Kris

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For other uses of the word "kris", see Kris (disambiguation). For other uses of the word
"KERIS", see KERIS (disambiguation).
Kris
/

The kris consists of three parts; blade (wilah),

hilt (hulu) and sheath (warangka)
Type Dagger
Place of origin Java, Indonesia
Service history
Singhasari Kingdom,
Majapahit Empire,
Ayutthaya Kingdom,
Malaccan Empire, Demak
Sultanate, Mataram
In service Sultanate, Yogyakarta
Sultanate, Surakarta
Sunanate, Bruneian
Empire, Sultanate of Sulu,
Sultanate of Maguindanao,
present day Indonesia

Javanese (mainly &

originally)

Used by * Also familiar to Malays,

Filipinos, Sundanese,
Banjar, Madurese,
Balinese, Moro, Siamese,
Bugis, Makassar
 Pamalayu expedition,
Mongol invasion of Java,
Battle of Bubat, Majapahit
civil war, Burmese-
Siamese wars, Siege of
Wars
Batavia, Diponegoro War,
Indonesian National
Revolution, SpanishMoro
conflict, Philippine
American War, Pacific War
Production history
Produced disputed (?) to present
Variants Kalis
Specifications
Double edged nickelous
Blade type
iron or steel
Ivory, bone, horn, wooden
or metals. Sometimes
Hilt type coated with gold or silver
and decorated with
gemstones
Wooden frame covered and
decorated with ivory or
Scabbard/sheath
metals (gold, silver, copper,
iron, brass, or steel)
This article contains letters from the Javanese
script. Without proper rendering support, you
may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols
instead of Javanese characters.

The kris (Ngoko Javanese: ;[1] Krama Javanese: ;[2] Ngoko

Gdrk: krs; Krama Gdrk: wangkingan, lit. "to slice"; Thai: kris, Minangkabau:
karih, Tagalog: kalis; Bugis and Makassarese: sele) is an asymmetrical dagger with
distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous
iron (pamor).[3] While most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia the kris is also
indigenous to Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines where it is known
as kalis with variants existing as a sword rather than a dagger. The kris is famous for its
distinctive wavy blade, although many have straight blades as well.

Kris have been produced in many regions of Indonesia for centuries, but nowhere
although the island of Bali comes closeis the kris so embedded in a mutually-connected
whole of ritual prescriptions and acts, ceremonies, mythical backgrounds and epic poetry as
in Central Java.[4] As a result, in Indonesia the kris is commonly associated with Javanese
culture, although other ethnicities are familiar with the weapon as part of their culture, such
as the Balinese, Malays, Sundanese, Madurese, Banjar, Thais, Bugis, Makassar, and
Filipinos.

A kris can be divided into three parts: blade (bilah or wilah), hilt (hulu), and sheath
(warangka). These parts of the kris are objects of art, often carved in meticulous detail and
made from various materials: metal, precious or rare types of wood, or gold or ivory. A
kris's aesthetic value covers the dhapur (the form and design of the blade, with around 60
variants), the pamor (the pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with around 250
variants), and tangguh referring to the age and origin of a kris.[5] Depending on the quality
and historical value of the kris, it can fetch thousands of dollars or more.
Both a weapon and spiritual object, kris are often considered to have an essence or
presence, considered to possess magical powers, with some blades possessing good luck
and others possessing bad.[5] Kris are used for display, as talismans with magical powers,
weapons, a sanctified heirloom (pusaka), auxiliary equipment for court soldiers, an
accessory for ceremonial dress, an indicator of social status, a symbol of heroism, etc.[5]
Legendary kris that possess supernatural power and extraordinary ability were mentioned in
traditional folktales, such as those of Empu Gandring, Taming Sari, and Setan Kober.

