Songket Batu Bara: Functional Analysis and Meaning

Ramlan Damanik

, Warisman Sinaga

Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan Indonesia

Keywords: Malay Batu Bara, Songket, Function and meaning of motif

Abstract: This study aims to explain, the function and meaning of motifs which are contained in songket Batu Bara.

Songket Batu Bara has a famous motif to overseas because it has a motive and material materials that are

typical and specific. Motifs and colors on the songket Batu Bara describe the life and personality of the day

people of Malay Batu Bara thick with customs that must be upheld. This study examines the functions and

meanings that exist in the motif of songket Batu Bara by using Ferdinand de Saussure theory. The method

used in this research is with qualitative approach with descriptive research type by using observation

method, interview, and documentation. The results of this study indicate that the existence of motif songket

Batu Bara very closely related to the surrounding natural in the district of Batu Bara for example, grow

shoot bamboo shoots, manggis shoots, shoots betikam, diamonds, shoots pandanus, silver shoots, flowers,

jasmine, cempaka and so forth. The meanings contained within each of these motifs depict ethnic Malay

characteristics such as Pucuk rebung motifs depicting that ethnic Malay hold firm, floral motif, cempaka

flower, jasmine flowers depicting politeness, ethnic Malay elegance.

1 INTRODUCTION

Songket is a traditional Malay woven fabric. songket

derived from the term sungkit meaningful mengait

or mencungkil. This is related to the way of making

that is by hooking and taking a dash of woven cloth

and then tucking the gold thread. There are eight

steps to be taken before becoming a woven fabric to

the eight steps include menorou, wheezing, menoto,

rubbing into Karab, insert into comb, raise to okik,

picking (making motifs) and last weave. Batu Bara

is regency located in North Sumatra is an area that

produces a lot of Malay songket quality. Besides the

good quality of songket Baru Bara is also known for

its motive motif that attracts so many orders from

abroad such as Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam,

Thailand. Songket Malay Batu Bara is currently

considered capable of expressing songket culture

especially in Sumatra and Malay world generally.

Songket is one of the handicrafts that play a role

shows one identity as a characteristic of the

Malay.Songket Malay Batu Bara rich with cultural

treasures of which is very prominent motive motif is

used in songket Batu Bara. Motifs that exist in

songket Stone Coal is sourced from nature and

favorite foods of the king like diamonds. Motif

motifs earlier gave birth to the name of the motif in

accordance with the basic form of the object used as

a motive. For example shoots pandan give birth to

pandan shoot motifs, shoots bamboo shoots give

birth to the name of shoot motif shoots and so forth.

Motifs songket Coal has a pattern and contains the

function and meaning of a particular meaning.

2 METHODS

The methodology used by researchers in this is

descriptive method with a qualitative approach, that

is making a description or description of the object

to be researched and then described systematically

the data encountered in the field.

3 REVIEW OF RELATED

LITERATURE

Semiotics or semiology is a term that refers to the

same science. Previous Longmann Dictionary of

Contemporary English (1978) explains, semiotics

is: ... .. .. the study of sign in general, asp, as they

related to language. Semiotics comes from the

Greek word semeion, meaning 'sign' or 'sign'. Thus,

Damanik, R. and Sinaga, W.

Songket Batu Bara: Functional Analysis and Meaning.

DOI: 10.5220/0009902600002480

In Proceedings of the International Conference on Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (ICNRSD 2018), pages 345-350

ISBN: 978-989-758-543-2

345

semiotics means knowledge of signs (Zulkifli, 2007,

Journal of fine arts, edition 2006.hal 25). This is

reinforced by Aart van Zoest, Semiotics, derived

from the Greek word 'Semeion' which means sign.

So semiotics means the science of signs. Semiotics

is a branch of science dealing with the assessment of

signs and all things related to signs, such as sign

systems and processes that apply to sign users.

"Semiotics, Overteken, hoe ze werken en wat we

ermee doen" 1993 ". In the same book Aart van

Zoest adds that: Semiotics is a branch of science that

studies the signs and everything associated with it,

such as the signs and developmental systems that

occur with respect to the use of such signs. From

some of the above responses, it can be concluded

that semiotics is a science of signs that lead to the

development of signs, the use of signs and ideas as a

general philosophical theory that systematically

communicates the information or messages it

contains.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Motifs contained in songket Batu Bara motif on the

songket coal reflects the identity of Melayudan

people reflects the cultural sense of the nation that is

rich in beauty and uniqueness, motive motifs made

on songket Coal is generally taken from the

surrounding nature, among other motifs growing

plants and animal motifs and cake motifs Which was

a favorite cake of the kings at the time. . Motif

motive is categorized into two parts, among others

(A) The basic motif or main motif is the basis of

motif songket Batu Bara, the basic motive is usually

placed and is the main decoration on songket.

There are 4 motifs that dominate every motif

contained in songket Melayu Batu Bara, among

others:

1. Flower Shoot Motif

2. The motif of silver shoots

3. Motif Pucan Pandan and

4. Motif Pucuk Caul

(B) Additional Motif is a motive to add to the beauty

of the motif songket motif and its position is not the

same as the basic motive, additional motive position

is at the bottom of which is placed horizontally and

termed by the edges of chisel. Additional motive

motif consists of several types of names of flowers

and objects contained in the surroundings, among

others: motif bungan Tanjung, mangosteen

mangosteen clouds land, cempaka, jasmine,

diamond (sweet rice)

A songket consists of several motifs there are

eight even up to ten motifs in each piece of songket

Stone Coal, as in the image below songket found

nine motifs that is a combination of basic motifs and

additional motifs.

