Thread by @uglyluhan

I was requested to do a thread on Malay weapons, and the keris in particular. My writing was too long-winded so I decided to split it into two threads. For now, this will be solely about the keris

https://twitter.com/DaveBarrister/status/1092629145006133248

Early metallurgy in Southeast Asia is intricately linked to similar developments in China and India. Bronze and iron both reached the Nusantara before the common era. The iron smelting site at Sungai Batu dates back to the 1st century

academia.edu/8576891/Metall…

The introduction of metalworking naturally lead to the development of metal weapons like the iconic keris. The keris or kris is what comes to mind when we think of Malay weaponry. So what exactly is a keris?

The keris is a type of dagger of asymmetrical shape. More than just a weapon, it was a status symbol, a family heirloom, and an instrument of occult practices. Here's what the parts are called, in Malay and Javanese

Though generally handheld like a typical dagger, keris could sometimes reach sword-like lengths, as anyone who watched Tutur Tinular will recall. Some inaccurately define the keris as a sword. But make no mistake, it was a dagger first

It's believed the earliest prototype keris comes from the Dongson culture of Vietnam. Compare these Dongson daggers (first image) to these early keris. Note the human-shaped handles because I'll get back to that

Once it came into its present form in Java, the keris spread throughout the Nusantara and further into Thailand and the Philippines. The word keris or kris itself derives from the Javanese term ngiris meaning "slice" but it varies from one language to another

By the way, when I say the keris was used in Thailand, I'm not just talking about the Muslim-majority Malay-speaking southern states. Although it did originate in the south, everyone in Thailand knows what a keris is. This screenshot is from the Thai movie The Kick

Smithing was an elite occupation in Indo-Malay society. Forging of the keris was a specialised skill full of rites and formulae. Though keris are still made today, the art in its traditional form is a dying one

Blacksmiths were known either as pandai besi (iron-skilled) or empu (owner/possessor). Interestingly the Filipino word panday means weaponsmith. The Pande clan of Bali are priestly workers of metal, whether iron or gold, who trace directly back to Majapahit

The Pande were so exalted that even the Brahmins spoke to them in the high Balinese language. In kingdoms which converted to Islam and the caste system was no longer practiced (at least officially), pandai besi were still held in high regard

As the keris itself originated in Majapahit, Javanese smiths were renowned as the greatest keris makers of all. It's no accident that Hang Tuah's famous Keris Taming Sari was from Majapahit, named after its original owner, the pendekar Taming Sari

After the fall of the Majapahit empire, the royal artisans continued their trade elsewhere. In the 1800s Sultan Baginda Omar welcomed these Javanese craftsmen to establish their art in Terengganu, where it continues today

utusanborneo.com.my/2018/01/22/per…

Take a look at this relief of a smithy from Candi Sukuh in Java. That type of cylindrical bellows on the right is still used by keris makers in both Malaysia and Indonesia. Also note the tantric Ganesha in the centre

Particular days or a time of day were said to be auspicious for forging a keris. Traditionally this was often carried out in the dark so the pandai besi can better observe the colour and therefore the temperature of the iron as it's heated

The keris blade is made from up to 7 types of iron which were steel-braided and forged together. Iron for the main centre, steel for the edges, and nickel for the surface. The metals are remelted, hot forged, and folded repeatedly, in up to 128 layers

During this process, it was said that the pandai besi of old would infuse the blade with poison so that a single cut would be fatal. This was what gave the weapon its reputation. Talk to silat masters and theyll tell stories of keris that could kill in seconds with just a scratch

The alloy forms a pattern on the blade called pamor, from the Javanese word for mixture. There are about 150 pamor patterns with different names and meanings, but a pamor can never be replicated exactly, making each keris unique

The pamor is only revealed in the final stages when the blade is submerged in an acidic solution of water, sulphur, and salt for three days and nights, following which it's rubbed with lime juice

duniapusaka.com/blog/motif-ker…

The lime juice turns the iron base black while the nickel appears silvery, providing a striking contrast. Forging a typical blade takes only a few days, but it takes longer if one is attempting to make a supernaturally charged keris

According to folklore, a mystical practice existed among some keris makers to work the iron with their bare hands while in a trance-like state so they feel no pain. Called keris picit (pinched kris), these are too crude to be used as weapons

Rather, the keris picit is kept for its supposedly magical properties. You can still find them sold through um shady sources

To prevent rust, a keris blade is treated with coconut oil once a year, traditionally inside a bamboo container, before it's smoked with incense (kemenyan). @thepatriotsasia even did an article on it, and I gotta admit, it's not bad 

thepatriots.asia/istiadat-meman…

If a more thorough cleansing is needed, this is done with lime juice. The procedure, called "melimau", is said to be the origin of the town Merlimau in Melaka

