Keris - the heritage of Indonesia


Keris is a kind of typical stabbing weapons originating from Indonesia, or perhaps more appropriately the archipelago. Based on ancient documents, a dagger in the initial form has been used since the 9th century. Strong likelihood that the dagger has been used before that time.
In 2005, UNESCO gave the title Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity to the kris of Indonesia.

The use of the keris itself scattered in Malay society. At the present time, a dagger commonly known in the area of Indonesia (especially in the areas of Java, Madura, Bali / Lombok, Sumatra, Kalimantan, and some of Sulawesi), Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and the Philippines (particularly in the Mindanao region). In Mindanao, the form of weapon which is also called the keris has few similarities though also a stabbing weapon.


Keris in Bali Culture

Keris has a variety of forms, for example, there are winding blade (always an odd they are many) and some are straight bladed. Javanese people assume different forms have different effects esoteri.

Besides being used as a weapon, a dagger is also often considered to have supernatural powers. These weapons are often mentioned in many traditional legends, such as kris MPU Gandring in legend of Ken Arok and Ken Dedes.

An Indonesian Hero Pangeran Diponegoro wearing Keris

The procedure for the use of different dagger in each region. In areas such as Javanese and Sundanese, a dagger was placed in the rear waist peacetime but is placed in front in wartime. Meanwhile, in Sumatra, Borneo, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines, a dagger was placed in front.

Besides kris, there are a number of other stab weapons in the archipelago, such as rencong of Aceh, badik from Sulawesi and West Java cleaver. Keris is distinguished from other stab weapons mainly from the blade. Kris blade is not made ​​from a cast in a single metal but a mixture of various metal layers. As a result of this manufacturing technique, a dagger has a specific form of prestige on the blade.