| Color | Iban term | Source | Meaning | Use constraint | |-------|-----------|--------|---------|----------------| | Red | Mira / Engkudu | Morinda citrifolia root (mordanted with alum) | Life, bravery, blood of headhunting | Highest status; must be earned via ritual | | Black | Lemak / Tarang | Indigo (Indigofera) + mud iron | Earth, death, ancestral realm | Used as background or outline | | White/undyed | Puteh / natural | Natural undyed cotton | Neutral, pure, unfinished | Often left as warp stripes; cannot be dominant alone |
Unlocking the Symbols of Borneo: A Guide to Basic Iban Design
| Color | Iban term | Source | Meaning | Use constraint | |-------|-----------|--------|---------|----------------| | Red | Mira / Engkudu | Morinda citrifolia root (mordanted with alum) | Life, bravery, blood of headhunting | Highest status; must be earned via ritual | | Black | Lemak / Tarang | Indigo (Indigofera) + mud iron | Earth, death, ancestral realm | Used as background or outline | | White/undyed | Puteh / natural | Natural undyed cotton | Neutral, pure, unfinished | Often left as warp stripes; cannot be dominant alone |
Unlocking the Symbols of Borneo: A Guide to Basic Iban Design