lántöku

Lántöku is a traditional textile weaving practice and associated communal ritual attributed to the people of the Lantari archipelago in the southern seas. It centers on creating circular, woven panels using backstrap looms, which are then used in festive and ceremonial settings.

Etymology: The word is drawn from the Lantari language, commonly interpreted as "circle of light" or "woven light." The precise derivation and meaning vary among dialects, and historical records are fragmentary.

Technique and social context: Weaving begins with hand-spun fibers, typically cotton or ramie, dyed with plant-based pigments. Participants work in groups around long looms, producing round panels of increasing complexity. Patterns are geometric and symbolic, conveying household lineage, seasonal knowledge, or alliances. The finished pieces are displayed in central spaces during rites, then shared among families as family heirlooms.

History and geography: Lántöku origins are traced to coastal islands such as Kairin, with earliest mentions in medieval trade journals. It saw revival during the 19th and 20th centuries amid cultural renaissance movements and continues in several rural communities today, with variations in technique and motif between islands.

Contemporary status: While rooted in tradition, Lántöku has influenced contemporary textile art and fashion. Practitioners combine traditional motifs with modern aesthetics, and panels appear in museums, galleries, and craft markets. Scholars study Lántöku as a source of social memory, craft technique, and regional identity.

See also: textile arts, backstrap loom, ethnography.