Si Ginjai -- National Museum of Jakarta

[A. G. Maisey]

Nice post Pak Ganja.

Artistic.

Yep, no answers on this one.


It all comes down to what one wishes to believe.

Catch me in a suit and tie and I'll give you a strong rational argument, backed up with logic, and maybe a bit of evidence that good old Ki Nom was a composite.

Catch me in a sarung and I'll give you a strong emotional argument that he lived a very long time and completed all the keris attributed to him by himself.

Like---let's face it, there are a lot of keris attributed to Ki Nom, so to make them all, he would have had to live a long time, and we know he lived a long time because he made so many keris. Right?

Saturday morning--- got a sarung on at the moment.

[Boedhi Adhitya]

Originally Posted by Raden Usman Djogja

Pak Alan,

Sultan Hanyakrakusumo sent 2 (beautiful and powerful) kerises for local king during expedition to Jambi for building of strategic partnership. By these two kerises, Sultan Jambi became more powerful and legitimate.

Perhaps, if you can find de graf's books, he wrote about Mataram-Jambi.

Regards,
OeSmen

I believe, 'partnership' wasn't the appropriate word, here. Jambi (and Palembang) were Mataram's vassal when Sultan Agung reign, and soon release the vassalage when the Mataram weakened. The keris should be seen as the Mataram's power representation rather than a gift. It seemed a common practice in archipelago at that time. Makassar gaves the tatarappang kerises to the Sultanate of Bima, Makassar's vassal.

I believe it was Harsrinuksmo who attributed Si Ginje to Ki Nom. I neither approve nor disapprove this claim, as I haven't handled the keris myself (while I have seen it, behind the vitrine). Even if I handled it myself, I'm not sure would be able to put a definite attribution on it, especially to Ki Nom. Firstly, there are several versions of Ki Nom's works characteristics. Secondly, and most importantly, Si Ginje is in such condition that some considerations must be taken, very carefully, to apply the tangguh system.

In my opinion, the sor-soran is too thick to fit any today's Javanese tangguh system, signifying that it is in near pristine condition. Years of etching has worn-out most of the old blades in Java as such, that its original condition/size is unrecognized today. Any keris lover in Java would think Si Ginje as 'small Balinese keris' at the first glance.
The awak-awakan is slightly too slim compared to the sor-soran, suggesting some resharpen, perhaps, has been done. The luks remind me of Majapahit luks, but Mataram also possible. The forging technique employed in both Mataram and Majapahit.

Regarding Ki Nom, as I recall, there is a grave attributed to 'Empu Supo' in Demak, in the same graveyard/shrine of famous Sunan Kalijaga. Unfortunately, it is unclear which 'Supo' it is.

I'm very sorry for adding more problems than solutions on this topic. Other documentation regarding Si Ginje's legend, as I recall, written in Jasper&Pirngadie's work. I believe Harsrinuksmo was quoting some from it.

Originally Posted by Ganjawulung

Legend on Si Ginjai was related to the ancestors of Jambi people. Orang Kaya Hitam (this name, actually means: The Black Rich Man). Because he (Orang Kaya Hitam) had refused to pay donations to Majapahit, the Ruler of Majapahit planned to killed him with a very special keris -- which should be forged in a certain way, and was made in 9 different places, with 9 different materials. And the first two words of the materials should begin with "pa". The forging of the keris should be made only in every Friday, by a very special and secret empu. It was said, Orang Kaya Hitam knew the plan. From his adventure-travelling, Orang Hitam could find the keris, before the keris was used to kill him.

Regarding the legend, the auspicious day of Majapahit was Tuesday (selasa, in Bahasa under arabic influence, Anggara should be what it was called in Majapahit era). Friday certainly is the Moslem auspicious day. So if the keris should be forged only on the auspicious day in Majapahit era, tuesday was very likely than friday.