Tampan

The small, square tampan cloth could be used and displayed in a variety of ways for ceremonies marking important life transitions: birth, circumcision, marriage, promotion in social rank, and death. The intricately woven design of this tampan consists of horizontal rows of pairs of small boats that confront each other, each containing a peacock and human figure. Additional human figures are shown between the boats. In Tantric Buddhist practice, prevalent in southeastern Sumatra, the Mahamayuri Vidyarajni (Peacock Sutra) was a potent text in which the spiritual force embodied by the peacock eliminates all afflictions and dangers. To aid a vulnerable person in transition, the peacock would be a particularly efficacious symbol. Ships, commonly depicted on tampan cloths, reflect the importance of sea trade to the local economy, and serve as conveyances for persons moving from one stage of life to another. Image courtesy of Don Tuttle Photography