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  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00001982
    Country Malaysia
    ICH Domain Traditional craft skills
    Address Terengganu is considered as the centre for the production of Songket. It is concentrated in the urban areas of Kuala Terengganu, in the districts of Marang and Chendering in the State of Terengganu. Besides Terengganu, there are also other Songket communities in the states of Kelantan, Johor, Pahang, Melaka, Selangor and Sarawak.
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Description Songket is a traditional Malaysian handwoven fabric. It is woven on two-pedal floor looms by the Malay women In Malay Peninsula (West Malaysia) and in Sarawak (East Malaysia). The term Songket is derived from the technique employed to make it: inserting gold or silver thread in between the weft and warp threads. Songket is woven using the Malay weaving loom called 'kek'. Songket is woven as the supplementary weft method, a decorative weaving technique in which extra threads "float" across a colourful woven ground to create ornamental effect. The delicate piece of Songket is the result of many months of skilled handloom weaving by expert craftsmen who learn the art from their ancestors. The identity is traced by its design patterns that use geometry and elements of nature such as flowers, birds and insects. The motifs of tampuk manggis (mangosteen calyx), tampuk kesemak (persimmon), bunga pecah lapan (eight-petal flower), bunga bintang (star-patterned flower), pucuk rebung (bamboo shoots) and awan larat (trailing clouds) are among the most frequently used. These traditional patterns continue to be used, especially in aspects of separation and placing the various parts of the cloth such as the centerfield, main panel and end borders. Unlike the old days, Songket is only worn by royalty and their families. But todays, it is mostly worn as traditional Malay ceremonial costumes during royal installations, wedding, birth, Malay festive occasions and formal state functions.
Social and cultural significance Today, the usage of Songket is broader and extended. Besides being as an attire in official ceremonies such as award, wedding and celebration ceremony, Songket is also being used as an outfit in informal ceremonies such as dancing, martial arts, and daily clothing. It is even being use in decorating men's headgears, shirts, trousers, samping, baju kurung (traditional Malay dress) and sling/shawl. The usage and function of Songket have now been extended as interior decoration materials such as curtains, tablecloths, cushion covers, wall decoration, personal accessories, handbags, shoes and etc. The role of Songket has evolved and becomes more widespread. The use of Songket has an element that is inseparable from social function because it is usuaily used as a purpose for social interaction with the surrounding community and usually not worn at home without social interaction unless for house decoration. The Songket also beautify the appearance of the person who wears it due to its nice decorations and motifs. Songket is currently considered capable of expressing cultural values and become one of the handicrafts that play a role to show Malay identity. The motifs as well as the colours show the life and personality and become parts of local customes. The existence of the motifs is very closely related to the local plants, fruits, flowers, and animals, such as bamboo, mangosteen, diamonds, pandanus, pucuk rebung, cempaka and jasmine flower motifs delineate ethnic Malay characteristics of politeness, elegance, and firm which is synonym with Malay culture.
Transmission method In the past, teaching methods were held informally and there were no special formal education. Songket manufacturing skills and knowledge have been informally passed down from practitioners to family members or their descendants or those who are interested in learning it. However, seeing the need for efforts to maintain the tradition of knowledge, then the skills and knowledge of Songket underway through the establishment of The National Craft Institute (IKN) at Rawang in the state of Selangor to encourage youngsters to engage and pursue areas of Songket. The Faculty of Art Woven Crafts, IKN offers programs of study based on skill and creativity in order to produce knowledgeable graduates and high skills practitioners in the field of woven art craft to meet the needs of industry and craft sector. There are two levels of programs provided; Woven Art Craft Certificate Program (SK1 01) and Diploma in Art Craft of Weaving (DK101). In addition, the Malaysian Prison Department also establishing Songket as one of the skill to be rendered to selected prisoners. The establishment of craft's institutions has created many experts in the field of Songket weaving. However, the process of informal knowledge transfer is still ongoing in the villages involved until today.
Community The bearer of the element is usually the Malays communities or individuals who live near the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, especially in the state of Terengganu and Kelantan.
Type of UNESCO List Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Incribed year in UNESCO List 2021
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