Introduction and Empu Mudra keris

SidJ · 30th January 2025, 12:07 AM

Looks like the skill in carving in the finer details on the blade are a direct function of the thickness of the wheel on the angle grinder being so enthusiastically used in David's video! That's a hard no for me personally.

A. G. Maisey · 1st February 2025, 05:05 AM

David is absolutely correct in respect of his remarks about Pande Ketut Mudra.

He is descended from a long line of pandes who served the Puri Klungkung.

He is probably the last pande keris living who knows the old mantras.

Yes, his art work is perhaps not as good as the art work of some other keris makers, but artwork is only one aspect of keris production, Pande Ketut Mudra is highly respected by the people of his own culture & society, and the elements of any culture are the property of the people who own that culture.

It is not the place of any person from outside a culture to criticize the craftsmen who work within any culture.

SidJ · 3rd February 2025, 10:12 AM

Alan,
We live in strange modern times. Culture is a contentious term. In the olden days when things were set apart I would agree with your last sentence. But today pandes make and sell keris to folk outside their culture for commercial gain. On this basis, I see nothing objectionable in those outsiders expressing their opinions on the art they have access to. By objective standards the keris we see is plainly of a less sophisticated physical form than its forbears. It may be equally spiritually potent but no judgement is made in that regard. If the new form is accepted by the Balinese so be it. But because a Balinese chooses for whatever social norms or custom to not assess critically the form of the blade is perhaps one of the reasons why we now see this type of change? I say all this with the utmost respect and only in manner of Socratic questioning.

30th January 2025, 12:07 AM	#1
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 207	Looks like the skill in carving in the finer details on the blade are a direct function of the thickness of the wheel on the angle grinder being so enthusiastically used in David's video! That's a hard no for me personally.

1st February 2025, 05:05 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,988	David is absolutely correct in respect of his remarks about Pande Ketut Mudra. He is descended from a long line of pandes who served the Puri Klungkung. He is probably the last pande keris living who knows the old mantras. Yes, his art work is perhaps not as good as the art work of some other keris makers, but artwork is only one aspect of keris production, Pande Ketut Mudra is highly respected by the people of his own culture & society, and the elements of any culture are the property of the people who own that culture. It is not the place of any person from outside a culture to criticize the craftsmen who work within any culture.

3rd February 2025, 10:12 AM	#3
SidJ Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 207	Alan, We live in strange modern times. Culture is a contentious term. In the olden days when things were set apart I would agree with your last sentence. But today pandes make and sell keris to folk outside their culture for commercial gain. On this basis, I see nothing objectionable in those outsiders expressing their opinions on the art they have access to. By objective standards the keris we see is plainly of a less sophisticated physical form than its forbears. It may be equally spiritually potent but no judgement is made in that regard. If the new form is accepted by the Balinese so be it. But because a Balinese chooses for whatever social norms or custom to not assess critically the form of the blade is perhaps one of the reasons why we now see this type of change? I say all this with the utmost respect and only in manner of Socratic questioning.