Defination by Indonesia (Bali)

The Form of the Keris

Keris is a kind of dagger which is used in a close range combat. In Bali Keris also called Kadutan, and until now the keris are still widely used in the community of Bali specially related to the religious activities such as at the Temple ceremony or the Wedding ceremony. In Bali also there are some Keris Empu or the Keris forger master, they still forge the Keris with the traditional ways with ritually Keris has two kinds of shape: straight keris ( Keris Leres ) and meandering keris ( keril Luk ). The styles of the keris called “Daphur“. There are approximately 200 kinds / daphur of straight Keris and 250 kinds / daphur of meandering Keris. The meander is called "luk". Meandering Keris always has odd numbers of meander, from luk 3 up to luk 29. Actually the luk of the keris are until 13 luk based on the “pakem” or the conditions of the keris, up to 13 luk are called : Kalawijan keris.

The magical power of the keris  or the function of the keris can be directly seen from its daphur and pamor, this way of course needs experiences to recognize it.

THE PROCESS OF MAKING A KERIS AND THE WAY OF GIVING MAGICAL TO A KERIS UNDER THE RULE OF BALINESE ( HINDUISM ) WAY.

The Empu or the Forger master will prepare him self before starting in making the Keris by looking the good or not good day/time based on the Balinese Lunar Calendar. Besides that the Empu will doing his meditation and fasting to get the inspiration. If the right time are found, the Empu will prepare the materials such as : Iron, Steel and Pamor material which can be made from Meteorite or nickel also preparing the offering to the God in order to get the Blessing. First the Empu will forge the iron  till the iron are clean, this way is called “membesot wesi” then turn to prepare the steel and pamor. After all done then the iron and pamor material will forge together to get the layers to form the pamor. The sum of layer according the needed, for the good keris the layer will be more than 4000 layers by folding and folding on the forging process. The layers from iron and pamor material will be cutted into two pieces then continuing to insert a piece steel between. Those three pieces will forge again to get the “kodokan” or half finished of the keris. The kodokan will process to form the keris wether to make straight or meander keris till finished. Before the keris can be used as a heirloom, the ceremony called Pasupati ceremony will held to purify the keris, this ceremony will be lead by a high priest called Pedanda or Rsi, then the keris is ready as a heirloom.

Keris maker

Ki Empu Djeno Harumbrodjo
The only EMPU – The Maestro of classical KERIS making in Java

The 70 year old Empu, Pak (father) Djeno, lives in a tranquil and green village of Gatak, SumberAgung, Moyudan, in the regency of Sleman, about 15 Km westward of Yogya city.

He can make only 2 pieces of classical Keris in a year. His works of arts are really masterpiece, physically and spiritually.

He is the 15^th descendant of Empu Supa, the famous Keris maker of Majapahit Empire of the 13^th century. In fact in Java, there are other Keris makers, their works are also of good quality, but they say that compared with Empu Djeno Harumbrodjo, they are merely craftsmen.

When, he was young, the youngest fifth child of Empu Supowinangun, was not very interested in Keris making. Until one night, his late father come in his dream asking him to help his father to forge iron to make Keris. 3 months later the same dream came again and again 3 months later for the third times he dreamed the exactly same thing. He was convinced that he had to continue the family hereditary job – to be Empu of Keris.

At first, it was not easy for Pak Djeno, to set up his own workshop. He had to approach some local high ranking officials for help, but the replies were discouraging, simply they said ……. be patient.

As a devout Javanese who believes that everything could happened with God’s willing, he prayed a lot until his way to become Empu Keris was widely opened.

How to make a classical – Masterpiece Keris

As stated in the article Keris, it is believed that Keris has magical power. The original magical power of A Keris is determined by the wish of the Empu and the customer. In making a Keris, Empu Djeno needs the personal data of every customer as date and day of birth, occupation etc, the best if he can meet the customer in person, from the meeting, Empu Djeno, should have the ability to understand better his customer’s personality. The Empu shall make a Keris with the spiritual power (YONI) suitable with the customer’s personality. He has to prepare two steps simultantly i.e physical and spiritual.

Physically, the materials for manufacturing must be prepared such as, 12 Kg of Iron; 0.5 Kg of Nickel, 100 grams of meteorite, 500 bags of charcoals etc. Spiritually by fasting, meditating, not sleeping for several days and other spiritual deeds.

