A Shared Heritage between
Jambi and Bengkulu
Bengkulu and Jambi are closely related, especially in terms of trade and culture. Bengkulu, with its vast hinterland, produces sago, betel nut, and also pepper. These agricultural products are traded through the Batanghari River in Jambi. With this proximity, Jambi and Bengkulu influence each other.
Not only in the spice trade, Bengkulu and Jambi also influence each other when it comes to batik. Besurek is a type of batik originated from Jambi, which has the culture of surek or writing Arabic calligraphy on paper or on a piece of cloth—through wax-resist technique.
Besurek is characterized by its red and blue colors as symbols of the joys and sorrows of life. Red for joy and blue for despair. The motif is also in the form of calligraphy similar to Arabic script.
The earliest sign of the presence of besurek is the tabut ritual. The tabut tradition in Jambi and Bengkulu is carried out by parading a decorated empty coffin and then the coffin is thrown in a cemetery called Padang Karbala. In the past, the coffin was covered with a cloth with verses of the Qur'an written on it, called the besurek cloth. This is the initial record of the surek cloth. The cloth may be an Arab-Indian influence, which in the funeral tradition also has a tradition of covering the body with a cloth with Arabic writing.In Bengkulu, besurek is also used in the tabut, a ritual carried out on 10 Muharram. In addition to tabut, besurek is also used as a destar, a coffin cover in death rituals, and worn by bride and groom in wedding ceremonies.
There is no exact sign of when besurek began to be made, but in 1875 a batik maker from Central Java named Haji Mahibat moved to Jambi and since then, besurek has begun to be used in rituals in Jambi. Besurek is most likely a type of Jambi batik considering that Jambi and Bengkulu are adjacent areas. Besurek with calligraphy of verses of the Qur'an in Jambi is glorified by only being worn on the upper part of the body; headscarf or shoulder cloth. Meanwhile, the people of Bengkulu avoid using these verses by writing the verses vaguely with no meaning but visually similar to Arabic scripture.
Since the 1980s to this date, besurek has been evolving. Today, besurek reflects both Islamic values like the moon and shajarat-al-Hayat (the tree of life) and Bengkulu’s vast nature, such as burung punai and relung paku.
The cultural and economic ties between Jambi and Bengkulu go far beyond trade, weaving a rich tapestry of shared traditions and artistry. The evolution of besurek, from its origins in the tabut rituals to its modern-day manifestations, reflects the deep-rooted connection between the two regions. While its intricate designs and symbolism showcase the rendezvous of Islamic and local influences, the continuity of besurek highlights the enduring legacy of the past in shaping the present. As besurek continues to evolve, it remains a testament to the culture of both Bengkulu and Jambi that lies in its nature and Islam.
