Product Description

Balinese Palm Leaf Manuscript 1.                  SOLD

Material: Lontar palm leaves, cotton string, bamboo cover, Chinese coin
Style: Bali, Indonesia
Size: Height 47 cm, Width 21 cm
Order Number: MHSABPLM1

Traditional Indonesian manuscripts are made from the leaves of the lontar palm tree (Borassus flabellifer). The leaves are all cut to the same size, usually between 9 to 18 inches (25 to 50 centimetres) long and 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 centimetres) wide.

Characters are inscribed on the leaf with a special knife. The surface of the leaf is wiped with oil mixed with burnt candlewood soot. The soot remains in the grooves. The leaves are wiped clean and the black text can then be read. Few survive more than 100 years in Bali’s tropical climate.

The leaves are bound and held together through holes cut in the leaves by string and a Chinese coin called a kepeng. They are protected by an outside board of bamboo or wood.

One side has scenes from the Indian epic Ramayana in traditional Balinese wayang style and on the back are a couple of lines of text.

Rawana the demon falls in love with Rama’s wife Sita and decides to capture her. He orders the ogre Marica to change himself into a golden deer and entice Sita. The plan works and Sita, wanting the deer as a pet, pleads with Rama to capture it. Rama goes into the forest in search of the deer. He finds it and shoots with his arrow.

Before the deer dies it resumes the demon shape of Marica and imitates Rama’s voice calling for help. Sita is distraught and asks Laksmana to go and help. Before he leaves, he draws a magic circle around her for protection.

Rawana disguises himself as a beggar and seizes the chance. He asks Sita for food. When she steps out of the circle, he captures her and carries her off to his palace. Rama and Laksmana return and cannot find her. Jatayu, the giant bird, tries to rescue Sita, but Rawana catches him and cuts off his wings. As he lies dying, he tells Rama of the kidnapping.

Rama summons help from Sugriwa, the monkey, who lends him his monkey army and Hanuman, the outstanding white monkey commander. Meanwhile Sita has been resisting Rawana’s advances. Hanuman arrives at the palace, disguised as a fly, and finds Sita.

Rama sends Hangada, the red monkey, to Rawana to persuade him to return Sita and avoid bloodshed, but Rawana tries to kill him, whereupon Rama’s army appears and a huge battle ensues. Rama and Rawana direct the battle. There are massive casualties and finally Rama kills Rawana.

Rama and Sita are reunited.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).