Hello Alan. Sooner or later I knew I'd be back here with more questions.
I have been reflecting on two keris forms - on one side the rather muscular form of old Banten or Bali keris with luk that we know and love, and more modern Javanese classifications like Surakarta.
Both are recognisably part of the modern keris form as we know it, but both have a very different overall impression and feeling to them.
If I'm not mistaken, the Surakarta classification can be described as 'brave', among other descriptions. Is this brave as in berani (BI) or wani (BJ)? If so I think I can mentally or emotionally reconcile the appearance with the description. Likewise, other words that come to mind for me gravitate around words like gentlemanly, chivalrous, sartorial, high-cultured.
Whereas for Banten, gentlemanly or sartorial doesn't apply at all. The refinement and elegance is in its execution but not its form as something I try to imagine as personified.
* Without claiming to know how 'wanda' is used by ahli keris, am I sort of approaching the right idea for what that is when I describe things like this?
* When new regal classifications like Surakarta become developed and settled, is there any thinking in-advance by its contributors about what kind of feelings and impressions the keris' form should impart on someone?
* Do the impressions and invoked feelings related to a keris classification say something about how its patrons see themselves, or wish to be seen?
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