Batak Pustaha [Magic Book]
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Material Information

Title:
Batak Pustaha [Magic Book]
Series Title:
Objects of instruction : treasures of SOAS
Added title page title:
Pustaha (magic book)
Added title page title:
Magic book
Donor:
From the William Marsden collection.
Place of Publication:
Sumatra, Indonesia
Language:
Batak
Physical Description:
46 folio leaves on side A; 45 folio leaves on side B
Materials:
Tree bark (palm) ( medium )
Plain wooden carrier boards (front and back) ( covers )
Measurements:
H21 x 17.8 cm in
Technique:
Concertina style, on sheets of bark. Enclosed within wooden boards.

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Pustaha
Magic ( lcsh )
Batak
Sihir
Spatial Coverage:
Asia -- Indonesia -- Sumatra
Coordinates:
0 x 102

Notes

Abstract:
The Batak of northern Sumatra are grouped within the Austronesian language family, although there are numerous ethnic groups, dialects, kinship systems and religious customs. Each group has its own alphabet, perhaps via the ancient Javanese Kawi script rather than directly from South Asia. The ‘bark’ books were traditionally made from the bast of the alim tree (Aquilaria malaccensis). This is cut into strips and folded concertina fashion, with ink applied to engraved lines of writing. The pustaha record various types of knowledge, including cures for illness, massage, the production of amulets, offensive magic and shooting. There are also calendars used to determine auspicious days for journeys, planting, marriage, house-building or other social activities. (Text by John T. Carpenter and Yoshiko Yasumura, from the exhibition catalogue: Objects of instruction : treasures of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Anna Contadini, Editor. London : SOAS, University of London, 2007.) ( en )
General Note:
Formerly part of the library of the Orientalist and linguist William Marsden (1754-1836), a portion of which he presented to King's College London in 1835.
General Note:
The 'Objects of instruction : the treasures of SOAS' exhibition was funded through a generous gift from the Foyle Foundation and with the support of the Arts & Humanities Research Council.
General Note:
Source: A. Contadini (ed.), Objects of Instruction : Treasures of the School of Oriental and African Studies. London : SOAS, University of London, 2007, p.67, no.49.
General Note:
From Northern Sumatra.

Record Information

Source Institution:
SOAS, University of London
Holding Location:
Archives and Special Collections
Rights Management:
This item is licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution, Non-Commercial License. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this work non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms.
Resource Identifier:
MS 41836 ( soas manuscript number )
54345790-db0d-42a7-b568-3853bf1abb3c ( calm recordid )