On the cutting edge of the world of kris

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.