Lontar manuscripts: Ancient texts of Bali

Bali has a unique way of preserving its written history called lontar manuscripts. These manuscripts are writings from hundreds of years ago that are inscribed on the leaves of the lontar palm (punyan entel). The writing surface is prepared by soaking the leaves in water for days to remove the chlorophyll. The leaf is then brushed to remove any small debris of insects and then boiled with a herbal potion to add flexibility and durability to the leaf.

To stop the leaves getting wrinkled the drying process is very slow. The leaves are then pressed for 10 days to get as flat a surface as possible. They are then cut into strips that are 35-40cm long and 3-4cm wide.The final phase of the leaf preparation involves pressing the cut leaves again and coloring the edges with a dye called kincu to keep insects away. After another 6 months the leaves are ready for engraving.

The engraving is a meticulous process that is achieved with a sharp iron tool. Carbons from a lamp is then rubbed into the engraving to give it color.

Ensuring the survival of the lontar manuscripts is a continual process as they only last for a maximum of about 100 years. The Bali Aga village of Tenganan specializes in lontar engravings and you can but a traditional calendar to take home with you.

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