Loss of another important fount of information
 

I have been informed that RMT Harjonegoro has passed away in Solo.

Thus the world has lost another of the few people who had a vast knowledge of all phases of the culture of and behind the Keris as well as all of the Arts of Java. He was originally known for his performance in court dances, then for the production of court quality batiks (of which he could not satisfy the demand) and finally for his knowledge of the Keris. There were very few people in Java who were as well versed in all of the Arts and in this modern age I don't expect to see any one to replace not only him, but any other of the repositories of this type of knowledge who are left. In a few more years all of the real understanding of the culture of Java will be completly lost.

Thanks for the info Mick. Sad news indeed. It would seem that with the current interest in keris culture that there would be those willing and able to take up the mantle, so to speak. It certainly seems important to me that those who hold great knowledge should be willing to freely share it before it disappears from existence. This applies to any subject.

Yes Mick, that is correct.

Panembahan Harjonagoro passed away on Thursday November 6th. as the result of a heart attack. He was in his 77th. year.

He was born on 11th. May 1931, the son of Chinese business people, and his Chinese name was Go Tik Swan.

Since 1946 he had been influential in Indonesian society and politics, and was a close friend from childhood of PBXII.

When PBXIII came to the throne of Surakarta Hadiningrat, the position and influence of Panembahan Harjonagoro increased, and he became a driving force behind the restoration of the Keraton Surakarta Hadiningrat.

He was perhaps the most powerful single force in the revival of the art of the empu in Central Jawa.

In addition, his knowledge of other aspects of Javanese culture was unparalleled.