PAKARANG KASOENDAN (Weapons of the Soenda)

[A. G. Maisey]

Actually David, I rather enjoy Amuk's archaic and sometimes puzzling spellings. They refresh my memories and take me back to when I first began to learn Bahasa Indonesia. Yeah, I know, I'm not everybody else, but surely we can tolerate his convoluted spellings for the sake of his interesting photos?

When I began learning Bahasa Indonesia the old Dutch spelling was still being used, and my first dictionaries and text books were all the old spellings --- except for the Dutch "oe" instead of "u", that was changed in , I think, 1947, the other changes did not become official until 1972.

It is interesting to compare Indonesian romanisation and Malaysian romanisation. Sir Richard Winstead was responsible for the romanisation of Malay, and this first appeared in his Malay - English dictionary in 1908.

The old Dutch spelling system was in place from early in the 20th century, pre-1910, through to 1947, when it was replaced by the new National spelling system, I'm not sure, but I think this new system was called the "Republik" system. The old Dutch system had been invented by a gentleman with a name I cannot spell, it was something like van Ophuisen. Then in 1972 the present system that we use was introduced.

Interestingly, Malaysia did not exist until late in 1963, prior to that it had been Malaya, which of course was Melayu, because the Winstead spelling system was well and truly in place.

Actually, the term "Malay Archipelago" was an invention of Lord Alfred Wallace, he also called the same islands the "Indian Archipelago". Its a bit difficult to understand how the term "Malajoe archipelago" could ever have existed. Maybe "Kepuluan Malayoe" or "Kepuluan Malaju" or even "Kepuluan Melajoe", but then we have the problem of either Dutch or Indonesian nationalists ceding naming rights of Dutch or Indonesian territory to those difficult Malays, then using an English language term, expressed with Dutch spelling. It never happened.

For the Dutch, the islands that we now think of as "Indonesia" were known as "Nederland Indie", for indigenous people under Dutch overlordship these islands were "Hindia Belanda" or "Hindi Londo", after Merdeka, the generally used term in the new nation of Indonesia was "Nusantara" a term that was in use in Old Javanese.

That's what I mean about Amuk's sometimes puzzling spellings, they get confused and mixed, but truly I do enjoy the exercise of working out what he means, I think we should be tolerant and accept what he is prepared to give.

His pictures are great.

[David]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

I think we should be tolerant and accept what he is prepared to give.

"I am not telling you that you cannot continue using these spellings..."

I believe i was already being tolerant Alan.
And the best part of these confusing spellings is when you follow them with wonderful historical tidbits like what you have just posted. Interesting stuff!
As for Amuk's pictures, yes, please keep them coming Amuk. Your families collection is fabulous!

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes David, I was simply re-enforcing your already obvious tolerance.

Some people do tend to be less tolerant than both you & I.

[jagabuwana]

Thank you very much, hatur nuhun Tjag for clarifying this for me.

[Mickey the Finn]

For what it's worth, for myself, the old-style spellings aren't really all that bothersome. I have only a passing familiarity with what I think of as "Dutch phonetic spelling"; more like skating than walking or skiing, but I can get from A to B, though perhaps not quite as smoothly or quickly. On that note, a few years ago there was a corpus of quasi-professional "blue movies" available for view on a certain website. I recognized the language being spoken on these videos as Southern Scots or some thickly accented dialect of Northern English; I was able to "get the gist" of what was being said, though "in a glass, darkly", as it were. It was only through reading some of the viewer comments on the videos that I learned that the language being spoken was actually Dutch, and not Scots or English at all. After that, my comprehension suddenly dropped from "fair/middling" to "not the faintest, foggiest clue". Interesting learning experience it was, though.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo all,

I notice a bit of interest in this area.
Here's my contribution w.r.t. Koedjang.

As an example, the assignation of the Koedjang Tjioeng commensurate with the duties and function of the wearer/user (as opposed to the social status of the individual):

Koedjang Tjioeng, 9 Eyelets: Radja (ruler), Brahmesta (religious chief)
Koedjang Tjioeng, 7 Eyelets: Praboe Anom (crown prince), Mantri Dangka (border minister) and Pandita (councellor)
Koedjang Tjioeng, 5 Eyelets: Geurang Seurat (chief minister) Boepati Panangkes (military governor) and Boepati (regent)
Koedjang Tjioeng, 3 Eyelets: Geurang (minister)
Koedjang Tjioeng, 1 Eyelet: Goeroe Tangtoe Agama (advisor on inalienable doctrines)

Note: A person may carry more than one koedjang type. For instance, a general in the confederate court military (Koedjang Djago) may also be a ruler at home (Koedjang Tjioeng, Mata9).

BTW,

While doing this post, I came across a memory aid I prepared for a seminar so people could relate/remember better. (It's got 'Anglicised terms'. For comparison, the 'normal' schematic was posted in this forum somewhere a while back).
Nothing to do with koedjang, but I thought I'd include it here so I won't have to do another post.
It may be of use to someone. Otherwise, it's just garbage.

Best,

SCHEMATIC: Doehoeng (/ Kalis / Karis ) with Anglicised terminology.

[Amuk Murugul]

Hullo everybody!

Just thought I'd post a more complete explanation/protocol of the KOEDJANG.
Hope it's not too boring.

Best,

KOEDJANG:

The Koedjang is a traditional implement which has become synonymous with Oerang Soenda.

