diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/FObj.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/FObj.java
index 92dc9fd..b6f2ec8 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/FObj.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/FObj.java
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ public abstract class FObj extends FONode implements Constants {
         if (bidiLevel >= 0) {
             if ((this.bidiLevel < 0) || (bidiLevel < this.bidiLevel)) {
                 this.bidiLevel = bidiLevel;
-                if (parent != null) {
+                if ((parent != null) && !isBidiPropagationBoundary()) {
                     FObj foParent = (FObj) parent;
                     int parentBidiLevel = foParent.getBidiLevel();
                     if ((parentBidiLevel < 0) || (bidiLevel < parentBidiLevel)) {
@@ -646,10 +646,25 @@ public abstract class FObj extends FONode implements Constants {
                     return level;
                 }
             }
+            if (isBidiInheritanceBoundary()) {
+                break;
+            }
         }
         return -1;
     }
 
+    protected boolean isBidiBoundary(boolean propagate) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private boolean isBidiInheritanceBoundary() {
+        return isBidiBoundary(false);
+    }
+
+    private boolean isBidiPropagationBoundary() {
+        return isBidiBoundary(true);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Add a new extension attachment to this FObj.
      * (see org.apache.fop.fo.FONode for details)
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/BlockContainer.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/BlockContainer.java
index b8616c1..b250a11 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/BlockContainer.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/BlockContainer.java
@@ -98,7 +98,8 @@ public class BlockContainer extends FObj implements BreakPropertySet, WritingMod
         referenceOrientation = pList.get(PR_REFERENCE_ORIENTATION).getNumeric();
         span = pList.get(PR_SPAN).getEnum();
         writingModeTraits = new WritingModeTraits(
-            WritingMode.valueOf(pList.get(PR_WRITING_MODE).getEnum()));
+            WritingMode.valueOf(pList.get(PR_WRITING_MODE).getEnum()),
+            pList.getExplicit(PR_WRITING_MODE) != null);
         disableColumnBalancing = pList.get(PR_X_DISABLE_COLUMN_BALANCING).getEnum();
     }
 
@@ -280,6 +281,14 @@ public class BlockContainer extends FObj implements BreakPropertySet, WritingMod
         return writingModeTraits.getWritingMode();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Obtain writing mode explicit indicator.
+     * @return the writing mode explicit indicator
+     */
+    public boolean getExplicitWritingMode() {
+        return writingModeTraits.getExplicitWritingMode();
+    }
+
     /** {@inheritDoc} */
     public String getLocalName() {
         return "block-container";
@@ -292,5 +301,10 @@ public class BlockContainer extends FObj implements BreakPropertySet, WritingMod
     public int getNameId() {
         return FO_BLOCK_CONTAINER;
     }
-}
 
+    @Override
+    protected boolean isBidiBoundary(boolean propagate) {
+        return getExplicitWritingMode();
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/InlineContainer.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/InlineContainer.java
index 748eb59..cf970c3 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/InlineContainer.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/InlineContainer.java
@@ -96,7 +96,8 @@ public class InlineContainer extends FObj {
         overflow = pList.get(PR_OVERFLOW).getEnum();
         referenceOrientation = pList.get(PR_REFERENCE_ORIENTATION).getNumeric();
         writingModeTraits = new WritingModeTraits(
-            WritingMode.valueOf(pList.get(PR_WRITING_MODE).getEnum()));
+            WritingMode.valueOf(pList.get(PR_WRITING_MODE).getEnum()),
+            pList.getExplicit(PR_WRITING_MODE) != null);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -238,6 +239,14 @@ public class InlineContainer extends FObj {
         return writingModeTraits.getWritingMode();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Obtain writing mode explicit indicator.
+     * @return the writing mode explicit indicator
+     */
+    public boolean getExplicitWritingMode() {
+        return writingModeTraits.getExplicitWritingMode();
+    }
+
     /** {@inheritDoc} */
     public String getLocalName() {
         return "inline-container";
@@ -256,4 +265,9 @@ public class InlineContainer extends FObj {
         return false;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    protected boolean isBidiBoundary(boolean propagate) {
+        return getExplicitWritingMode();
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/table/Table.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/table/Table.java
index 983954e..e1252e4 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/table/Table.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/flow/table/Table.java
@@ -139,7 +139,8 @@ public class Table extends TableFObj implements ColumnNumberManagerHolder, Break
         tableOmitFooterAtBreak = pList.get(PR_TABLE_OMIT_FOOTER_AT_BREAK).getEnum();
         tableOmitHeaderAtBreak = pList.get(PR_TABLE_OMIT_HEADER_AT_BREAK).getEnum();
         writingModeTraits = new WritingModeTraits(
-            WritingMode.valueOf(pList.get(PR_WRITING_MODE).getEnum()));
+            WritingMode.valueOf(pList.get(PR_WRITING_MODE).getEnum()),
+            pList.getExplicit(PR_WRITING_MODE) != null);
 