One of the most characteristic features of the keris is its wavy blade, so it always surprises people when I tell them that the majority of old keris had straight blades. The waves, called luk or lok, vary in number

Nobody knows why the wavy blade was developed. One corner at the base of the blade is known as the kepala cicak (lizard head) so the shape may be in imitation of a reptile like a dragon or snake

Others have suggested that the lok might have been based on wavy-bladed indian daggers, like these knives held by Indra

A more practical explanation is often given by silat masters. The curves create offset angles which may result in wider surface penetration when stabbing, and a saw-like effect when pulling the weapon out

When not in use, the keris is traditionally kept on a stand. This could be a rack for multiple weapons, or a sculpture for a single dagger. These stands are great works of art in themselves

But the keris is more than its blade. When sheathed, what attracts enthusiasts to a keris is the handle. Both the handle and sheathe are usually made by woodcarvers. What's cool is that some woodcarving families in Kelantan can trace their lineage directly to Langkasuka

There is a wide variety of handles, varying from one region to another. Unique to the peninsula is the pekaka (kingfisher), originally from Pattani in Thailand but common in the northern states of Malaysia

Now remember how the earliest keris had a human-shaped handle? This is still common in Bali where the handle often represents a deity or divine figure

The coming of Islam changed some things. The talismans and old lore also had to be reinterpreted. One interesting example is the origin of the prized meteorite iron, which was traditionally believed to be made by the gods

This belief was easily adapted to the Quran verse 57:25

"And We sent down iron, in which is violent force and benefits for humanity"

As meteorite iron very literally comes from above, it's natural that cultures around the world viewed it as a divine gift

But the the newly converted Malays couldn't simply replace their traditional pagan belief with an Islamic one. Instead, the old gods may have been present when the iron was created, but it was Allah who made it. Of course this still smacks of polytheism today

One of the major adaptations during the Islamic period was in the carvings. No longer could they depict pagan figures. The once-common Jawa Demam hilt became so abstract that it's barely recognisable

Even so, the pre-Islamic superstitions of the keris persisted even into the present day, particularly the idea that the dagger has supernatural qualities and a spirit of its own, exemplified by its pamor

The keris always had a strong connection to the spirit world. Til this day Malay shamans use them in rituals much the same way as Daoist priests use ceremonial swords

Forging a keris that's sakti (magical) or tuah (lucky) is unpredictable. One method is to complete the weapon during a lunar eclipse. The keris will show signs of its power, but they're not always easy to detect

The possible powers that a keris can possess are many. It might rattle in its sheathe to warn of danger, or even leap out of the sheathe to fight on its own. The keris madu, which secretes a honey-like liquid, can make it's owner rich

The most famous keris in Malaysia is probably Taming Sari, believed by some to make its owner invulnerable. Folklore tells that it was lost, but this weapon among the Perak regalia is insisted as the real deal. You be the judge

Not every keris suits just anyone. Or worse, some might harbour a dangerous saka. (And if you don't know what a saka is, that's another topic). But there are methods to test whether a keris is compatible with you

A common one into the 1960s involved measuring the thumb along the blade. In more recent decades, a variation of this is done while saying "Bismillah" and "Alhamdulillah" in a "he loves me, he loves me not" pattern

Another way is to measure the keris against the rib while standing as if in prayer. These Muslim influences are examples of how an adopted religion was absorbed into a pre-existing culture

If a keris is cursed or haunted (berpuaka), it can't simply be thrown away or the spirit can cause disturbances in the area. It has to be buried under a rock or at the base of a tree. Yet they can still call or reach out psychically to potential owners

Another way is to set the weapon afloat on a small bamboo raft. Even then it might still be found by someone else. Just like the One Ring, a keris actively seeks out suitable owners

But not all keris sakti are bad. A keris pusaka which is passed down within a family might be wrapped in yellow cloth and tied around the tiang seri to protect the household and its occupants

https://twitter.com/uglyluhan/status/1085073182208360448?ref_src=twcamp%5Ecopy%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Ecopy%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3

This didn't just apply to houses. Women would wear a small keris behind their waist buckle or pending to symbolically (and even physically, if necessary) protect themselves from harm

I could go on, but extremely long threads might bore people or scare them away. The good thing is, the keris' importance as a national symbol means there's a ton of reliable writing on the topic, so information is easy to find if you're interested

Sources:

Ensiklopedi Keris (Bambang Harsrinuksmo)
Kamus Peribumi: Keris
Spirit of Wood (Farish Noor)
The Javanese Kris (Isaac Groneman)
Knives, Daggers & Bayonets (Tobias Capwell)
Donn Draeger
Swords and Hilt Weapons
Microstructures Analyses of Malay Kris

I just had to add this in

https://twitter.com/SwordsnFlowers/status/1101310282301763585?ref_src=twcamp%5Ecopy%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Ecopy%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3