Jalak Budo

[lemmythesmith]

Hi Ganja, thank you for posting these-very nice pieces!! I've just acquired some iron from Germany which ranges from 500-750 years old so it should be ideal for a jalak budo recreation, (along with the 'ol "sky iron") I understand these blades are not as long as later keris but are thicker and wider-can you supply some measurements?

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by lemmythesmith

Hi Ganja, thank you for posting these-very nice pieces!! I've just acquired some iron from Germany which ranges from 500-750 years old so it should be ideal for a jalak budo recreation, (along with the 'ol "sky iron") I understand these blades are not as long as later keris but are thicker and wider-can you supply some measurements?

Dear Lemmy,
The first one -- the best of mine I think -- is only 11 inches (27,5 cm) long including the pesi. Without the pesi (including ganja and methuk), is only 9 inches.
The second one is bigger and wider but not thicker. It is 12,2 inches long (or 10 inches the blade and ganja not including the pesi) or total 30,5 cm long. And the third, as big as the first 11,5 inches.
The wedung? It has a normal size of such kind, it has 13 inches or 31 cm long...

Ganjawulung

[VVV]

Thanks for sharing those Keris Pak Ganja!

I have heard about a metaphysical difference of "regular" Keris and the Jalak Budo. Could someone please share some more info on this aspect?

Here is a resembling Malay Keris that I suspect is inspired by your Keris - the Debek?
It doesn't have a methuk however.

Michael

[mohd]

Ganjawulung

I am interested to know more about Wedung. Would you please let us know about the exact area of origin of Wedung. Is it originated from East, Middle or West java? I know that it might be quite hard to know the exact area of origin, anyhow maybe you could just come out with the most possible one.

Mohd.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by mohd

Ganjawulung

I am interested to know more about Wedung. Would you please let us know about the exact area of origin of Wedung. Is it originated from East, Middle or West java? I know that it might be quite hard to know the exact area of origin, anyhow maybe you could just come out with the most possible one.

Mohd.

Dear Moh,
I am not sure about the exact origin of Wedung. But from the form of the blade, it seems that it had Middle-East influence. But 'localized', javanised with kind of "greneng" in the lower part of the blade, and long-massive "methuk" above the short pesi...

Wedung usually used in the formal javanese dress-uniform by a "woman bupati" or woman regent in (Central) Java (in the past), or high rank person (prince). And it has a very specific scabbard, with long buffalo-horn peg (pls look at my previous picture)...

Ganjawulung

[VVV]

Thanks Pak Ganja for your comments!
I do of course remember your earlier post about keris tindih but would love to read more.
On the term budo/buda I have of course seen it before and knew the meaning.
But I have had the impression that it originated in referring to the old time customs of the Hindu-Buddhist times?
Similar to that you often find many Sanskrit words in Indonesian or Javanese that over the years somehow has slightly deviated from the Indian meaning.
I am sorry if I have got it all wrong as my interest on comparing these languages is higher than my kindergarten-level speaking abilities.


Michael

[A. G. Maisey]

I have some difficulty in identifying a Middle Eastern influence in the wedung. In form it is simply a small, stylized golok.

The word "wedung" appears in Old Javanese where it has the meaning of "axe"; today in parts of East Jawa a large knife used for splitting coconuts is known as a "wadung", and personal advice from people who use this knife is that "wadung", and "wedung" are interchangeable words with the same meaning.

Raffles records that the wedung is symbolic of the willingness of the wearer to cut a way through the jungle for his king; Solyom records that the wedung is symbolic of the willingness of the wearer to do the bidding of the king.

I am inclined to believe that the wedung is purely of Javanese origin.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by VVV

On the term budo/buda I have of course seen it before and knew the meaning.
But I have had the impression that it originated in referring to the old time customs of the Hindu-Buddhist times?
Similar to that you often find many Sanskrit words in Indonesian or Javanese that over the years somehow has slightly deviated from the Indian meaning.
I am sorry if I have got it all wrong as my interest on comparing these languages is higher than my kindergarten-level speaking abilities.

Michael

Dear Michael,

I hope your impression is right. According to Mr Bambang Harsrinuksmo, "zaman kabudan" (buda period) is a periodisation in keris in Java. He wrote in his Ensiklopedi, that this period was about from 6 to 9 or 10th century, or the same period of the building of Candi Borobudur (in central Java) to the era of Kahuripan kingdom. Bambang referred to some relief in the buddhist candi which pictured people were bringing weapons that ressemble keris that people called as buda keris. Not only in Borobudur, but according to Bambang, also in Prambanan temple (in Yogyakarta).

But according to Mr Haryono Guritno -- the writer of Keris Jawa antara Mistik dan Nalar -- the term "kabudan" is like "once upon a time" term. Old time, but not exactly when...

Beside "zaman kabudan", there is also another term of "zaman kadewatan". This term is more uncertain. Bambang wrote, that this period was before "zaman kabudan". Some people thought that this period was quite imaginary.

Serat Centini -- which was written by Javanese litterature writer Rongowarsito -- mentioned the name of empus, kings and keris dapur such as Empu Ramadi (empu), Prabu Destarata (king in wayang legend), and dapurs of Sempana, Carubuk, Kalamisani etc. Quite imaginary, although such dapurs still exist until now.

Ganjawulung

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by VVV

Thanks for sharing those Keris Pak Ganja!

I have heard about a metaphysical difference of "regular" Keris and the Jalak Budo. Could someone please share some more info on this aspect?

Here is a resembling Malay Keris that I suspect is inspired by your Keris - the Debek?
It doesn't have a methuk however.

Michael

Beautiful Malay Keris, Michael. And the pamor, we call it the type of "pamor dwi warna" or two kinds of pamor. Upper blade with "lar gangsir" (mole cricket's wing) pamor and it has a special "batu lapak" (flagstone?) pamor in the lower part (sor-soran) of the keris.

Its dapur is also good-looking. And it has ressemblance of dhapur "ron teki" in Javanese term. (long gandhik or front lower part of keris) with sekar kacang above the gandhik. But usually, ron teki has no greneng or ron dha in the wadidang. There is javanese influence in the making method of lar gangsir pamor.

On Jalak Budo. Most javanese keris people believe that jalak budo is one of the oldest dhapur of keris. Budo itself doesn't mean as Budhha. But it indicates a period in the past -- say it -- around 6-10th century. There is a kind of sense of uncertainty in the word of "budo" or "buda". Maybe you may "translate" it as "very old" or "once upon a time"... Or "antah berantah" in the Malay term.

Most javanese keris people also believe, that old jalak budo could be used as "keris tindih" (I have written about "keris tindih" in another thread), to neutralize the bad influence of other keris. But keris tindih is not only Jalak Budo. Old keris with dhapur betok, also could be used as keris tindih...

Ganjawulung