         //Bind extension properties
         widowContentLimit = pList.get(PR_X_WIDOW_CONTENT_LIMIT).getLength();
@@ -554,6 +555,11 @@ public class Table extends TableFObj implements ColumnNumberManagerHolder, Break
         return writingModeTraits.getWritingMode();
     }
 
+    /** {@inheritDoc} */
+    public boolean getExplicitWritingMode() {
+        return writingModeTraits.getExplicitWritingMode();
+    }
+
     /** @return the "fox:widow-content-limit" extension FO trait */
     public Length getWidowContentLimit() {
         return widowContentLimit;
@@ -620,4 +626,9 @@ public class Table extends TableFObj implements ColumnNumberManagerHolder, Break
         return ranges;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    protected boolean isBidiBoundary(boolean propagate) {
+        return getExplicitWritingMode();
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/pagination/PageSequence.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/pagination/PageSequence.java
index 368b69f..ba874d3 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/pagination/PageSequence.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/fo/pagination/PageSequence.java
@@ -96,7 +96,8 @@ public class PageSequence extends AbstractPageSequence implements WritingModeTra
         masterReference = pList.get(PR_MASTER_REFERENCE).getString();
         referenceOrientation = pList.get(PR_REFERENCE_ORIENTATION).getNumeric();
         writingModeTraits = new WritingModeTraits(
-            WritingMode.valueOf(pList.get(PR_WRITING_MODE).getEnum()));
+            WritingMode.valueOf(pList.get(PR_WRITING_MODE).getEnum()),
+            pList.getExplicit(PR_WRITING_MODE) != null);
         if (masterReference == null || masterReference.equals("")) {
             missingPropertyError("master-reference");
         }
@@ -403,6 +404,16 @@ public class PageSequence extends AbstractPageSequence implements WritingModeTra
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * {@inheritDoc}
+     */
+    public boolean getExplicitWritingMode() {
+        if (writingModeTraits != null) {
+            return writingModeTraits.getExplicitWritingMode();
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
 
     @Override
     protected Stack collectDelimitedTextRanges(Stack ranges, DelimitedTextRange currentRange) {
@@ -423,6 +434,11 @@ public class PageSequence extends AbstractPageSequence implements WritingModeTra
         return ranges;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    protected boolean isBidiBoundary(boolean propagate) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Releases a page-sequence's children after the page-sequence has been fully processed.
      */
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/BlockLayoutManager.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/BlockLayoutManager.java
index 0fb738a..55b17e9 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/BlockLayoutManager.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/BlockLayoutManager.java
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ public class BlockLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager implements Co
 
             curBlockArea.setIPD(super.getContentAreaIPD());
 
-            curBlockArea.setBidiLevel(getBlockFO().getBidiLevel());
+            curBlockArea.setBidiLevel(getBlockFO().getBidiLevelRecursive());
 
             TraitSetter.addBreaks(curBlockArea,
                     getBlockFO().getBreakBefore(), getBlockFO().getBreakAfter());
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListBlockLayoutManager.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListBlockLayoutManager.java
index 61d8a89..5d89b34 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListBlockLayoutManager.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListBlockLayoutManager.java
@@ -242,6 +242,8 @@ public class ListBlockLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager
             int contentIPD = referenceIPD - getIPIndents();
             curBlockArea.setIPD(contentIPD);
 
+            curBlockArea.setBidiLevel(getListBlockFO().getBidiLevel());
+
             setCurrentArea(curBlockArea);
         }
         return curBlockArea;
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListItemContentLayoutManager.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListItemContentLayoutManager.java
index f017da3..b16c9df 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListItemContentLayoutManager.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListItemContentLayoutManager.java
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ public class ListItemContentLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager imp
             //TODO: Check - itemIPD never set?
             curBlockArea.setIPD(itemIPD);
             //curBlockArea.setHeight();
+            curBlockArea.setBidiLevel(getPartFO().getBidiLevel());
 
