Pua Kumbu
Encyclopedia
Pua Kumbu is a traditional patterned multicolored ceremonial cotton cloth used by the Iban
, made and used in Sarawak
, Malaysia. Pua kumbu are woven by Dayak
women and are considered to be sacred
objects. They are used for lifecycle
rituals and special events including the birth of a child, coming of age celebrations, receipt of an important item to a longhouse, and to screen a corpse that is being laid out in a longhouse prior to burial.
Beside Pua Kumbu, there are also Pua Sungkit and Pua Karap.
“Pua Kumbu,” The Asian Civilisations Museum A-Z Guide to its Collections. p. 258. Asian Civilisations Museum
. 2003. National Heritage Board, Singapore
.
Iban
IBAN or Iban may refer to:People* Ibán Espadas , footballer* Iban Iriondo , bicycle racer* Iban Mayo , bicycle racer* Iban Mayoz , bicycle racer* Iban Nokan, anthropologist and ethnographer...
, made and used in Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, Malaysia. Pua kumbu are woven by Dayak
Dayak people
The Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...
women and are considered to be sacred
Sacred
Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
objects. They are used for lifecycle
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
rituals and special events including the birth of a child, coming of age celebrations, receipt of an important item to a longhouse, and to screen a corpse that is being laid out in a longhouse prior to burial.
Beside Pua Kumbu, there are also Pua Sungkit and Pua Karap.
References
Traude Gavin, Iban Ritual Textiles. KITLV Press. 2003. xi, pp. 356 (ISBN 90-6718-202-8).“Pua Kumbu,” The Asian Civilisations Museum A-Z Guide to its Collections. p. 258. Asian Civilisations Museum
Asian Civilisations Museum
The Asian Civilisations Museum is an institution which forms a part of the three museums of the National Museum of Singapore. It is one of the pioneering museums in the region to specialise in pan-Asian cultures and civilisations...
. 2003. National Heritage Board, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.