On the cutting edge of the world of kris

By Peter Kerr

JAKARTA (JP): Their ancient blades, so elegant yet sinister, have become a symbol of Java, and even of the Javanese people themselves.

Admired and collected for their beauty and historical value, and revered by some for their mystical powers, krises can seem to hold a hidden force within their superb craftsmanship.

But for those who want to acquire a kris, or just know more about them, what are the processes that go into making them, and what makes a good kris?

Did you know, for example, that metal from meteorites is often blended into the blade, and that this is regarded as a "sacred marriage of our world and the universe"?

Or that the kris craftsman must bathe specially and fast before making a new blade, sometimes even locking himself alone in a room for days?

As part of JakArt, an exhibition of more than 100 krises and other traditional weapons is being held by The Dharmawangsa Hotel in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

A lecture explaining the history, craftsmanship, symbolism and care of krises was given on Saturday to accompany the exhibition.

Haji Poerwo Sudarmo, assistant to the manager of the Pusaka Museum at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, said the kris was not a killing instrument, but a symbolic dagger, usually worn at the back. There were rare examples of krises made for women.

While the origins of the kris are unknown, examples had been found in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Brunei -- the area where the ancient Majapahit kingdom of East Java held sway.

Perhaps the earliest mention of a kris was in a carving made about 500 A.D. near Magelang in Central Java, while examples also existed in reliefs at the Borobudur temple, built around 800 A.D. to 900 A.D.

Krises comprise three main parts: the blade, handle and sheath. The handle and sheath can change over time as they wear out or as owners embellish them with jewels or precious metals.

But the heart of the kris is the blade, made from iron (the main material) blended with steel, nickel and sometimes meteorite.

Making a kris is considered a mystical and sacred task, with strict procedures to follow and strict rules governing their shape, width and proportion.

Eight stages precede the making of a new kris. In the first, someone wanting to order a kris will visit the maker or call them to his house, depending on his social status.

He will make his order and there will be a discussion, they will reach a deal on the price and how long it will take, and the kris maker will order the buyer to fast and pray.

The maker himself will also fast and meditate, then there will be a selamatan, a ceremony for good fortune, before the maker instructs his assistants to prepare. Finally, maker and buyer will meet again and pray.

Making a kris once took up to a year, but now takes two or three months. There are currently five makers in Surakarta (Solo) and one in Yogyakarta.

The intricate damascene pattern in the blade is not random but deliberate, the result of folding, beating and folding the blended metals up to 60 times.

The finished blade is prayed over by the maker before he applies a mixture of arsenic and lime juice. This causes the iron and steel to turn black, while the nickel stays white.

While krises are usually associated with a curved or wavy shape they can also be straight, and there are a myriad variations determined by the style, shape and the period in which they were made. Although mostly associated now with the royal courts of Central Java, krises were also made in Bali, Lombok, Sumatra and Sulawesi.

Each shape symbolizes something different. A straight-bladed kris indicates confidence, stability and personal achievement, while a single curve indicates ambition and endeavor.

The number of other curves, which must always be uneven, have other meanings.

Three is good for someone trying to obtain something special in life, five for someone wanting to speak well (such as lawyers), seven for someone strong who gives orders (a boss), nine for a "super boss" or raja, 11 is good for social advancement and 13 for maintaining stability in a situation (often suggested for the military or police).

Blades with 15, 17 or 19 curves are "for very special orders only".

Poerwo explained there also were rules and procedures for unsheathing and closing a kris, and caring for them.

When choosing a kris to buy, people should consider among other things: a complete and undamaged blade, good quality materials, fine workmanship, the period in which it was made (the Mataram period, for example, is renowned for producing fine examples), and a kris that was "sparkling and giving off light".

Those at The Dharmawangsa, which are on sale for prices ranging from about US$400 to about $12,000, will remain on display in the Caviar Lounge until this Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A fixed proportion of all sales will go to the Indonesia Relief & Development Network, which was set up in 1998 in response to Indonesia's economic crisis.

The network provides emergency food relief, educational programs and other help for people suffering because of the economic crisis.

The Dharmawangsa Hotel is at Jl. Brawijaya Raya No. 26, Kebayoran Baru. Tel: 725 8181.