             TraitSetter.setProducerID(curBlockArea, getPartFO().getId());
 
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListItemLayoutManager.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListItemLayoutManager.java
index 083e4ee..84dba03 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListItemLayoutManager.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/list/ListItemLayoutManager.java
@@ -615,6 +615,8 @@ public class ListItemLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager implements
             int contentIPD = referenceIPD - getIPIndents();
             curBlockArea.setIPD(contentIPD);
 
+            curBlockArea.setBidiLevel(fo.getBidiLevel());
+
             setCurrentArea(curBlockArea);
         }
         return curBlockArea;
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableAndCaptionLayoutManager.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableAndCaptionLayoutManager.java
index 0582a02..aaa896c 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableAndCaptionLayoutManager.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableAndCaptionLayoutManager.java
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ public class TableAndCaptionLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager {
             Area parentArea = parentLayoutManager.getParentArea(curBlockArea);
             int referenceIPD = parentArea.getIPD();
             curBlockArea.setIPD(referenceIPD);
+            curBlockArea.setBidiLevel(getTableAndCaptionFO().getBidiLevel());
             // Get reference IPD from parentArea
             setCurrentArea(curBlockArea); // ??? for generic operations
         }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableCaptionLayoutManager.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableCaptionLayoutManager.java
index 66f7ad9..8823c0f 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableCaptionLayoutManager.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableCaptionLayoutManager.java
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ public class TableCaptionLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager {
             Area parentArea = parentLayoutManager.getParentArea(curBlockArea);
             int referenceIPD = parentArea.getIPD();
             curBlockArea.setIPD(referenceIPD);
+            curBlockArea.setBidiLevel(getTableCaptionFO().getBidiLevel());
             // Get reference IPD from parentArea
             setCurrentArea(curBlockArea); // ??? for generic operations
         }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableCellLayoutManager.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableCellLayoutManager.java
index c8f2cea..af8e071 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableCellLayoutManager.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/layoutmgr/table/TableCellLayoutManager.java
@@ -441,12 +441,14 @@ public class TableCellLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager
                 Block[][] blocks = new Block[getTableCell().getNumberRowsSpanned()][getTableCell()
                         .getNumberColumnsSpanned()];
                 GridUnit[] gridUnits = (GridUnit[]) primaryGridUnit.getRows().get(startRow);
+                int level = getTableCell().getBidiLevelRecursive();
                 for (int x = 0; x < getTableCell().getNumberColumnsSpanned(); x++) {
                     GridUnit gu = gridUnits[x];
                     BorderInfo border = gu.getBorderBefore(borderBeforeWhich);
                     int borderWidth = border.getRetainedWidth() / 2;
                     if (borderWidth > 0) {
-                        addBorder(blocks, startRow, x, Trait.BORDER_BEFORE, border, firstOnPage);
+                        addBorder(blocks, startRow, x, Trait.BORDER_BEFORE, border,
+                                  firstOnPage, level);
                         adjustYOffset(blocks[startRow][x], -borderWidth);
                         adjustBPD(blocks[startRow][x], -borderWidth);
                     }
@@ -457,7 +459,8 @@ public class TableCellLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager
                     BorderInfo border = gu.getBorderAfter(borderAfterWhich);
                     int borderWidth = border.getRetainedWidth() / 2;
                     if (borderWidth > 0) {
-                        addBorder(blocks, endRow, x, Trait.BORDER_AFTER, border, lastOnPage);
+                        addBorder(blocks, endRow, x, Trait.BORDER_AFTER, border,
+                                  lastOnPage, level);
                         adjustBPD(blocks[endRow][x], -borderWidth);
                     }
                 }
@@ -466,7 +469,8 @@ public class TableCellLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager
                     BorderInfo border = gridUnits[0].getBorderStart();
                     int borderWidth = border.getRetainedWidth() / 2;
                     if (borderWidth > 0) {
-                        addBorder(blocks, y, 0, Trait.BORDER_START, border, inFirstColumn);
+                        addBorder(blocks, y, 0, Trait.BORDER_START, border,
+                                  inFirstColumn, level);
                         adjustXOffset(blocks[y][0], borderWidth);
                         adjustIPD(blocks[y][0], -borderWidth);
                     }
@@ -474,7 +478,7 @@ public class TableCellLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager
                     borderWidth = border.getRetainedWidth() / 2;
                     if (borderWidth > 0) {
                         addBorder(blocks, y, gridUnits.length - 1, Trait.BORDER_END, border,
-                                inLastColumn);
+                                  inLastColumn, level);
                         adjustIPD(blocks[y][gridUnits.length - 1], -borderWidth);
                     }
                 }
@@ -511,10 +515,12 @@ public class TableCellLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager
             if (getTableCell().getDisplayAlign() == EN_CENTER) {
                 Block space = new Block();
                 space.setBPD((cellBPD - usedBPD) / 2);
+                space.setBidiLevel(getTableCell().getBidiLevelRecursive());
                 curBlockArea.addBlock(space);
             } else if (getTableCell().getDisplayAlign() == EN_AFTER) {
                 Block space = new Block();
                 space.setBPD(cellBPD - usedBPD);
+                space.setBidiLevel(getTableCell().getBidiLevelRecursive());
                 curBlockArea.addBlock(space);
             }
         }
@@ -590,11 +596,12 @@ public class TableCellLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager
     }
 
