source : http://www.winotosastro.com/batik/whatisbatik.html

Early rulers in Yogyakarta and Surakarta decreed that batik must be worn at court. In addition to the already common white with indigo blue dyed background, they added a soga brown color to the palette. This established the three traditional colors of white, indigo and brown, still in use today.

Not only did the rulers decree specific colors for batik, they also kept certain patterns solely for use by members of the royal family. In traditional societies all over the world, cloth is a carrier of deep significance, often indicating the status of the wearer. By connecting specific batik patterns directly to the sultan, the batik became a symbol of mystical power.

Hidden inside these complex patterns are worlds of philosophical meaning. Abstraction, understatement and stylized forms are highly prized. When a batik is created with exceptional skill, another layer of distinction and value is embedded in the final cloth.

Now see beautiful examples of traditional batik Yogyakarta.

See Books on Batik for reference details.