Which of these are truly old keris?

[jagabuwana]

Ridho,
What Alan said may be stern, but it is more than fair.

I'd also like to add in my two cents:
I am Indonesian (Sundanese), but Australian born and raised, albeit with a strong cultural and linguistic upbringing. There are tosan aji / pusaka in my family including tombak, kujang and keris which has caused me to learn more about the keris.

I had no idea that the keris is an item born from the Javanese imagination - it's whole narrative and existence is Javanese. While I have a good feeling and insight into folk beliefs and worldviews via Sundanese traditions, myth and esoteric practices, it is similar but in no way the same as that of Orang Jawa, or even of a Orang Sunda who have been raised in that culture and way of living and understanding the world. While I have parallel beliefs and ways of seeing the world, the Western aspect of it (empirical) is hard to override and colours my understanding of the keris.

Nevertheless, I have the appetite to understand and apprehend the keris and what surrounds its. It seems like you do too. Ridho, you are as Alan mentioned in an enviable position here. Use your location and your language to your advantage here. You are in a great position to learn more but it's not an easy thing to learn or understand.

Like all things, this knowledge and information is not just going to be "given" to you just because you're asking on the internet. Though I wish it were that easy

EDITED: I came across as a bit of a jerk due to my tone and wording the first time around. Changed it to be more polite and closer to my tone and intentions.

[Bjorn]

Ridho, I completely agree with the encouraging words written by Alan, Anthony and Jagabuwono. Nothing worthwhile will come easy, and you are indeed in a comfortable position to learn about the keris owing to your geographical and cultural background.
Just take it pelan-pelan, Ridho. One step at a time, and your knowledge - and appreciation - will grow continuously.

On a side note, it is wonderful to see how the keris brings together people from around the world!

[A. G. Maisey]

Bjorn, re your "bringing together people" remark.

This is a very fitting observation.

The nature of the keris is as a binding agent, in a pusaka keris the binding effect is of the bringing together of the present custodian of the keris with past custodians and with all present members of the kin group.

This binding effect is created by the presence of the Naga Basuki (Vasuki), the Naga who binds all in creation:- Naga Basuki flows through the keris, the custodian, past custodians and the present kin group.

In essence, the keris is a bridge that can join humanity.

[Bjorn]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

In essence, the keris is a bridge that can join humanity.

Alan, in regards to the above part, I feel this is a very fitting function in a Hindu-Buddhist society. I am thinking that it is probably also appropriate to Islam, but as we know Islam in Indonesia is often still the top layer of religious expression, with layers of Hinduism, Buddhism and traditional beliefs underneath.

[A. G. Maisey]

Bjorn, my comment in post 18 was intended as a general observation, a reference to the nature of the keris, not any sort of reference to any present day situation, nor a reference that had anything at all to do with any religious system.

Your previous comment in post 17 that :-

"--- it is wonderful to see how the keris brings together people from around the world."

I thought to be open to the drawing of an analogy between a bridge that permits people to cross a physical barrier, and discussion of an object, in this case the keris, which permits people to negotiate cultural, societal and philosophical barriers.

In the context of my comment, no religious system played any part in the analogy that I drew.

[Bjorn]

Alan, I was unclear in my response. I did not mean to say that your comment was meant in a religious context. My words were poorly chosen.

This context is simply something that ocurred to me personally. I did not mean to imply any intention on your part, nor am I claiming that this rumination of mine is in fact how the keris was perceived by people during Hindu-Buddhist times in nusantara.

The thought that occured to me was that an item - in casu the keris - acting as a physical reminder that all human beings are connected to one another, would fit well within the context of a Hindu-Buddhist worldview.

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes Bjorn, understood.