     private void addBorder(Block[][] blocks, int i, int j, Integer side, BorderInfo border,
-            boolean outer) {
+                           boolean outer, int level) {
         if (blocks[i][j] == null) {
             blocks[i][j] = new Block();
             blocks[i][j].addTrait(Trait.IS_REFERENCE_AREA, Boolean.TRUE);
             blocks[i][j].setPositioning(Block.ABSOLUTE);
+            blocks[i][j].setBidiLevel(level);
         }
         blocks[i][j].addTrait(side, BorderProps.makeRectangular(border.getStyle(),
                 border.getRetainedWidth(), border.getColor(),
@@ -629,6 +636,7 @@ public class TableCellLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager
         block.setBPD(bpd);
         block.setXOffset(xoffset + startIndent - paddingStart);
         block.setYOffset(yoffset + borderBeforeWidth);
+        block.setBidiLevel(getTableCell().getBidiLevelRecursive());
         return block;
     }
 
@@ -654,6 +662,7 @@ public class TableCellLayoutManager extends BlockStackingLayoutManager
             curBlockArea.setXOffset(xoffset + startIndent);
             curBlockArea.setYOffset(yoffset);
             curBlockArea.setIPD(cellIPD);
+            curBlockArea.setBidiLevel(getTableCell().getBidiLevelRecursive());
 
             /*Area parentArea =*/ parentLayoutManager.getParentArea(curBlockArea);
             // Get reference IPD from parentArea
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/pdf/PDFStructureTreeBuilder.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/pdf/PDFStructureTreeBuilder.java
index 4d34b8b..3cc7a10 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/pdf/PDFStructureTreeBuilder.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/pdf/PDFStructureTreeBuilder.java
@@ -358,7 +358,12 @@ class PDFStructureTreeBuilder implements StructureTreeEventHandler {
     }
 
