Which of these are truly old keris?

[Anthony G.]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Ridho, you sound a little disappointed to discover that there is no easy way to learn about the keris.

Why should this surprise you?

There is no short nor easy way to learn about anything, especially anything that is worth having knowledge of.

How long does it take for a child to speak, read and write, and these are things that he is surrounded with every day as he grows. How long to learn to play a musical instrument?

I could go on and on in this vein, but it does not matter what it is that we set out to learn, one thing is certain:- we never stop learning.

Another thing is certain:- knowledge and understanding do not come as a result of divine intervention ---well, not for most people --- knowledge and understanding only come as a result of both consistent work and long experience.

You wish to gain knowledge of the keris? You are ideally placed to be able to do this. Think of how difficult it is for somebody who lives outside of Indonesia , especially outside of Jawa, to try to come to an understanding of the linguistic, cultural and social foundations of the keris belief systems, and it is essential to understand these foundations before the keris belief systems can be understood, and unless the keris belief systems are understood, it is not possible to understand the keris.

Much of what anybody outside Jawa must learn before he can even begin to think about the keris, you already live with every day. The keris is a part of your daily life, it is buried deep in your sub-conscious and it never leaves you. Almost nobody outside Jawa has this advantage.

Yet this morning I read your "I'm very sad" post.

Ridho, you sound like a man who was born with wealth but who is disappointed because what he wants to buy will not come to him, he needs to go to the market and look for it. You have written as if all hope is lost, everything is already finished. You are wrong. Hopefully you will now realise what is needed in order to gain the understanding you seek. This is your beginning, not the end of your search.

Yes, in my previous post I did outline one way in which to gain some understanding of the keris, but that is only one road to your destination, there are others.

If you are not already a member of a keris discussion/study group in Indonesia, you should join one. You need to know the keris belief systems, which is to say that you need to understand how the keris is woven into folk belief, before you can integrate that folk belief with other knowledge bases. Join a study group, it is certain that much of what you will hear will be quite a bit different to what you have read from me, but you cannot progress without a local understanding.

You can stop at the level of keris study group knowledge if you wish. These groups are basically social groups and give the opportunity for like minded individuals to indulge in social contact. Membership of such a group can be very comfortable.

Alternatively you can use the understanding you gain from the study group and then begin a semi academic study of Javanese history, culture, society. The technology and technique of actual keris manufacture is something that must not be neglected, and once again, you live much closer to the people who still make keris, than does somebody from outside your society, and you speak the same language as the people who hold the knowledge that you want.

As for Indonesians not speaking as I do, well, let us not confuse Indonesians with Javanese. I am certain that many Indonesians do not think as I do, but amongst the people I know and have known in Central Jawa there would be a degree of solid agreement with my ideas, as well as a degree of equally solid disagreement. In fact, some of my ideas are rather unique, and would undoubtedly draw initial disagreement, however that disagreement can be set aside by simple, objective investigation.

To summarise.
If you wish to understand the Javanese keris you first must learn the Javanese keris belief systems, then you must follow a structured study plan that covers history, sociology, anthropology, art, religion, forge technology and techniques. As you learn you will find that it is not all that difficult to integrate the separate areas of knowledge into a foundation that permits a better understanding of your objective. If your objective is an understanding of the keris, your learning will never cease.

I would also like to add in my 2 cents of worth. Being a Singaporean Chinese who knows nothing about Indonesia language etc, I found it very difficult to study keris histories and especially the keris system of classification etc. which I think it is more complicated than Nihonto.

I start learning and collecting keris last year and never stop. It is an enjoyable hobby as well as a good and worthy studies. In addition to that, my knowledge on Indonesia histories, cultures and people increase significantly. The wonderful advantages from learning about keris itself.

I have been conned before, made poor judgement and I have often to rely on asking for advice from experts etc and use internet tools to translate languages. But it never stop me, a foreigner from learning keris and I still feel excited rather than disappointed despite many challenges encounter during this journey. I kept a diary and write anything I find it useful about keris in the diary.

To myself, it is more than just buying an object called KERIS. It is understanding the complex, beautiful culture related to it. It is simple just awesome, something like eating a nice Singapore well-cooked authenticate Chilli Crab. Yummy. When I saw an awesome keris, I always imagine it is tasty chilli crab.

I found that local natives have great advantages since they have their fellow countrymen to enquire from, it is easier for them to acquire keris locally, have access to great empu/pande locally and they are already part of this beautiful culture. Myself, it is challenging to do so.

Do not be sad and do not give up. It is a hobby or studies that deserve hardwork and investment of $ and time. It is like cooking a good meal which requires a good deal of time and preparation to do so.

[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.