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The community of Tausug is largely dominant in the Sulu Archipelago. As a moro ethnic group, Tausug are also experts in tapestry weaving, embroidery and making large hangings in applique. But their tribe is well known to their speciality in hand-woven cloth called ‘Pis Syabit; traditionally worn by men and warriors. This is said to be the most complicated design technique since it was crafted meticulously to have a perfectly symmetrical composition of squares and Xs with hooks, and in seven to eight colors.
Pis Syabit
Pis Syabit
Look at the textile in this Pis Syabit, one can find 5 squares with the same motif located at the center and the 4 corners; and 4 rectangles at every side.
If you look at the components of each square in the center, it has ‘D4’ kind of symmetry which has a vertical reflection, a horizontal reflection, two reflections with axes along the diagonals, and a 90 degrees rotation.
Each rectangle's finite design belongs in the ‘D2’ symmetry group since it features a vertical and horizontal reflection, as well as a 180 degrees rotation around the center, as symmetries.
In the corner, you will find the Four square layers of strip patterns, Only translational symmetry exists in the first layer (beginning from the innermost) that belong to the number ‘11’ symmetry group. -In the third layer, ‘mm’ symmetry group is relevant. There are vertical and horizontal reflections with axes intersecting at 180 degrees rotation centers while in ‘mg’ symmetry group is exhibited in the second and fourth layer, there are vertical reflections that alternate with 180 degrees rotation as well as glide reflection symmetry. These layers have the same symmetry as the strip patterns that occur at the pis yabit's borders.
You will notice also that the rectangles and the four squares in the corners are surrounded by zigzag strip patterns with symmetry group mg.
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