Twelve lok keris

GIO · 11th January 2010, 12:04 PM

Dear Friends,
first of all I wish to introduce myself as a new member of this forum.
I live in Milano (Italy) and have been collecting keris and some other Indonesian weapons since 1985. I hope we shall have fruitful and interesting discussions in future.
Now let's come to the topic.
I have been told by a well-known person (great collector and writer of books and articles on keris and keris hilts) that, as the sole exception to the rule of odd number, that 12-luk keris do exist. The number twelve would have a particular significance for the malay people (don't remember which).
Of course such keris are extremely rare and high valued.
Anybody wish to comment ? I have no further information.
Thanks in advance to everybody.

David · 11th January 2010, 04:02 PM

Hi Gio. Welcome to the forum.

I have hear this before, but i believe it is still a point of contention. There are many who will tell you that the number must always be odd because odd numbers are masculine in the culture and as the ultimate masculine symbol the keris should never have an even number of luks. But i have hear that the number 12 does have a special significance. Whether that means it would be used for a keris remains a question.

Marcokeris · 21st January 2010, 12:00 PM

Welcome to the forum

11th January 2010, 12:04 PM	#1
GIO Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 328	Twelve lok keris Dear Friends, first of all I wish to introduce myself as a new member of this forum. I live in Milano (Italy) and have been collecting keris and some other Indonesian weapons since 1985. I hope we shall have fruitful and interesting discussions in future. Now let's come to the topic. I have been told by a well-known person (great collector and writer of books and articles on keris and keris hilts) that, as the sole exception to the rule of odd number, that 12-luk keris do exist. The number twelve would have a particular significance for the malay people (don't remember which). Of course such keris are extremely rare and high valued. Anybody wish to comment ? I have no further information. Thanks in advance to everybody.

11th January 2010, 04:02 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,211	Hi Gio. Welcome to the forum. I have hear this before, but i believe it is still a point of contention. There are many who will tell you that the number must always be odd because odd numbers are masculine in the culture and as the ultimate masculine symbol the keris should never have an even number of luks. But i have hear that the number 12 does have a special significance. Whether that means it would be used for a keris remains a question.

21st January 2010, 12:00 PM	#3
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	Welcome to the forum