Tapa Cloth

For this learning journal I decided to look into the tapa cloth that is used for many occasions in the Tongan culture. The women are the ones that weave the giant mats for a variety of uses. The cloth is made from a tree called the paper mulberry tree. This tree was introduced from Asia over 3,000 years ago. The men cultivate this tree, and after it is grown, the women take the inner bark, and soak it over night. It is placed on a flat surface and hammered until flat to extend its length. Eventually all the pieces are joined together with a strong bond that makes one giant cloth.

As mentioned before, this cloth has many uses. Long ago it was used for clothing, but has since evolved to use at activities such as weddings, birthdays, and funerals. A few weeks ago at the king's funeral, tapa cloth was used to pave the way of the funeral procession. The tapa cloth is also symbolic of the Earth and therefore emphasizes the importance of the land to Tongans. It is used at funerals and birthdays in order to remind the people of what their priorities should be. The tapa cloth can also be used for headdresses and room dividers. In the past it has commonly been used as a symbol of status. Elegant tapa cloth indicates nobility, while casual cloth with heavy weaving indicates a lower social status.

Tapa cloth is important to be familiar with because of the plant used to make it. Since women weave this cloth out of a mulberry tree, it is likely to be a plant that I'll study with some detail. Although the plant is not necessarily grown in gardens, its products a a significant part of everyday life in Tonga.

<http://www.livingheritage.org.nz/schools/secondary/marcellin/tonga/stories/storyReader$37.html>
<http://www.ehow.com/about_6138188_tapa-cloth-history.html>