Keris Books

Alam Shah · 9th August 2005, 09:27 AM

jor-el,

Superman's father?

Welcome to the forum. Perhaps it's easier to start-up with

1.) The World of the Javanese Keris.
http://www.eriksedge.com/TheWorldoftheJavaneseKeris.html
Auth: G. & B.Solyom,
Pub: East West Centre Pub., Honolulu 1978.
ISBN No: 0-9620340-0-2
Comments: ***** A must have primer. Concentrate on Indonesian keris culture.

2.) The Kris: Mystic Weapon of the Malay World.
Auth: Edward Frey,
Pub: Oxford University Press, Oxford (3rd Edition),
ISBN 0-19-588906-1
Comments: ***** Another very good primer with lots of good info and pictures in the Kris Archives. Shows a variety of different regions kerises.

nechesh · 9th August 2005, 12:46 PM

Welcome Jor-el. I agree whole-heartedly with Alam Shah, though i might also add another book to the short list that he mentions in the list on the link John provided.
The Kris: an earthly approach to a cosmic symbol.
Auth: David van Duuren.
Published: 1998, Netherlands, 1st Edition
Format: Hardcover, 95 pages,
ISBN: 907318732X
Comments: ***** Another good primer with good color photos.
Scholarly account of the kris - its distribution, history, function and production. The
significance of the design and motifs on the blade, hilt and sheath and the regional variations are all described with the aid of illustrations from the Royal Tropical Institute Collection, Amsterdam.
Certainly some of the best photos you will find in a keris book as well.

However, an understanding of the keris can never be reached in a vacuum. These authors only give you a very small glimpse into Indonesian culture so i highly recommend you study whatever you can find on the culture itself apart from that the keris. Skeat's "Malay Magic" is a good one and "Visible and Invisible Realms" by Margret Wiener is indespensible.

jor-el · 12th August 2005, 11:55 AM

Dear all,

i am thankfull for your help on bibliography for keris. I already spoke with some friends in your place (Java) and the best book ever, included in your lists is:

Ensiklopedi Keris (Keris Encyclopedia).
Auth: Bambang Harsrinuksmo,
Pub: Jakarta : Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2004.
Format: Hardcover, 630 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.

Unfortunatelly i do not know Javanese language. Any good translators there (what am i asking...)? I heard that the cost there for translation is little compared with the one here.
Aaa.... the original book is going to be purchased by the way.

Best regards,

Themis

9th August 2005, 09:27 AM	#1
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	jor-el, Superman's father? Welcome to the forum. Perhaps it's easier to start-up with 1.) The World of the Javanese Keris. http://www.eriksedge.com/TheWorldoftheJavaneseKeris.html Auth: G. & B.Solyom, Pub: East West Centre Pub., Honolulu 1978. ISBN No: 0-9620340-0-2 Comments: *** A must have primer. Concentrate on Indonesian keris culture. 2.) The Kris: Mystic Weapon of the Malay World. Auth: Edward Frey, Pub: Oxford University Press, Oxford (3rd Edition), ISBN 0-19-588906-1 Comments: *** Another very good primer with lots of good info and pictures in the Kris Archives. Shows a variety of different regions kerises.

9th August 2005, 12:46 PM	#2
nechesh Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 940	Welcome Jor-el. I agree whole-heartedly with Alam Shah, though i might also add another book to the short list that he mentions in the list on the link John provided. The Kris: an earthly approach to a cosmic symbol. Auth: David van Duuren. Published: 1998, Netherlands, 1st Edition Format: Hardcover, 95 pages, ISBN: 907318732X Comments: ***** Another good primer with good color photos. Scholarly account of the kris - its distribution, history, function and production. The significance of the design and motifs on the blade, hilt and sheath and the regional variations are all described with the aid of illustrations from the Royal Tropical Institute Collection, Amsterdam. Certainly some of the best photos you will find in a keris book as well. However, an understanding of the keris can never be reached in a vacuum. These authors only give you a very small glimpse into Indonesian culture so i highly recommend you study whatever you can find on the culture itself apart from that the keris. Skeat's "Malay Magic" is a good one and "Visible and Invisible Realms" by Margret Wiener is indespensible.

12th August 2005, 11:55 AM	#3
jor-el Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 17	Dear all, i am thankfull for your help on bibliography for keris. I already spoke with some friends in your place (Java) and the best book ever, included in your lists is: Ensiklopedi Keris (Keris Encyclopedia). Auth: Bambang Harsrinuksmo, Pub: Jakarta : Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2004. Format: Hardcover, 630 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm. Unfortunatelly i do not know Javanese language. Any good translators there (what am i asking...)? I heard that the cost there for translation is little compared with the one here. Aaa.... the original book is going to be purchased by the way. Best regards, Themis