The customer is also requested to do self denial and spiritual deeds, so that he shall receive a good Keris suitable for him.

The suitable Keris

According to Empu Djeno, there are about 300 kinds of Pamor (surface design of a Keris blade). The pamor reflects the purpose of the Keris. The drawing design should say its meaning. For a farmer, according to Pak Djeno, a straight Keris (LURUS) with Pamor Wos Wutah (spilled rice) is good. It is symbolizing a good life materially and peaceful life for the owner.

In fact Pamor Wos Wutah is the mother of all kind of Pamor. There are some types of Keris, which are only fit for Kings such as Sengkelat. Pasopati, Kaladete, Pulanggeni etc. Sometimes, an ordinary people wishes to make a Keris of the above type, in that case Pak Djeno shall advise him to make a suitable Keris or he shall reject to make it. Usually customer follows his advice.

At present he is fully booked until the year of 2004. Besides classical Keris. There are Keris of souvenir class. It can be made for a much shorter period. Physically it might be OK, but without a spiritual power.

At his traditional workshop, Pak Djeno are helped by his nephews and a quite a few neighbors. Ki Empu Djeno Harumbrojo wishes the art of Keris making to be always preserved in this country, as it is a reflection of Indonesia’s identity. (for deeper knowledge of Keris, please click the articles of Keris and Commemoration of 1^st Suro).

Keris History & Culture

The keris, a double-edged, wavy-bladed dagger, was for the centuries the principle weapon in use thoughout Malaysia and Indonesia. The Chams, a Malay-related people who now inhibits parts of Cambodia and Southern Vietnam, were also known to have used the weapon.

The origin of keris are obsure, although many theories and prototypes have been suggested to account to its peculiar, distintive shape, including one which proposed the barbed sting of the sting-ray as the model on which it was patterned.

It used was probably widespread in the peninsula before the founding of the sultanate of Melaka and by the end of the 15th century it had spread to all parts of the Malay-speaking region and certain areas of the Philipines.

The keris was designed as a thrusting weapon for fighting at close quarters or in situations where the use of spears or longswords was impractical. The longser version did evolve, a broader bladed sword, the sundang, which was originated among the Bugis of South Sulawesi and a long rapier type keris.

The sundang was a cutting and slashing sword keris and the blade was either curved or straight, usually about 22 inches long widening to about 8 inches at the top.

More than a hundred different styles of keris existed and an extensive vocabulary was used to distinguish the different patterns of blades and hilts. The number of curves of a keris blade, regardless of length, is always odd number.

The process involved in making of a keris was steeped in superstition and elaborate ritual, for every keris was believed to possess a protective spirit with powerful forces which demanded respect and careful treatment.

In former times many other type of dagger were used in Malaysia such as the badek, a short-bladed stabbing weapon with a simple tabular hilt. The tumbuk lada ("pepper crusher"), which was common in the north of the peninsula and Negeri Sembilan, was more ornate version of the badek.

The kerambit , a narrow-bladed claw-shaped dagger, also known as the lawi ayam, was designed for ripping rather than stabbing. A smaller version was popular with woman because its size enabled it to be easily concealed about the body or in the hair.

The bladau was a larger version of the kerambit with a 10 inch long blade and was used mainly in hand to hand fighting. They were two types of spears, (lembing), in use in the Malay peninsula : the throwing spear and one used for fighting at close quarters.

The shaft of the throwing spears was longer and lighter than that of the second variety and had smooth flat blade. The blade of the spear used for fighting at close quarters often had a shallow ridge running up the centre.

With the fall of Melaka in 1511 to the Portuguese, foreign weapons were imported to the peninsula in much greater numbers than before. Two weapons of the European design in particular were widely manufactured by Malays: a light weight iron cannon and a brass swivel gun.

The swivel gun was most commonly used on a ships and was designed to be a portable weapon. Three main types of swivel gun were manufactured: the Lela a long barrelled gun made of brass, the rentaka, which was of the same design, although shorter and made of iron, and the ekor lotong, the smallest of the three weapons with a handle which curved upwards at the breech giving its name,"the monkey's tail".

The manufacture and use of weapons in Malaysia declined rapidly towards the end of the 19th century and many beautiful pieces were either allowed to rust away or were melted down and the metal reused. The finest examples today can only be seen in museums or royal palaces.