Between Solo and Yogya

[ganjawulung]

Hi All,
Another example of wood texture. Forest mango wood (I don't know the latin name of this kind of mango), sometimes have good texture too. But no chatoyance, event if it is processed like you processed the kemuning, trembalo, kenari and pilisium wood.

Please see the example of the forest mango's texture in this "cis" (sharp weapon, usually put in a old walking stick). The forest mango's fruit is smaller, very sour, and the trees are usually robust...

Ganjawulung

[A. G. Maisey]

These posts on various woods are quite interesting, Pak Ganja, but I have a question for you:- can you please advise your source for the name of the weapon shown in your most recent post, as "cis" ?

Thank you.

[PenangsangII]

Salam,

Pak Ganja, I have never come across any weapon called "cis", pls elaborate. From the visual alone, I suspect that the "cis" is equivalent to tempius or pedang sodok. The dressing (hilt & scabbard) strongly resembles Chinese jian?
It was said that during Singhasari & Majapahit times, there were a lot of mingling between the Chinese / Monggols & the Javanese.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

These posts on various woods are quite interesting, Pak Ganja, but I have a question for you:- can you please advise your source for the name of the weapon shown in your most recent post, as "cis" ?

Thank you.

Dear Alan,
I appreciate very much to your correctness... Cis, unfortunately, I follow to call it such name just based on the "ex owner". I have checked the name of such kind of "sharp point of long spear" or "sharp point of two edged weapon" in keris books, ensiklopedi, but didn't find any clue. What the reality was, the original sheath of this weapon was a broken old wooden walking stick.

Tempius? (Please see the picture of Mr Lalu Djelenga's book). Not exactly tempius, because this weapon is flat, thin, and has two edges. Or may be Lombok "sendirung" (the other picture)? Neither. Sendirung has a "methuk" like tombak at the base...

What is your suggestion?

Ganjawulung

[ganjawulung]

This is more pictures of the "long sharp two edged weapon"...

Ganjawulung

[A. G. Maisey]

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

Is this blade ovoid in cross section, or triangular?

How has the tang been formed?

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

Is this blade ovoid in cross section, or triangular?

How has the tang been formed?

Not triangular, but slightly curved, quite thin. The tang or pesi, just like badik's tang -- flat and wide... It looks more "pedang" (sword) than spear...

[A. G. Maisey]

I rather suspect that this blade could be something re-manufactured from a pedang blade, specifically for use in its original fittings.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

Dear Alan,
I am very interested in knowing more on cis. Is this (pls see the pictures) also a cis? Where can I find the reference, that such form is a cis? I've tried to search in books, and also other source, but didnt find any clue...

Ganjawulung

[A. G. Maisey]

Pak Ganja, I do not know of any book reference on cis.

I have the name from various people that I know, and have known , in Solo.

My wife, who comes from East Jawa , calls some of these things "pancing buaya", which name she got from her father who used to make them, and use them for exactly that.Other of what people in Solo would call "cis", she has no name for, and does not recognise; these are the "cis" that resemble an angkus.

The item that you have posted a pic of, I personally would hesitate to call a cis, but probably some people in Solo would give it that name.

In fact, in Javanese, the word "cis" does have the meaning of "angkus".

I'm sure you have noted that when I posted the image of what I know as a "cis", I wrote:-

"Here is an image of what I know as a cis."

I did not write:-

"Here is an image of a cis."

I feel that what has happened with this group of items that we know as "cis" in Solo, is this:- some of them are correctly named as "cis", and these are the ones that look, and probably functioned as, an angkus; the others which bear a resemblance to a correctly named cis, are in fact not cis at all, but various types of harpoon used to harpoon crocodiles, or sharks and other large fish.

I have a few of these cis of both types. I'm not exactly sure where they are at the moment, but if I can locate them I will post some more pictures.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

I found and example of a cis -- or more exactly, "cis and taji" -- in Karaton Solo's Museum (The Solo Palace Museum) just in the outer inside part of karaton. (Please see the picture, and the name tag below the special weapon).

Cis, according to this court information, is straight in form. And "taji" (cock's spur or curved nail of a cock) is curved in form. And the use of this weapon is for elephant-soldier...

Ganjawulung

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

I found and example of a cis -- or more exactly, "cis and taji" -- in Karaton Solo's Museum (The Solo Palace Museum) just in the outer inside part of karaton. (Please see the picture, and the name tag below the special weapon).

Cis, according to this court information, is straight in form. And "taji" (cock's spur or curved nail of a cock) is curved in form. And the use of this weapon is for elephant-soldier...

Ganjawulung

Pak Ganja,

That looks like an ankus, elephant goad to me. How long is the handle?
When used by a man riding on the elephant, the handle is normally short. When used by a man walking beside the elephant, the handles are longer about 5 feet long but the hook is smaller.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Here is an image of what I know as a cis.

There is considerable variation in form, but they all resemble either an angkus, or a harpoon.

Dear Alan,
Excuse me if I'm misunderstood. Is an angkus is weapon for elephant? And harpoon is weapon for fishing? Is a cis, meant for elephant and also fish? If for elephant, for what purpose? Killing? Would you like to inform me please...

Ganjawulung