From humble beginnings as a farm tool, the koedjang had evolved to become pretty much what it is today.
There had been developed a pakem (protocol) governing the manufacture and use of the koedjang (similar to that of the doehoeng ).
This protocol virtually restricted the use of the variety of koedjang to the Pangréh Pradja/Prijaji (‘rulers of the realm’/governing bureaucracy), leaving only the basic farming-tool type for the common people.
Although the clergy were also allocated use of the koedjang, they were primarily as talismanic symbols of the clergy’s function: to nurture and protect the spiritual strength of the realm.

Koedjang Length: About two handspans (~ 42cm.), from point of blade to end of handle.

Koedjang ( see attached diagram )

1. Waroega ( Body/Blade )
2. Tjongo/Papatoek ( Tip/Beak ), for gouging
3. Beuteung ( Stomach/Front Edge ), sharp edge for cutting/slicing
4. Tonggong ( Back/Back Edge ), sharp edge for cutting/slicing
5. Eloek ( Arc )
6. Siih/Tjoetjoek ( Spur/Thorn ), for ripping/tearing
7. Mata ( Eye/Eyelet ), filled with precious metal
8. Tadah ( Check ), for blocking/disarming
9. Paksi/Boentoet/Paseuk ( Tang )
10. Seloet (Metal Collar/Ring ), for firm handling
11. Pamor ( Damascene ), for poison retention
12. Tjombong ( Hole ), recess in handle to fit tang
13. Landean/Perah ( Handle )
14. Kopak/Kowak/Sarangka/Saroeng ( Sheath )


Basically, the Koedjang was classified according to shape and function.

According to shape (of the blade):

Tjioeng ( Thrush )
Djago/Hajam ( Rooster )
Koentoel ( Egret )
Bangkong ( Frog )
Naga ( Serpent )
Badak ( Rhinoceros )
Pamangkas ( Cutter/Clipper, a farming tool )
Bikang ( Female ):
Tjioeng
Koentoel
Koedi ( for females )


According to function:

Poesaka (sacred heirloom or symbol of potency)
Pakarang (implement for defence)
Pangarak (lance/polearm, for special auspicious ceremonies)
Pamangkas (chopping/cutting/slashing implement for farming)

The protocol also included the assignation of the Koedjang type commensurate with the duties and function of the wearer/user (as opposed to the social status of the individual):

Koedjang Tjioeng, 9 Eyelets: Radja (ruler), Brahmesta (high-priest)
Koedjang Tjioeng, 7 Eyelets: Praboe Anom (crown prince), Mantri Dangka (minister for states/territories), Pandita (counsellor)
Koedjang Tjioeng, 5 Eyelets: Boepati Panangkes (chief of general business), Boepati Pakwan (Pakwan regent), Boepati Loear (regent for area external to Pakwan/regional-ruler), Geurang Poeoen (leader of village-chiefs), Geurang Seurat (secretary)
Koedjang Tjioeng, 3 Eyelets: Geurang (group/community leader), Poeoen (village-chief)
Koedjang Tjioeng, 1 Eyelet: Goeroe Tangtoe Agama (expert/educator/advisor on inalienable doctrines)
Koedjang Djago: military personnel: Balapati/RanggaMantri (paramount war-chief), Loeloegoe/Rangga (war-chief), Sambilan (divisional-chief)
Koedjang Koentoel: Patih (chief executive): poeri (fortifications), taman (parks/gardens), tangtoe (sacred inalienables), djaba (external), paladjoe (development); Mantri (minister): madjeuti (fisheries), paséban (tributes/taxes), lajar (transport), karang (lands), djero (interior)
Koedjang Bangkong: Goeroe (expert/educator/advisor): sekar (flora), tangtoe (sacred inalienables), alas (forestry), tjoetjoek (brambles/weeds)
Koedjang Naga: Kandoeroe/PangréhPradja (ruler’s service), Djaro (district chief): awara (security), tangtoe (sacred inalienables), gambangan (music/culture)
Koedjang Badak:
- military officers: Pangwereg (cavalry/elephants), Pamatang (lancers), Palongok-panengen-pangiwa (scouts), Palajang (flying force), Pangwelah,(strategy). Bareusan (infantry unit): pradjoerit (general infantry), pratoeloep (blowpipes), pangawin (bodyguards), sarawarsa (archers).
- Kokolot (elders)
Koedjang Pamangkas: common folk
Koedjang Bikang and Koedi: females of the nobility and those with definite functions e.g. Dijah Poetri (Princess), court ladies: Amboe Soekla (lady chaperone), Amboe Geurang (governess), Goeroe Aés (female physician), Dajang Kapoetren (ladies-in-waiting), Soekla Majang (hand-maiden)
Koedjang Boeta ( Blind ): Koedjang with no Eyelets.


Koedjang Bikang: consisted of two basic shapes, Tjioeng and Koentoel, chosen for their slenderness. They were only half the size of the normal Koedjang.

Koedi: It is similar to the Koedjang, but with similar twin edges, serrated, with spurs and no beuteung or tonggong. It is the same size as the Koedjang Bikang. They are made of steel, finer than the Koedjang and like Koedjang Boeta, don’t have eyelets.

Eyelets: Symbolises the mandala/levels of the religion of the realm (viz. kasoengka, parmana, karma, rasa, seba, soeda, djati, samar, agoeng; 9 levels).

Damascene: Soelangkar/Lines along blade and Toetoel/Spots

Koedjang as a status symbol:
The status of the wearer is determined by the number of eyelets, the damascene and its material.
Koedjang worn by aristocratic ladies of the Pakwan court usually had five eyelets with soelangkar damascene of selected yellow metal alloy (an mixture of iron, tin, lead, silver, zinc, copper and gold). Other females wore koedjang with three eyelets or less, with toetoel damascene of chosen metal.