DOEHOENG KASOENDAN (A Soenda Perspective)

[David]

Here is some further info on the Battle of Bubat.
Of course, nothing is said here about this practice of reversing keris hilts. It is not something i have ever come across in my readings before. Interesting if true, but like Jagabuwana, i believe i will continue to present my own keris with the hilts in their "correct" position.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bubat

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!
I thought I'd balance post #2 with some "eloek' examples:

03. MahisahKerak 5Eloek (SandangWalikat,Tjorok)

Name: Sang Goeroe Hijang
Desc: Doehoeng Mahisah Kerak 5Eloek DJERBON
Char: Oepih , Oesoek , 5 Eloek .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=46x57.5x9.39x1.69cm. (paksi: 0.91x7.49x0.54cm.)
Handle: Wood Kitjaka w/ metal seloet and wewer.
Wt: 449g.


04. MahisahKerak 5Eloek (SandangWalikat/Tjorok)

Name: Sang Geusan Hoeloen
Desc: Doehoeng Mahisah Kerak 5Eloek DJERBON
Char: Oepih , Oesoek , 5 Eloek .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=43.5x50.5x9.78x1.52cm.(paksi: 0.77x6.49x0.57cm.)
Handle: Wood Ganaisia w/ white-metal seloet.
Wt: 313g.


05. MahisahKerak 5Eloek (SandangWalikat,Tjorok)

Name: Sang Koewoe Kandang Sakti
Desc: Doehoeng Mahisah Kerak 5Eloek DJERBON
Char: Oepih , Oesoek , 5 Eloek .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=45x53x9.11x1.99cm.(paksi ; 0.83x8.04x0.51cm.)
Handle: Wood Babandolan w/ yellow-metal seloet
Wt: 451g.


06. SampanaToempeng 13Eloek (Tjorok)

Name: Sang Poetjoek Oemoen
Desc: Sampana Toempeng 13Eloek GALOEH
Char: KembangKatjang , Pentil , Oepih , Djanoer , 13 Eloek .
Blade: LxOALxWxT=41.5x49x8.59x1.38cm.(paksi: 0.72x7.25x0.43cm.)
Handle: Wood Kitjaka w/ metal seloet.
Wt: 318g.

Enjoy!

[Jean]

Hello Amuk,
Very interesting pieces again, thank you!
Could you please explain or translate the following terms into English for our better understanding:
. Mahisah kerak
. Tjorok (corok, a long and strong blade?)
. Djerbon (Cirebon?)
. Galoeh (Galuh/ Segaluh Kingdom?)
. Oepih
. Oesuk (usuk or ada-ada?)
. Kotjop
. Kitjaka (equivalent to Dursasana/ Rajamala?)

Thank you and regards

[A. G. Maisey]

Jean, maybe English might not be possible --- it is sometimes not really possible with some Javanese words & ideas --- but if a translation into Bahasa Indonesia were to be possible, this would assist.

Even post 1972 spelling might help.

I've just a few minutes ago run this text past an educated 22 year old from Bandung who is here on holidays, and he cannot make head nor tail of it, even after I did the standard change from Dutch style spellings to English style spellings.

Amuk, what language are we looking at here? I had assumed Sundanese, but perhaps it is a dialectical variation?

[Amuk Murugul]

Jean,
Mahisah Kerak is a style/dapoer
Tjorok, mentioned in post #2, tang>0.7cm
Djerbon= trust/faith in ‘mother'; from ‘ djedjer’(=one who can be trusted/depended upon) and ‘ bon’(=mother);river/sea waters were considered ‘mother’, mountains ‘father’. It was the original name for what is now known as “Cirebon”.
Galoeh/Galuh was a kingdom whose size varied from time to time, at times covering the whole of western Java (including some of Central Java). Segaloeh is a Javanese construct; I don’t know what is meant by it except as in Javanese keris protocol.
Oepih is a palm-leaf sheath
Oesoek is a roof-batten(=ada-ada in Javanese protocol)
Kotjop is wrong, it should be Pentil(=young fruit ‘bud’)
Kitjaka was the commander-in-chief of king Wirata in Mahabarata; while Doersasana is also a character from the same epic, Radjamala is a Javanese construct who did not appear in the original

Alan,
Being born, bred and living in Bandoeng does not necessarily make one ‘Soenda’. Then, of course, there is Soenda and Soenda (just as there is Koori and Koori)
Your assumption is indeed correct; I use Basa Soenda.

Best,

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes, of course you're right Amuk, but I rather think the young gentleman to whom I referred your text might be considered to be attuned to his native culture. I will not go into the reasons for why I think this to be so, but if he is indeed not genuinely committed to the history and values of his native culture, then I guess the Indonesian government has misplaced their trust.

Still, I think we can put the question of qualifications to one side. Fact is I rather enjoy reading your posts, they are certainly unique.

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Yes, of course you're right Amuk, but I rather think the young gentleman to whom I referred your text might be considered to be attuned to his native culture. I will not go into the reasons for why I think this to be so, but if he is indeed not genuinely committed to the history and values of his native culture, then I guess the Indonesian government has misplaced their trust.

Still, I think we can put the question of qualifications to one side. Fact is I rather enjoy reading your posts, they are certainly unique.

Hullo Alan,

I felt obliged to respond.
Forgive me if I sound a bit cynical, but experiences have left me rather disappointed (especially by those in position to make significant change). However, I am still hopeful. Especially now that there appears to be a new crop with vision and ideals as well as the courage of their convictions.
Perhaps, the time may come when:” Bila melihat dolar, mata menghijau” may be laid to rest.
BTW ..... if your friend is 'into' Soenda culture, he may have heard of a couple of my 'brothers-in-arms': Ekadjati (Bdg), Djatisunda (Skb)

I am pleased that my posts can be a source of enjoyment/mirth.

Best,

[Jean]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Jean,
Mahisah Kerak is a style/dapoer
Tjorok, mentioned in post #2, tang>0.7cm
Djerbon= trust/faith in ‘mother'; from ‘ djedjer’(=one who can be trusted/depended upon) and ‘ bon’(=mother);river/sea waters were considered ‘mother’, mountains ‘father’. It was the original name for what is now known as “Cirebon”.
Galoeh/Galuh was a kingdom whose size varied from time to time, at times covering the whole of western Java (including some of Central Java). Segaloeh is a Javanese construct; I don’t know what is meant by it except as in Javanese keris protocol.
Oepih is a palm-leaf sheath
Oesoek is a roof-batten(=ada-ada in Javanese protocol)
Kotjop is wrong, it should be Pentil(=young fruit ‘bud’)
Kitjaka was the commander-in-chief of king Wirata in Mahabarata; while Doersasana is also a character from the same epic, Radjamala is a Javanese construct who did not appear in the original


Best,

Thank you Amuk, your perspective is very interesting for us foreigners who don't clearly differentiate the Sundanese culture from the Javanese one. And your krisses are always a pleasure for the eyes!
Regards
PS: I know sandang walikat as a style of scabbard but what does it mean in your examples?

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo Jean,

As explained in post #2, sandang walikat= gird over the shoulder.


Alan,

I don't see it as a dialect. It was designed to facilitate communication between confederate officials from the capital and regional officials from any part of the kingdom.
If you insist on a name for it, then it is: Basa (Soenda) Jero. Probably a bit like Kromo Inggil&Madya.

Best,