In 2005, UNESCO gave the title Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of
Humanity to the kris of Indonesia. In return, UNESCO urged Indonesia to preserve their
heritage.[5]

Contents
1 Etymology

2 History

o 2.1 Origin

o 2.2 Development and distribution

o 2.3 Kris today

3 Description

o 3.1 Blade

o 3.2 Pamor

o 3.3 Hilt

o 3.4 Sheath

4 Forging

5 Cultural beliefs

6 Legends

o 6.1 Kris Mpu Gandring

o 6.2 Kris Taming Sari

o 6.3 Kris Setan Kober

7 Kris as a symbol

8 See also

9 References

10 Further reading
 11 External links

Etymology
The word kris derives from the Old Javanese term ngiris (Javanese: ) which
means to slice, wedge or sliver. "Kris" is the more frequently used spelling in the West, but
"keris" is more popular in the dagger's native lands,[6] as exemplified by the late Bambang
Harsrinuksmo's popular book entitled Ensiklopedi Keris (Kris Encyclopedia). Two notable
exceptions are the Philippines where it is usually called kalis or kris, and Thailand where it
is always spelled kris and pronounced either as kris or krit. In the Yala dialect the word is
kareh. Other spellings used by European colonists include "cryse", "crise", "criss", "kriss"
and "creese."

History
Origin

Kris depicted on Borobudur bas-relief.

Kris history is generally traced through the study of carvings and bas-relief panels found in
Southeast Asia. It is believed that the earliest kris prototype can be traced to Dongson
bronze culture in Vietnam circa 300 BC that spread to other parts of Southeast Asia.
Another theory is that the kris was based on daggers from India.[7] Some of the most famous
renderings of a kris appear on the bas-reliefs of Borobudur (825) and Prambanan temple
(850).

Kris blacksmith's workshop depicted in 15th century Candi Sukuh.

However, Raffles' (1817) study of the Candi Sukuh states that the kris recognized today
came into existence around 1361 AD in the kingdom of Majapahit, East Java. The scene in
bas relief of Sukuh Temple in Central Java, dated from 15th century Majapahit era, shows
the workshop of a Javanese keris blacksmith. The scene depicted Bhima as the blacksmith
on the left forging the metal, Ganesha in the center, and Arjuna on the right operating the
piston bellows to blow air into the furnace. The wall behind the blacksmith displays various
items manufactured in the forge, including kris. These representations of the kris in the
Candi Sukuh established the fact that by the year 1437 the kris had already gained an
important place within Javanese culture.

In Yingyai Shenglana record about Zheng He's expedition (14051433)Ma Huan

describes that

"all men in Majapahit, from the king to commoners, from a boy aged three to elders,
slipped pu-la-t'ou (belati or more precisely kris dagger) in their belts. The daggers are made
entirely of steel with intricate motifs smoothly drawn. The handles are made of gold, rhino's
horn or ivory carved with a depiction of human or demon; the carving works are exquisite
and skillfully made."[8]

This Chinese account also reported that public execution by stabbing using this type of
dagger is common. Majapahit knows no caning for major or minor punishment. They tied
the guilty men's hands in the back with rattan rope and paraded them for a few paces, and
then stabbed the offender one or two times in the back on the gap between the floating ribs,
which resulted in severe bleeding and instant death.

The Kris of Knaud exhibited at the Amsterdam Museum of the Tropics.

Currently, the Kris of Knaud is the oldest known surviving kris in the world.[9] Given to
Charles Knaud, a Dutch physician, by Paku Alam V in the 19th century Yogyakarta in Java,
the kris is on display at the Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam. The kris bears the date of 1264
Saka (which correspondends to 1342 CE) in its iron blade. Scientists suspect that due to its
special features the kris might be even older, but was decorated during Majapahit period to
celebrate an important event.[10] The kris bears scenes from the Ramayana on an unusual
thin copper layer which partially covers it.

Development and distribution

Although the people of Southeast Asia were already familiar with this type of stabbing
weapon, the development of the kris most probably took place in Java. The spread of the
kris to other nations such as Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, experts say, was
credited to the growing influence of the Majapahit Empire in Java around the year 1492.[3]

The Sanghyang siksakanda ng karesian canto XVII, a Sundanese manuscript dated from
Saka 1440 or 1518 AD, describes the kris as the weapon of kings, while the kujang is the
weapon of farmers. There exist claims of earlier forms predating the Majapahit kris but
none are verifiable. In the past, the majority of kris had straight blades but this became less
frequent over time. Tom Pires, in the early 16th century, describes the importance of the
kris to the Javanese.[11]