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Motives include:

Description: Mention of motifs of mangosteen if only one motive but if it is a collection of motifs of

mangosteen motifs name motifs motifs of flowers while sowing cow flower motif just the motive of

mangosteen if it is a collection of several cherry blossom motifs called floral sarong motif because the shape is

like Sarong as an ornament of lashes. Motif shoot borer is named if only one direction but when it is opposite is

called shoot motif or puncture betikam.

Motif other motifs on songket Batu Bara among others

Motif Tamp UK Manggis

Motif Pucuk Cawil

Motif Flower Powder

Cloud Larat motif

Motif Pucuk bamboo shoots

Motif Pucuk Pandan

Motif Pucuk Betikam

Kol Flower motif

Flower motifs

sarong pants

Songket Batu Bara: Functional Analysis and Meaning

347

Function of Motifs on Songket Coal

The function of songket motif of Batu Bara is not

only to give a distinctive identity for the tribe and

Malay culture but also as a decoration to beautify the

appearance, songket motif function also able to

make it as a communication media to convey the

purpose of certain intent to the person who see

it.Fungsi motif songket not only To show the

uniqueness of Malay clothing but also at that time

indicate the social status which basically motive

certain songket motif only owned by certain party

only and not used by just anyone. Songket function

when it was sacral, but lately the use of songket has

shifted on all levels of society because to obtain

songket today is very easy to get it.

Songket function lately not only to cover the

body and beauty but now the songket function has

been shifted and functioned for various purposes of

household appliance such as for pillowcase,

tablecloth, refrigerator cover and so forth.

Meaning of Motif Songket Batu Bara

Each motif contained in the songket has meaning

and philosophy that refers to the habit or culture, the

belief of the local community.Agama also gives a lot

of influence on the meaning of the motives of the

songket motif, for example before the introduction

of the motive motives songket, some taken from the

animal motif For example Naga Besaung motif but

after the inclusion of religion motif such motives are

abandoned because according to religion smells

shirk. The meaning of each motif songket Batu Bara,

among others:

1. Rebung shoots is a young shoot that grows

from the roots of bamboo. Shaped tapered up,

the base of the big and increasingly smaller

upwards. The surface is surrounded by young

leaves triangular and the tip is tapered like a

sword's edge. The picture of the tip of the

bamboo shoot and the tip of the bamboo shoot

is called the shoot bamboo shoot. The meaning

that can be taken from this shoot bamboo motif

to be an example of how to educate the Malay

children, such as the expression of Malay: Kalo

nak flex bamboo tu mudo time, meaning that if

you want to educate children from childhood,

From small teranjak factoring is carried large

carry,

2. Motif Tampuk Pinang, the areca nut that

extends like a connecting rope connects

dimaknai sustenance always come and do not

break up if we always try.

3. Motif Wajik (sweet rice) meeting and difficult

to be separated form that defines the Malay

community in the life of society live in an

atmosphere of togetherness

Motif Bunga Cempaka

Royal palace motif

Elbow fighting motif

Motif of Diamonds

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4. Larat Cloud motif, this motif is taken from a

cloud in the sky that moves when blown by the

wind. This motif shaped roots, leaves and

flowers. The meaning of this motif is to

symbolize healthy longevity or immortality

5. Flower Motif Tabur, floral motif is a collection

or a combination of motifs mangosteen

dimaknai that everything if done with

togetherness will feel light and fast in

accordance with the parent's philosophy of the

nature of mutual assistance which is still

attached to the Malay tribe.

6. Motif Buds Betikam, this motif is a blend or

meeting motif shoots bamboo shoots are

opposite position and between the end of one

with the other others meet. This motif is

understood by the nature of the ethnic Malays

who are friendly and greet each other when

met.

7. Jasmine flower motif, cempaka flower, flower

cape, pandanus shoot is a very beautiful

flower, fragrant. This motif is interpreted that

the Malay people are very good at mingling

and friends or relatives of other tribes will lose

or feel deficiency if the Malay people are

absent or present in a meeting

5 CONCLUSIONS AND

SUGGESTIONS

5.1 Conclusion

The study of motif songket Batu Bara produced

several conclusions, among others:

1. Motif contained in the songket Coal taken from

the motive of flora, fauna and nature

2. Motifs are found motifs shoots bamboo shoots,

motifs Tampuk Pinang Motif

3. Motif Wajik (sweet rice) Motif Cloud Larat

Motif Flower Tabur Motif Pucuk Betikam

Motif jasmine, cempaka flower, flower cape,

shoot Pandan Motif Pebuk Rebung, motif

elbow keluang, cauliflower motif

4. Each motif has its own meaning

5.2 Suggestions

1. Batik songket craft which is a special cloth of

Melayu Batu Bara lately more popular not only

by the tribe of Malay but other ethnic tribes

that are not tribe of Malay have been widely

used especially for the party therefore it needs

coaching from the Government of Batu Bara to

continue to nurture the Songket craftsmen for

the quality continues to be improved

2. The need for District Government to include

local curriculum weave in SMU so that artisans

songket remain sustainable

3. The need for cooperation with the District

Government to continue to conduct research on

the cloth somgket Batu Bara, as well as invite

unsure elements SKPD existing in the

Government of Batu Bara to preserve the

songket of Batu Bara with his routine use at

least once a week for our nation's culture,

especially Malay culture extinct

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