Keris Stabbing Weapon Indonesia

Keris Stabbing Weapon Indonesia

Keris is a stabbing weapon typically Indonesia. According to the ancient documents, Keris has been used since the 9th century. People believe that it may have been used even before that time. The Minister of Culture and Tourism Indonesia, Jero Wacik brought Keris to UNESCO and asked for guarantee that Keris is one of Indonesian Heritages. The employing of Keris spreads all over Malaya's citizens. Nowaday, Keris is commonly known in Indonesia (especially in Java, Madura, Bali/Lombok, Sumatera, half Kalimantan and few parts of Sulawesi), Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, and Philippines (especially in Mindanao). In Mindanao, the weapon that called as Keris isn't in the same form of Keris in Indonesia although it is used as a stabbing weapon too.

Keris & Wrangka

Keris has many forms, for example, with a curve blade (always in uneven numbers) or with a straight blade. Javanese people pretend that this difference make a different esoteric effect. Beside as weapon, Keris is also believed have a supranatural power. This weapon was mentioned in many traditional legends such as Keris Mpu Gandring, Ken Arok and Ken Dedes.

The utilising of Keris is different in each region. In Java and Sunda for examples, they slip Keris in the backside of their waist on peaceful situation and move it to the frontside when war begun. While in Sumatra, kalimantan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Philippines, Keris is placed in front.

Keris handle

Few terms in this part are taken from Javanese tradition because of the availability of the reference. Some Tosan Aji experts classified Keris as a stabbing weapon, thus the important part of Keris is Wilah (blade) look like a knife blade. But as Keris has other compliments like Wrangka (cover) and the handle or carving, this unity called Keris.

Wrangka or Keris cover is a component that has special function especially in social interacts between people in Java, at least this is the only part that seen directly. Wrangka at first was made from wood ( commonly oak wood, sandalwood, timoho, and kemuning). Along with the development, wrangka has an additional function as a reflection of its owner's social status. The upper part is commonly changed with ivory. Briefly, there are two types of wrangka :
* Wrangka Ladrang consists of : angkup, lata, janggut, gandek, godong ( in the leaf form ),gandar, ri,and cangkring.
* Wrangka Gayaman (gandon) consists of the same part as wrangka ladrang but without angkup, godong, and gandek.

Utilising of Keris is by slipping

The usage of these types has been determined although it is not absolute. Wrangka ladrang is wore in formal occasion such as : meet the king, and other Keraton's formal occasions (coronation, elevation, marriage, etc)
 with the purpose of respect. The utilising of Keris is by slipping it in the foldaway side of belt ( stagen) in the backside (waist ). In war Keris wrangka ladrang is used, its because wrangka ladrang is practical and its simple form made people easier to use it. Ladrang and gayaman are form pattern wrangka and their important part is the bottom side that shaped rectangle ( along the wilah Keris ) and called as gandar or antupan, thus the gandar's function is to cover wilah (blade) and usually made from wood (so it won't ruin the wilah that made from metal mixture). As its covering function, the aesthetic of a gandar isn't priority, to make more beautiful, gandar will coated with cylinder cartridge called Pendok. This pendok part is usually beautifully carved, made from metal brass, suasa (mixture between gold and copper), silver and gold. In other region beside Java (Bugis,Goa,Palembang,Riau,Bali) the Pendok is made from gold and decorated with gold embroidery and flowers that scattered with diamonds. Keris in Java, according to its form can divided into :

Pendok

1. Pendok bunton in the shape of a flat cartridge without slide in both side.
2. Pendok blewah (blengah) slide longitudinal into the other side and that makes the Gandar seen.
3. Pendok topengan which the slide is placed only in the front part.

By its decor, Pendok can be categorized Luk, Luk is the curve part of a Keris and from its form, Keris can divided into two category :
1. Keris with a straight blade.
2. Keris with a curve blade.

Keris Straight Blade

The simple way to count the curve in a blade starts from botton to the upper side of Keris, it is count from the convex side and count the both side across (right and left), so the total number is definately uneven and never even. The minimal amount of the curve is three and the maximum is thirteen. If there is a Keris with the amount more than thirteen, it is called Kalawija, or an uncommon Keris.



Keris and Wayang become awfully fantastic Indonesia's Intangible Heritage that have been and will be recognized by UNESCO. Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.