HONG KONG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Batik, Indonesia's traditional wax-resist dyeing craft, refers not only to the intricate technique but also to the exquisite fabrics and garments it creates.
With a history as rich as its patterns, batik is woven into the very fabric of many Indonesians' lives: newborns are cradled in batik slings by their mothers; toddlers take their first steps on pristine batik cloth, symbolizing a smooth journey ahead; bridal attire incorporates batik motifs to bless marriages with harmony; and the departed are shrouded in batik for their final rest. Batik stands as a proud emblem of Indonesian identity.
Customers select Indonesian batik attire at a batik store named Batik Hamzah in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, May 18, 2025.
Store clerks arrange Indonesian batik attire at a batik store named Batik Hamzah in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, May 18, 2025.
A merchant sells Indonesian batik products via live streaming on an e-commerce platform at a batik shop in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, May 19, 2025.
The traditional batik process is a dance of wax and dye. Artisans sketch or stamp molten wax onto fabric with specialized tools. Once cooled, the cloth is dyed and the wax shields select areas from color. Layer by layer, wax and dye interplay, with each hue requiring a separate stage. Nature itself lends its bounty, providing the wax and pigments that bring batik to life.
Students use “cantings”, copper pens with wooden handles, to get molten wax in preparation for sketching batik motifs on cloth at Kampung Batik Giriliyo in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, May 19, 2025. The wax is usually made of paraffins or plant resins.
A worker blows her “canting” before sketching batik motifs on cloth at Kampung Batik Giriliyo in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, May 19, 2025.
A worker sketches batik motifs on cloth at Kampung Batik Giriliyo in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, May 19, 2025. Kampung Batik Giriloyo is an important cultural center for handwriting batik motif in Yogyakarta.
Workers stamp batik motifs on cloth at Batik Domas home industry in Kauman village, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, May 17, 2025.
A worker washes batik cloth at Batik Domas home industry in Kauman village, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, May 17, 2025.
A worker prepares to dry batik cloth in Krajan village, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, May 17, 2025.
Workers dry Indonesian batik cloth with beach motif at a batik workshop in Krajan village, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, May 17, 2025.
A worker dries Indonesian batik cloth with flower motif at a batik workshop in Krajan village, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, May 17, 2025.
A worker dries Indonesian batik cloth at a batik workshop in Krajan village, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, May 17, 2025.
Batik designs are a visual language, steeped in cultural and historical significance. Some patterns carry philosophical weight, their use was once restricted to sacred ceremonies or royalty. The kaleidoscope of colors and motifs reflects Indonesia's tapestry of cultures, each region adding its own voice.
This photo taken on May 17, 2025 shows finished batik fabrics with different motifs displayed at Batik Domas home industry in Kauman village, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia.
Across the archipelago, batik varies like dialects. Its evolution bears traces of foreign influences, particularly from China, carried by centuries of trade. In coastal Javanese towns like Lasem and Tuban, batik absorbed Chinese aesthetics-Lasem's porcelain-inspired whites, Tuban's phoenix motifs, and Cirebon's "auspicious clouds" palette borrowed from Nanjing brocade.
This photo taken on May 18, 2025 shows an exhibit displayed at the Indonesian Batik Museum in Jakarta, Indonesia. This piece showcases Chinese-influenced Indonesian batik, featuring traditional Chinese phrases such as “May your happiness be as vast as the eastern sea” and “May your longevity rival the southern mountains” on the batik garment.
On October 2, 2009, UNESCO inscribed Indonesian batik on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In recognition of this honor, Indonesia subsequently designated this date as National Batik Day. Major cities, including Jakarta and Yogyakarta, have established dedicated museums showcasing batik artworks, traditional craftsmanship, and tools.
This photo taken on May 18, 2025 shows an exterior view of Museum Batik Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia.
This photo taken on May 18, 2025 shows batik cloth exhibited in Museum Batik Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia.
People visit Museum Batik Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 18, 2025.
This photo taken on May 18, 2025 shows exhibits in Museum Batik Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Indonesia has also established a weekly "Batik Friday" initiative, encouraging employees of government agencies, public institutions, and major corporations to wear batik attire every Friday to promote and preserve their national culture. With its growing influence, batik has evolved into a vibrant symbol of modern fashion while retaining its traditional roots.
Dancers wearing Indonesian batik perform traditional dance during a dance festival event in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 11, 2025.
People wearing Indonesian batik pose for photos in front of Asian-African Conference Museum in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, May 16, 2025.
College students wearing batik are seen at a park in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, May 20, 2025.
A woman wearing batik poses for photos at a park in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, May 20, 2025.
Elementary school students wearing batik walk in campus on “Batik Friday” in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, May 16, 2025.
In this new era, batik's wax and dye continue to flow-an eternal river of artistry, identity, and innovation.
Photographers: Xu Qin, Septianjar Muharam, Agung Supriyanto, Bram Selo, Agung Kuncahya B.