical Department of the National Library of the Netherlands) for his experimental research and for the many encouraging discussions, Prof. P. Baas (National Herbarium of the Netherlands) for his kindness and patience, drs. J. Hofenk de Graaf (Central Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science) for removing the many obstacles, drs.Titik Pudjiastuti (Universitas Indonesia, Fakultas Sastra) for her guidance in the field, drs.J. Erkelens (University of Leiden, KITLV) for his time and affability, Pak Ading (Tunggilis, Indonesia) for his extensive information and his display of dluwang beating. ii Over the years the interest in tapa and dluwang grew slowly. Colleagues asked me once in while to translate my research on dluwang as they considered the multidisciplinary approach of special interest. As I was always very busy in other research projects I never took the time to answer the request of my colleagues. Finally, in 2011 I asked J.C. Barnett to make the translation into English. Now, at the age of retirement I had a good look at the research again and decided to publish it in English. I realize of course that since 1996 when I finished this research much has changed. All the same I do not want to withhold my early work on tapa to new generations of researchers who share my interest in beaten tree bark. Drs. René Teijgeler Utrecht, 4 August 2016 iii Content Preface i Introduction vi 1 History 1 1.1 Tapa 1 1.2 Javanese literature 2 1.3 Malay literature 3 1.4 Ancient Chinese texts 3 1.5 Image support 4 1.6 Writing support 4 1.7 Colonial era 6 1.8 Post World War II 7 2 Production process 10 2.1 Different qualities 10 2.2 Overview of dluwang production 11 3 Scientific research 16 3.1 Anatomical examination 16 3.2 Iso-Electro Focusing 17 3.3 X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry 19 3.4 Thin Layer Chromatography 19 3.5 Examination using the sense 20 4 Application 23 4.1 Use on Java and Madura 23 4.1.1 Writing support 23 4.1.2 Kertas Telo 24 4.1.3 Image support 26 4.1.4 Bookbinding material 26 4.1.5 Other 27 4.2 Use in the Netherlands 28 4.2.1 Material for arts and crafts 28 5 Balinese tapa? 29 5.1 Bali 29 5.2 Sulawesi 29 iv 6 Future 31 6.1 Sustainable production 31 6.2 Dluwang, a luxury and everyday article of use? 32 6.3 Can these ideas be realised? 32 Appendix 1: Map of dluwang production on Java and Madura 34 Appendix 2: Means of polishing dluwang by region 35 Appendix 3: Reference materials from the Economic Botany collection at the 36 National Herbarium of the Netherlands, Leiden Appendix 4: Fibre thickness measurements of four possible plant species for 38 dluwang, 3 tapa specimens and 25 dluwang specimens Appendix 5: Examined dluwang and tapa samples 41 Appendix 6: Table of anatomical features of four possible plant species for dluwang and 25 dluwang specimen 43 Appendix 7: X-ray Fluorescence. Comparative indication of the levels of determined elements and metals in 16 (beaten) tree barks from the reference collection of the National Herbarium of the Netherlands 46 Appendix 8: Thin-Layer Chromatography of Broussonetia papyrifera Vent. 48 Appendix 9: Thin-Layer Chromatography of dluwang samples both with the Resin system and Red dye system 49 Appendix 10: Indicative outline for determining dluwang using visual examination 50 Appendix 11: Javanese manuscripts in the Netherlands (Pigeaud, 1967) 51 Appendix 12: Manuscripts in the collection of Museum Sonobudoyo, (Behrend, 1990) 52 Appendix 13: Manuscripts in the collections at Cirebon (Titik Pudjiastuti et al, 1994) 55 Appendix 14: Javanese manuscripts on dluwang in four different collections 57 Appendix 15: Native and Latin plant names 58 Appendix 16: Glossary 60 Appendix 17: Iso-Electro Focusing patterns of different specimen 62 Appendix 18: Dluwang bibliography 63 Notes 72 v Introduction Many Javanese literature experts wonder what dluwang really is. Is it a typical Javanese product or is it made elsewhere, is it just a name for paper, is it made from cassava, and is it a beaten bark known under the generic name of tapa? It seemed only logical to examine beaten tree bark after studying the Batak folded book written on raw tree bark. When this opportunity presented itself I grasped it with both hands. Based on the following study, dluwang may be defined as follows: Dluwang is a beaten bark (tapa) of the paper mulberry tree (Broussonetia papyrifera Vent.) of Java and Madura The tree sort was determined with the highest possible probability by the National Herbarium of the Netherlands, Leiden by studying the anatomy of 16 reference sections and 25 dluwang specimen. The literature has already made clear that dluwang must be a beaten bark. This was confirmed in interviews with dluwang makers in Tegalsari, Ponorogo and Tunggilis, Garut. In Tunggilis I was fortunate to find someone who could make the material for me. Pak Ading proved to be a patient and friendly informant who could relate a great deal about dluwang and its production. The paper mulberry tree is known as one of the oldest suppliers of raw paper material and as a good substitute for hemp and linen. With the spread of paper technology, the tree became known in Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Northern Thailand and Burma. In Southern Asia the paper mulberry was already renowned as a raw material for the first tapa. Evidence for tapa production dates back to north Taiwan around 4300 BC.