The Purpose of Keris Panjang

[rahman]

On the bahari keris, it is my experience that most bahari keris were found in Minangkabau. In fact 70% of the kerises from Minangkabau seems to be of that form.

Blu is quite correct. The bahari was the weapon fo choice for Minang traders and travelers, and there were many of them who followed the old Minang tradition of 'merantau' (in search of one's fortune).

The Bangkinang provencnace of the keris panjang, anak alang and bahari was recorded by the late Mr Bambang in his Ensiklopedi Keris. Bangkinang was a transit point for Minang travelers from West Sumatra going to East Sumatra, and the keris from this area became popular. The bahari, he argued, proved popular as it was easily concealed.

Bambang, however, did not explain why the panjang should be adopted as a symbol of authority. Many chieftains of old Negeri Sembilan have keris panjang as part of their regalia.

Indeed, old Malay custom dictated that only datos and penghulus were mpowered to use the panjang for executions. The royal method for execution was beheading, and a sword was used for this purpose.

If you look at 19th Century photos of the regalia of many sultans, the sword and the panjang were carried by court retainers, not by the sultan himself. This is a more recent development, as seen by the Yang Di Pertuan Agung carrying a keris panjang as part of his royal outfit.

It is also worth noting that the keris panjang described in the Hikayat Hang Tuah and Sejarah Melayu is different from the ones we see today. The keris panjang in the classics was sued as a slashing weapon, not as a stabber.

Yes, it would be interesting to trace back the development of the panjang, anak alang and bahari.