✿ 'Kelingai Iban' SarawaK Tattoo ✿

Our life is base to customs and culture we are trying to hold.

Since we were born on the island of Borneo's land.

Our lives backgrounds nation's culture and place, which is so great to land the title of Headhunters by rural communities with pride to us.

"Kelingai Iban" the pride of the Iban people since time immemorial.

Is a traditional art that I seek to defend, since we know "kelingai Iban"

When first used ink pot made from wells or black dust called "Ayung."

"Ayung" oil mixed with various sweeteners, which serves to enhances the wearer as well as protection to the wearer. But that's the past, now that we trying to defend is in terms of motifs derived from our ancestors, and handed down from generation to generation today.

Most carving patterns used to make 'kelingai' is intended to adorn the body indicates a warrior, which had hunting head of iban enemy and has also migrated to other places.

Divided front shoulder, 'kelingai' carving pattern that is commonly used is "Bungai Terung". It is perfect and matches in the shoulder.

At the back shoulder, 'Kelingai' carving pattern used is "pour." While in the neck is called "Rangam" in which the pattern resembles a scorpion.

Divided left and right thighs also be engraved with a pattern of 'pour' which is larger than the back of the shoulder. Divided right arm would be engraved with dragon pattern while the left arm is engraved with a floral pattern which is written the name itself or the name of a loved one.

In the calf, floral carvings and a picture of anchors and hooks will be used.

At the back are engraved with a pattern of 'Bungai Terung' that line from the shoulders to below the waist, this sculpture will be infused floral pattern which would increase the beauty of the carving.

Divided chest most people will make the mermaid pattern, while on the left chest is a pattern of dolphins.

Under carved chest will be decorated with a pattern of crabs, fish and shrimp.

According mitosnya, all carved fish, shrimp, crabs will help save them from drowning or shipwreck.

Today, carving 'kelingai' still done when someone is going to move away from home, especially if they be police or soldiers to protect them from disaster.

For Iban people kelingai, has a meaning in each motif from the grounded over their bodies, but not for anyone to be able to have a tattoo as they wanted 'kelingai iban' on their body.  Each design will bring traditional of ‘ kelingai Iban’ express purpose that can be explanation from Iban community.

Before the commencement of the 'Kelingai' they will hold the ceremony ‘Miring’ tilt prior to applying for the blessing of the gods as 'Keling Bungai Nuing, sempurai bunsu Gerai, Laja Bungai Jawa and others they come from' Panggau Libau’.

The Iban people is very respectful of their gods, other gods from Panggau Libau, the Iban people also called goddesses of the "Gelung" to protect people who will make the ‘kelingai’.  it was "Kumang, Indai Abang, Jawai, and Lulung Indai Mendung”.

When the 'Miring' ceremony was held, materials such as white rice, glutinous rice, eggs, popcorn, betel nut, betel and tobacco, these materials are available when required for ceremonial 'Miring' before embarking on a 'kelingai’.

Tattoo practice is the most important way of body jewelry among the Iban people, when look at the Iban people full body tattoo is a habit with the past.

Tattoo play which highlights the courage of a person's status in the community group Iban, Iban for men tattoo tattoo considered a finger to remember an event that happened superbly., this is so easy to remember the important events, the people of Iban in the past also tattoo on a child aged 10 or 11 to indicate a new “Lanjau” and they are ready to participate in hunting activities, the purpose of reaching the tattoo in children is as amulets and protect them from evil spirits and also makes them invincible.

In terms of motives legendary sketch is from the gods named "Keling gerasi nading bujang berani kempang, Laja merah mua ngekang  encherenang, Sempurai munti gerai, Sepatu manuk antu, Sepunggak lumpung naga and other". all of them are the gods of war who lived in ‘Libau Panggau’ where the place is beautiful and unique .

Someone who wants to make a 'kelingai' they must be prepared to endure the pain while hitting 'kelingai' equipment to reach this tattoo is a wooden handle and needle, the needle will be in the tie at the end of the wood, perseverance in producing a work that requires experience traditional tattoo motifs and also highly skilled in the art to produce a tattoo which dipped over the body, in the process of making this tattoo ‘kelingai’ will be performed on the surface of the skin with a needle that has been dipped in ink, to create tattoo designs.

For someone who has reached the tattoo can only be inextricably satisfaction in terms of fineness motif that has been produced and is able to reflect the achievement of a Success, in terms of national culture Iban tattoo sculpture reflects the truth of his favorite Iban people at the beauty of things that are around them and immortalized through sketches tattoo of body, though many cultures around the world use the tattoo as one of body décor, but this tattoo is the most unique Iban and attractive.

Over time in line with the progress of our homeland also brings changes which motivated the development of modern sculpture tattoo, many tattoo is a cultural state time, this is because trend can vary according to changes in time when the tattoo is something that continues to have loyal followers.

Tattoo or 'kelingai' in a kind of Iban people is engraving sketched on the skin or body, the origin of the dance is like a tattoo on the body is a divided into three story, the first one in terms of myth and legend in the myths and legends of the Iban people and enjoyed good 'kelinga' in their bodies because emulate ‘Burung bunsu bubut’(Owl) and ‘Burung bunsu ruai’(magpies) that both her ​​when it appears as a human ‘Bunsu burung bubut’ show cleverness carve on ‘Bunsu burung ruai’ to two adventurers "nyanggau 'and' nyantau '.

They were very impressed with the beauty of seeing the tattoo sketched by ‘Bunsu burung bubut’  on ‘Bunsu burung ruai’ body and they do it when they go back to their place .

For us as people who own tattoo traditions, and we try to keep it as long as i can, every individual who wishes to make a tattoo should know in terms of motives, the role and meaning of the tattoo, it’s very important because a tattoo is permanent and cannot be erased just like that, Most of the design and tattoo style among the dance almost the same, but has greatly expanded the size of the tattoo, tattoo styles and the most real is influenced by the area where they live, the pattern 'kelingai' most famous of Iban people is among the tattoo "Bungai  Terung" it’s will be tattooed divided both shoulders of men among the Iban people.

Second because the sky gods emulate men like tribal Iban decorate their bodies, because following shape as the sky gods such as "sengalang burung" and by "Kelingai" gods of war "Panggau Libau". 

And the third came from a man named "Gemong" Iban people have dreamed, in his dream he saw the walls and everything inside the house was decorated with carvings ‘kelingai' so beautiful, the men who stay at that longhouse have 'Kelingai' while he fun to see the beauty of the carving inside that longhouse suddenly appeared an old man named 'Gemong’ and tell the type of carving ‘Kelingai’ him.

Actually tattoo art should be viewed in terms of positive and it’s a emblem personality and not the strength or symbol to indicate Success as is often perceived by the outside world, a lack of understanding about tattoo art.

Heritage and traditional motifs 'kelingai Iban' is an art form that should be the pride of the nation and should be expanded Iban people against modernity as such Iban warriors are so great with their courage.