The keris (double edged dagger of the Malay Archipelago) is such an intriguing piece of weapon. While I am not particularly obsessed by it, I have always admired it. Due to its wavy physique, it is said that it is easier to pull out a keris from the flesh as opposed to straight daggers which translates to more frag points in melee battles.
Then again, who can forget Hang Tuah's Keris, the mystical Taming Sari. Perhaps the Malay equivalent to the Excalibur, the Taming Sari was said to have magical powers that would make the bearer invincible.
A friend of mine forwarded this very informative link on the keris. For a little eye candy, checkout Jeroen Peter's Keris collection. There are also a few sites on Indonesian and Javanese Keris .
I remember reading somewhere that some of the most powerful kerises were made magical by cooling them in the vagina after being tempered.
Hmmm.
Posted by: Ash.ox | Monday, May 31, 2004 at 22:31
the royal selangor pewter has a beautiful keris in it's line. i checked it in and brought it back here and it's one of my favorite pieces. lol, it's really a letter opener, but oh well. :)
Posted by: racheal | Tuesday, June 01, 2004 at 00:46
Can you try hard to recall your source of reference Ash? I think we need to do a bit of research there...
Posted by: Razin | Tuesday, June 01, 2004 at 10:05
Hmm, well, the vagina IS a mysterious and magical place...
Posted by: Sashi | Tuesday, June 01, 2004 at 11:05
My daddy had a genuine keris, but it was sheathed in a long cane, rather than in that short wooden sheathe you tuck into the waist of your samping. (What the hell are those things called?)
He did not take care of the keris. It rusted. I have no clue where it is now.
Posted by: HANI | Tuesday, June 01, 2004 at 18:13
One of my 'must do' activity during my several vacations to Indonesia, particularly Jakarta, is to find a 'suitable' keris for my personal collections.It easy to find it there. However,if i do not 'feel' (sentuhan) in my heart on the keris i admired, i wont buy it..Finally i got it last year... not in Indonesia but Datuk Keramat - KL! Wow, without hesitate, I paid and keep it in my wardrobe ;-p
It is the only ONE I had since my 'searching' on keris for the last few years.. :-)
Posted by: sasman | Thursday, June 03, 2004 at 10:00
The keris is something that reminds me of an old and mystical Malaysia. It's a symbol of our roots. Of our ancestry. It's so much more interesting than the English swords, is my opinion.
Posted by: Aida | Saturday, June 05, 2004 at 12:13