DISPARITIES IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF PIKUKUH PHILOSOPHICAL KNOWLEDGE AMONG BADUY LUAR WEAVERS

Abstract

Baduy weaving is a traditional textile craft heritage that serves not only as a source of clothing but also as a medium for expressing the cultural values and customary laws of the Baduy community, known as Pikukuh. The increasing interaction between the Baduy Luar community and the outside world raises questions about the implementation of Pikukuh values in current weaving practices and motif designs. This study examines the factors causing the disparity in the understanding of the philosophical values of Pikukuh between traditional leaders and Baduy Luar weavers in Kampung Kadu Ketug, Kanekes Village, Lebak Regency, Banten. The method used is focused ethnography through participatory observation and in-depth interviews with seven informants. The analysis employed a framework of intergenerational knowledge transmission, the theory of orality, and the theory of cultural commodification. The results identified three factors causing this gap: the selectivity of the inheritance system, characteristics of orality, and economic pressures. These findings indicate that Pikukuh’s philosophical knowledge remains preserved among traditional leaders, but its distribution to weavers has not been optimal; therefore, preservation efforts should focus on expanding the channels through which this knowledge is disseminated.