Divination Book (Pustaha) | Yale University Art Gallery

mid-18th to 19th century

On view, 3rd floor, Indo-Pacific Art

The Batak live in northern Sumatra. Their priests (datu) traditionally had a powerful role. An essential ritual object they used was the bark divination book (pustaha). They use a script that is related to Southern Brahmi of India and ancient Javanese writing systems. The text runs parallel to the folds in the bark and is read horizontally from left to right. The book also contains black and red drawings. The texts deal with divination, magic, and medicine.

Medium: Bark paper, wood, and rattan
Dimensions: folded: 5 7/8 × 4 5/16 × 2 3/4 in. (15 × 11 × 7 cm)
Credit Line: Promised gift of Thomas Jaffe, B.A. 1971
Loan number: ILE2012.30.249
Geography: Made in Sumatra, Indonesia
Culture: Batak
Classification: Books
Disclaimer: Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Provenance

Ex-collection: D. Manfredi, Milan

Object copyright

No Copyright - United States

Technical metadata and APIs

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