     public StructureTreeElement startNode(String name, Attributes attributes, StructureTreeElement parent) {
-        PDFStructElem parentElem = parent == null ? ancestors.getFirst() : (PDFStructElem) parent;
+        PDFStructElem parentElem;
+        if ((parent != null) && (parent instanceof PDFStructElem)) {
+            parentElem = (PDFStructElem) parent;
+        } else {
+            parentElem = ancestors.getFirst();
+        }
         PDFStructElem structElem = createStructureElement(name, parentElem, attributes,
                 pdfFactory, eventBroadcaster);
         ancestors.addFirst(structElem);
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/rtf/RTFPlaceHolderHelper.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/rtf/RTFPlaceHolderHelper.java
index c31c68d..e3278ad 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/rtf/RTFPlaceHolderHelper.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/rtf/RTFPlaceHolderHelper.java
@@ -65,8 +65,10 @@ public class RTFPlaceHolderHelper {
                 builderContext.pushContainer(newRow);
                 builderContext.getTableContext().selectFirstColumn();
             }
-        } catch (Exception ex) {
-            throw new RtfException(ex.getMessage());
+        } catch (org.apache.fop.apps.FOPException e) {
+            throw new RtfException(e.getMessage());
+        } catch (java.io.IOException e) {
+            throw new RtfException(e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/rtf/rtflib/tools/BuilderContext.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/rtf/rtflib/tools/BuilderContext.java
index 6dcae54..4b3f8bd 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/rtf/rtflib/tools/BuilderContext.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/render/rtf/rtflib/tools/BuilderContext.java
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ public class BuilderContext {
         } else {
             /* This should never happen unless a placeholder is not catered for
              * in the RTFHandler.endContainer method. */
-            LOG.warn("Unhandled RTF structure tag mismatch detected between " +
-                    aClass.getSimpleName() + " and "+object.getClass().getSimpleName());
+            LOG.warn("Unhandled RTF structure tag mismatch detected between "
+                     + aClass.getSimpleName() + " and " + object.getClass().getSimpleName());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingMode.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingMode.java
index 8718118..f8c7849 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingMode.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingMode.java
@@ -54,8 +54,9 @@ public final class WritingMode extends TraitEnum {
      * Assign writing mode traits from this trait to the specified
      * writing mode traits setter.
      * @param wms a writing mode traits setter
+     * @param explicit true if writing mode property explicitly specified
      */
-    public void assignWritingModeTraits(WritingModeTraitsSetter wms) {
+    public void assignWritingModeTraits(WritingModeTraitsSetter wms, boolean explicit) {
         Direction inlineProgressionDirection;
         Direction blockProgressionDirection;
         Direction columnProgressionDirection;
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ public final class WritingMode extends TraitEnum {
         wms.setColumnProgressionDirection(columnProgressionDirection);
         wms.setRowProgressionDirection(rowProgressionDirection);
         wms.setShiftDirection(shiftDirection);
-        wms.setWritingMode(this);
+        wms.setWritingMode(this, explicit);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraits.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraits.java
index 279326a..fbd150c 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraits.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraits.java
@@ -31,20 +31,21 @@ public class WritingModeTraits implements WritingModeTraitsSetter {
     private Direction rowProgressionDirection;
     private Direction shiftDirection;
     private WritingMode writingMode;
+    private boolean explicit;
 
     /**
      * Default writing mode traits constructor.
      */
     public WritingModeTraits() {
-        this (WritingMode.LR_TB);
+        this (WritingMode.LR_TB, false);
     }
 
     /**
      * Construct writing mode traits using the specified writing mode.
      * @param writingMode a writing mode traits object
      */
-    public WritingModeTraits(WritingMode writingMode) {
-        assignWritingModeTraits(writingMode);
+    public WritingModeTraits(WritingMode writingMode, boolean explicit) {
+        assignWritingModeTraits(writingMode, explicit);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -125,17 +126,25 @@ public class WritingModeTraits implements WritingModeTraitsSetter {
     }
 
     /**
+     * @return the "explicit-writing-mode" trait.
+     */
+    public boolean getExplicitWritingMode() {
+        return explicit;
+    }
+
+    /**
      * @param writingMode the "writing-mode" trait.
      */
-    public void setWritingMode(WritingMode writingMode) {
+    public void setWritingMode(WritingMode writingMode, boolean explicit) {
         this.writingMode = writingMode;
+        this.explicit = explicit;
     }
 
     /**
      * @param writingMode the "writing-mode" trait.
      */
-    public void assignWritingModeTraits(WritingMode writingMode) {
-        writingMode.assignWritingModeTraits(this);
+    public void assignWritingModeTraits(WritingMode writingMode, boolean explicit) {
+        writingMode.assignWritingModeTraits(this, explicit);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraitsGetter.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraitsGetter.java
index a67e437..7340b3e 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraitsGetter.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraitsGetter.java
@@ -55,4 +55,9 @@ public interface WritingModeTraitsGetter {
      */
     WritingMode getWritingMode();
 
+    /**
+     * @return the "explicit-writing-mode" trait
+     */
+    boolean getExplicitWritingMode();
+
 }
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraitsSetter.java b/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraitsSetter.java
index 6dcf0fb..b70f739 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraitsSetter.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/fop/traits/WritingModeTraitsSetter.java
@@ -58,13 +58,14 @@ public interface WritingModeTraitsSetter extends WritingModeTraitsGetter {
      * Set value of writing-mode trait.
      * @param writingMode the "writing-mode" trait
      */
-    void setWritingMode(WritingMode writingMode);
+    void setWritingMode(WritingMode writingMode, boolean explicit);
 
     /**
      * Collectivelly assign values to all writing mode traits based upon a specific
      * writing mode.
      * @param writingMode the "writing-mode" trait
+     * @param explicit true if writing mode explicitly specified
      */
-    void assignWritingModeTraits(WritingMode writingMode);
+    void assignWritingModeTraits(WritingMode writingMode, boolean explicit);
 
 }
