Small krises from Sumatra

Jean · 18th September 2013, 07:46 PM

Thank you Gustav, can you show us some specimens of these Malaysian keris selit for comparison?
Regards

A. G. Maisey · 18th September 2013, 11:31 PM

David, I am not able to make a definitive statement on the "young boys" idea.

I've heard it often enough, and I guess that if a keris were to be given a boy after his circumcision, as sometimes happens, a scaled down one might be appropriate. When a keris is made specifically for a person it is made to reflect that person's age, size, societal position. A keris made specifically for a boy just entering society would probably be made smaller than a normal size keris. Similarly, a keris made for a man of small stature could also be expected to be a bit smaller than usual.

I do think that it is a valid idea that boys might have sometimes had smaller keris made specifically for them, most especially where the boy concerned was in a position where he would need to attend formal functions, however I cannot say definitely that this was the case.

David · 18th September 2013, 11:40 PM

Thanks Alan. At what age are boys circumcised in these culture?

A. G. Maisey · 19th September 2013, 01:03 AM

For Javanese boys living in traditional families it is about 11 or 12 years of age.

Girls used to be "circumcised" too, but as far as I know this is now no longer generally practiced. It was not unusual in traditional Javanese families through into the early 1960's, but I think it has generally disappeared as a usual practice now. In any case, these female "circumcisions", or more properly , removal of the clitoris, were often not really performed. A small sliver of bambu shoot (bung) was placed in the appropriate place and it was this piece of bambu that was produced as evidence that the job had been done.

The Balinese practice of tooth filing is well known, but what is not so well known is that Javanese girls often had their teeth filed at puberty to improve their beauty. I don't think that the boys also had their teeth done. This practice was also carried out through into the 1960's. I doubt that it is done now.

18th September 2013, 07:46 PM	#1
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	Thank you Gustav, can you show us some specimens of these Malaysian keris selit for comparison? Regards

18th September 2013, 11:31 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	David, I am not able to make a definitive statement on the "young boys" idea. I've heard it often enough, and I guess that if a keris were to be given a boy after his circumcision, as sometimes happens, a scaled down one might be appropriate. When a keris is made specifically for a person it is made to reflect that person's age, size, societal position. A keris made specifically for a boy just entering society would probably be made smaller than a normal size keris. Similarly, a keris made for a man of small stature could also be expected to be a bit smaller than usual. I do think that it is a valid idea that boys might have sometimes had smaller keris made specifically for them, most especially where the boy concerned was in a position where he would need to attend formal functions, however I cannot say definitely that this was the case.

18th September 2013, 11:40 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,229	Thanks Alan. At what age are boys circumcised in these culture?

19th September 2013, 01:03 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	For Javanese boys living in traditional families it is about 11 or 12 years of age. Girls used to be "circumcised" too, but as far as I know this is now no longer generally practiced. It was not unusual in traditional Javanese families through into the early 1960's, but I think it has generally disappeared as a usual practice now. In any case, these female "circumcisions", or more properly , removal of the clitoris, were often not really performed. A small sliver of bambu shoot (bung) was placed in the appropriate place and it was this piece of bambu that was produced as evidence that the job had been done. The Balinese practice of tooth filing is well known, but what is not so well known is that Javanese girls often had their teeth filed at puberty to improve their beauty. I don't think that the boys also had their teeth done. This practice was also carried out through into the 1960's. I doubt that it is done now.