Pandai Saras Luk 9

[A. G. Maisey]

Rasdan, I cannot see anything in this keris from Mr. Jensen's publication that I would identify as qualifying it for a Majapahit classification.

I'm not going to list and discuss every feature, but Mojo keris should be light, this keris is heavy, Mojo keris should have boto adeg blumbangan, this keris appears to have a square blumbangan, Mojo keris have more taper to the point, Mojo keris should have a shortish gonjo.

This keris does look like north coast, but more to the west, based on what I believe I can see in the picture, I'd be inclined to give this keris as more or less Banten.

However, we are getting into a tangguh discussion here, and that is really not a good idea when we are using pictures to base opinions on. In any case, there is one thing above all else that must be remembered about the tangguh system:- it is a system of classification in which some of the classifications share their names with historic eras, but that does not mean that the keris concerned originates from that era.

In Jawa we have a saying:-

tangguh ngak sungguh = tangguh is not real

if we care to believe that a keris of say, Kahuripan origin actually originated in the Kingdom of Kahuripan, well, that's fine --- provided we accept that this can only ever be a belief, as is virtually all keris "knowledge".

Keris knowledge is not knowledge as the concept of knowledge is understood in the modern world. Keris knowledge is a mixture of myth, legend, and popular belief.

Keris knowledge depends upon having an understanding of these myths, legends and beliefs that is more or less in agreement with the majority of people with whom one discusses keris.

[rasdan]

Thanks Alan. Yes, that keris does not qualify as Mojo, I just somehow sees a faint resemblance of that keris to PS keris (probably because of the greneng and ada2). Actually I think PS keris that we know today is a mixture of multiple keris forms. Ok, Alan, I wont go into tangguh discussion here.

Gustav, I'm sorry I dragged your thread to a different direction than what you originally asked about. I'll stop here.

[Gustav]

Rasdan, absolutely no problem with that.

I also always thought, the pre-1700 keris you posted reminds Keris Pandai Saras. There also is the question, if the lanky PS form with long Luk from Patani is the earliest one. Perhaps it could be seen as a development of a certain taste.