TRADITIONAL WEAPON FROM JAVA

Traditional Weapon from Java, Indonesia



Traditional Weapon from Java

Introduction

Every culture has its own history and traditions. These traditions are followed throughout many generations in order to keep those traditions alive that represents the value they have for their cultural background. In this paper, same concept has been discussed and as an example of this theme, a cultural weapon has been discussed that is being valued by its followers from ages (Gardner & Milne, 2009, pp 37-38).The weapon which is discussed in this paper is named as Keris that represents some cultural heritage of Indonesia. This weapon is known as Keris and it belongs to the Indonesian culture .

Discussion

Keris is a kind of dragger with some specific shape and structure that has its own value among the Indonesian people. Keris is the weapon of Southeast Asia.  The actual beginning of keris is still a mystery and is still not fully explained as no source of any kind of explanatory writing have been found that might explain more about the origin of Keris. In Bali until the 19th century was part of the traditional male clothing. This wave-shaped blade is a symbol of maleness and, according to them, it promises magical power to its owner. Scientific studies have shown that the shape of the dagger is based on the study of certain figures in the liberation of the statue or the temple. Keris has been used in many different areas and it had its own customs in functions, techniques, appearances and terminology in these areas. Studies have shown that in past, Keris was used as a weapon for the battle or duel. It was also used as an object that was offered as complementary to special people (JOHNSON & BRYAN, 1970, pp 23-24). It is believed that Keris came from Java in the 14th century and was used as an amulet of luck. According to mythology, the Keris, it is considered a powerful sacred object. All its parts have a special symbol, such as a blade symbolizes the snake. Perhaps the symbolism has its roots in Hindu mythology where the snake is the guardian of the treasures of the earth. Depending on what is shown on the handle, which was a pattern on the blade, dagger could bring wealth, luck, to protect the wearer from troubles. While on the other hand, the information regarding the various functions that this dagger can perform, can be tracked from many of the inscriptions and also from certain reports of foreign explorer (JOHNSON & BRYAN, 1970, pp 25). Keris is basically a stabbing weapon that is pointed and sharp from both the sides with various functions and is highly valued in the archipelago culture of the center and west. The shape of this dagger is very unique and can be easily identified from other kinds of daggers as it is not similar to them from the dilated base and often winding blade and many among these daggers also have the prestige (Damascene) that is a visible fiber ...