Design Knowledge and Cultural Continuity in Bidayuh Kasah Weaving: An Intangible Heritage Documentation Study

Abstract

Traditional Bidayuh kasah weaving represents a significant form of indigenous cultural heritage in Sarawak, embodying inherited design knowledge, symbolic motifs, and intergenerational craftsmanship. However, its sustainability is increasingly threatened by environmental change, material scarcity, and declining knowledge transmission. This study documents and analyses the intangible cultural heritage embedded in kasah weaving, focusing on techniques, motif structures, design logic, and cultural meanings. Guided by a heritage-centred framework, qualitative methods, including interviews and on-site observations with three experienced weavers, were employed. The study also includes contextual observations of locally available agro-waste materials, such as pineapple leaf fibre, not as substitutes but as reflections of changing material environments. Findings indicate that the cultural value of kasah weaving lies primarily in knowledge systems and weaving logic rather than raw materials. This study contributes to heritage safeguarding and offers insights for sustaining indigenous craft practices within evolving socio-environmental contexts.