Interpretation of the Pre-Islamic Javanese Keris

Bjorn · 25th September 2013, 03:10 PM

Alan, you produced a thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable paper. Your hypotheses seems very plausible and it's fascinating to think of how keris were adopted as a form of societal regulation by Gajah Mada. Logically, it all makes a lot of sense and I do hope this will spur further research into the modern keris and its origins in the Mojopohit era.

The luk hypothesis also seems sound and, I think, intuitive in that a keris novice is more likely to count 11 waves than 13 (as least this was my experience with my very first keris).
Related to this, different numbers of luk are said to have different qualities, e.g. five luk symbolizing the hope of the owner to become a skilled speaker. Based on your paper I would guess that these meanings are applicable to the Islamic era rather than the Mojopahit era. This is just something that crossed my mind.

I also really enjoyed reading about the symbolism of the gonjo and how so much of the keris' form and symbolism can reference to the churning of the milky ocean.

My appreciation of the keris as a symbolic microcosm has been strengthened after reading your paper. I love how there is always more to learn about keris and the society it sprang from. This paper is definitely required reading for anyone with a genuine interest in keris. Many thanks!

PS: For those who are interested in learning more about Indonesia's history and who as of yet know very little, I would recommend "A Short History of Indonesia: The Unlikely Nation?". It offers a great introduction to the country's history and an excellent platform on which to base further reading.

A. G. Maisey · 25th September 2013, 10:04 PM

Thanks for your comments, Yuuzan.

In respect of the present day understanding of the keris, yes, investigation will show that a very large part of that understanding can be tied to beliefs that have their roots in Islam.

Something else that needs to be remembered is that with anything of an esoteric nature in virtually any culture there are several layers of understanding.

The popular understanding, that is, the understanding that is permitted to the lay-person, is often only vaguely related to the understanding of the initiate, and even the understanding of the initiate will have one or more layers behind it.

Over time those layers tend to erode in one direction and develop in another direction, and eventually the understanding that was the foundation upon which the system of belief was founded becomes a travesty of the original ideas. As time passes, the fabric of the system is stretched this way and that, tears appear in the fabric, parts of it become lost and patches are added to it. Eventually the weft, the warp and the motifs of the original fabric become unrecognisable and come to reflect the characteristics of the major societies that have adopted the system of belief.

This can perhaps most easily be seen in the belief systems that are the major religions.

The keris belief system is no different.

Richard Furrer · 26th September 2013, 02:04 AM

Beautiful words Alan.

Ric

A. G. Maisey · 26th September 2013, 10:02 PM

Thank you Ric.

Alan.

auk · 27th September 2013, 08:09 AM

thanx fore the article its verry usefull great research
greetings auk

manteris1 · 8th October 2013, 02:11 AM

thanks alan, i know more now and some day i'll known more i'm just a beginner, i'm learning, it but its slow......................jimmy

A. G. Maisey · 8th October 2013, 03:06 AM

Thank you gentlemen.

Yeah, it is slow Jimmy, and worse still, you never really know. At best you gain plausible insights.

8th October 2013, 02:11 AM	#6
manteris1 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 114	thanks i think ? thanks alan, i know more now and some day i'll known more i'm just a beginner, i'm learning, it but its slow......................jimmy

25th September 2013, 03:10 PM	#1
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	Alan, you produced a thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable paper. Your hypotheses seems very plausible and it's fascinating to think of how keris were adopted as a form of societal regulation by Gajah Mada. Logically, it all makes a lot of sense and I do hope this will spur further research into the modern keris and its origins in the Mojopohit era. The luk hypothesis also seems sound and, I think, intuitive in that a keris novice is more likely to count 11 waves than 13 (as least this was my experience with my very first keris). Related to this, different numbers of luk are said to have different qualities, e.g. five luk symbolizing the hope of the owner to become a skilled speaker. Based on your paper I would guess that these meanings are applicable to the Islamic era rather than the Mojopahit era. This is just something that crossed my mind. I also really enjoyed reading about the symbolism of the gonjo and how so much of the keris' form and symbolism can reference to the churning of the milky ocean. My appreciation of the keris as a symbolic microcosm has been strengthened after reading your paper. I love how there is always more to learn about keris and the society it sprang from. This paper is definitely required reading for anyone with a genuine interest in keris. Many thanks! PS: For those who are interested in learning more about Indonesia's history and who as of yet know very little, I would recommend "A Short History of Indonesia: The Unlikely Nation?". It offers a great introduction to the country's history and an excellent platform on which to base further reading.

25th September 2013, 10:04 PM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,990	Thanks for your comments, Yuuzan. In respect of the present day understanding of the keris, yes, investigation will show that a very large part of that understanding can be tied to beliefs that have their roots in Islam. Something else that needs to be remembered is that with anything of an esoteric nature in virtually any culture there are several layers of understanding. The popular understanding, that is, the understanding that is permitted to the lay-person, is often only vaguely related to the understanding of the initiate, and even the understanding of the initiate will have one or more layers behind it. Over time those layers tend to erode in one direction and develop in another direction, and eventually the understanding that was the foundation upon which the system of belief was founded becomes a travesty of the original ideas. As time passes, the fabric of the system is stretched this way and that, tears appear in the fabric, parts of it become lost and patches are added to it. Eventually the weft, the warp and the motifs of the original fabric become unrecognisable and come to reflect the characteristics of the major societies that have adopted the system of belief. This can perhaps most easily be seen in the belief systems that are the major religions. The keris belief system is no different.

26th September 2013, 02:04 AM	#3
Richard Furrer Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 163	Beautiful words Alan. Ric

26th September 2013, 10:02 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,990	Thank you Ric. Alan.

27th September 2013, 08:09 AM	#5
auk Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 28	thanx fore the article its verry usefull great research greetings auk

8th October 2013, 03:06 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,990	Thank you gentlemen. Yeah, it is slow Jimmy, and worse still, you never really know. At best you gain plausible insights.