Scientific Documentation: Traditional Ink Recipes and Writing Materials used in Manuscripts in the Malay Region

Mohd Roslin Hazer, Nurul Amira and Abdul Razak, Rajabi and Othman, Raihan and Md. Zain, Dzul Haimi and Awang, Arita Hanim and Baniyamin, Nurhaya and Musa, Muktaruddin (2021) Scientific Documentation: Traditional Ink Recipes and Writing Materials used in Manuscripts in the Malay Region. International Journal of the Malay World and Civilisation, 9 (3). pp. 77-86. ISSN 2289-1706

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Abstract

There is a scarcity of documentation and descriptions of such an indigenous ink formula in the literature. Even the rare records of this priceless heritage only mention the ink’s constituents. The legacy of Malay indigenous ink manufacturing should be preserved in historical archives due to a lack of knowledge about the proportions of each ingredient and the techniques involved. All information and knowledge about ink manufacturing is thought to be passed down orally rather than through written documents from one generation to the next. Even worse, knowledge of ink production is restricted to a selected group of people, including palace officials, religious teachers and their students. As a result, this project focuses on finding the history of Malay traditional ink using a variety of methods, including examining existing early Malay manuscripts, conducting structured interviews and analysing literature sources on ink recipes from throughout the world. Traditional Malay manuscript ink is made from natural sources such as coal, black coal from extracted mangosteen skin, cashew gum from the bark of the cashew tree, glutinous rice, egg white, oil from the rind of a cashew, black pepper, salt, virgin coconut oil and palm vinegar, and other ingredients found in the area. Handmade paper is imported from European and Southeast Asian countries. This is a new programme aimed at learning more about the history of Malay traditional ink and expanding indigenous knowledge of Malay technology and other materials used in the production of Malay manuscripts. The empirically demonstrated legacy of black ink illustrates the wisdom of the traditional Malay community, even though the Malays are able to understand the chemical composition included in any materials used to manufacture the traditional ink despite their lack of formal education.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Scientific documentation; legacy; traditional ink; Malay tradition
Subjects:	A General Works > AM Museums (General). Collectors and collecting (General) Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > Z665 Library Science. Information Science
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design > Department of Applied Arts and Design
Depositing User:	Dr Rajabi Abdul Razak
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2021 11:03
Last Modified:	04 Mar 2022 11:05
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/92689

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