... every man in Java, whether he is rich or poor, must have a kris in his house ... and no man between the
ages of 12 and 80 may go out of doors without a kris in his belt. They carry them at the back, as daggers
used to be in Portugal ...
Tome Pires, Suma Oriental
While it is commonly believed that kris were the primary weapons wielded by fighters in
the past, they were actually carried by warriors as a secondary armament if they lost their
main weapon, which was usually a spear. For commoners however, kris were worn on a
daily basis, especially when travelling because it might be needed for self-defense. During
times of peace, people wore kris as part of ceremonial attire. Ceremonial kris were often
meticulously decorated with intricate carving in gold and precious stones. Heirloom blades
were handed down through successive generations and worn during special events such as
weddings and other ceremonies. Men usually wore only one kris but the famous admiral
Hang Tuah is said in the Hikayat Hang Tuah to have armed himself with one short and one
long kris. Women also wore kris, though usually of a smaller size than a man's. In battle, a
fighter might have carried more than one kris; some carried three kris: his own, one from
his father-in-law, and one as a family heirloom. The extra two served as parrying daggers,
but if none were available the sheath would serve the same purpose.

Kris were often broken in battle and required repairs. Yearly cleanings, required as part of
the spirituality and mythology surrounding the weapon, often left ancient blades worn and
thin. The repair materials depended on location and it is quite usual to find a weapon with
fittings from several areas. For example, a kris may have a blade from Java, a hilt from Bali
and a sheath from Madura.

In many parts of Indonesia, the kris used to be the choice weapon for execution[citation needed].
The executioner's kris had a long, straight, slender blade. The condemned knelt before the
executioner, who placed a wad of cotton or similar material on the subject's shoulder or
clavicle area. The blade was thrust through the padding, piercing the subclavian artery and
the heart. Upon withdrawal, the cotton wiped the blade clean. Death came within seconds.

A lithograph depiction of kris blacksmith in Java, Dutch East Indies circa 1854.

In the 16th century, European colonial power introduced firearms into the archipelago that
contribute to the decline of kris' prominence as the weapon of choice in battle. The forging
of the edged weapons went into decline from the moment that the sultans or rajas were
subjugated and their realms annexed by the British or Dutch East Indies colonial state. In
number of regions, a ban was placed on carrying of cutting and stabbing weapons. In Java,
the turning point was the end of the five-year-long Java War when the rebellious Prince
Diponegoro was defeated and detained, and had to hand his kris over to the Dutch in 1830.
This event marked the disarmament of the kris as a combat weapon among the Javanese
populace. Its ceremonial function, however, as part of traditional costumes, as sacred
heirloom and as a protective personal amulet, remains. The early 20th century saw the
decline of kris forging as carrying edged weapons was banned in the Dutch East Indies.[12]
However its spiritual and ceremonial function still continues and is celebrated mainly in
kraton and istana (courts) throughout Indonesia, Malaysia and the Muslim-inhabited parts
of the southern Philippines.
However, the kris saw continuous use and forging in the Philippines, which comprised most
of the Spanish East Indies. While the majority of the natives and locals in the archipelago
accepted Roman Catholicism, the Muslims of the southern regions fiercely resisted Spanish
rule. The kris provided the Muslim armies with their counterpart to the Spanish weaponry
and it became an alarming concern for the Spanish armies. Kris-forgers and swordsmen
were referred to as juramentados by the Spanish. Juramentados practice a ritual of sacrifice,
a form of Jihad against not only Spanish soldiers, but also against Christian Filipinos alike.

Juramentados were specially-trained and chosen fighters. Candidates were known as mag-
sabil or ""who endure the pangs of death". These had their parents consulted, and the
Sultan would permit them to undergo the training for Parang-sabil or the "path to Heaven".

During the PhilippineAmerican War, the death of American soldiers at the hands of kris-
wielding Moros and other Filipinos armed with blades led to the creation and use of the
Colt M1911. During World War II, the kris were accompanied by other Moro swords such
as barongs in the insurgency movement against Japanese occupation.

Kris today

Kris worn by Yogyakarta Sultan's palace guard.

In Java, the traditional art of kris-making is preserved in the Javanese culture heartland, the
keraton (royal court) of Yogyakarta and Surakarta, and also the princedom of
Mangkunegaran and Pakualaman. The Javanese kings and nobles of these courts are known
to employ some kris blacksmiths (empu) and become the patrons of their works, although
the activity of kris-making is declining. Until the 1990s, kris-making activities in Java had
almost come to a standstill due to economic difficulties and changing socio-cultural values.
However, thanks to several concerned kris experts, the tradition is being revived and kris
craftsmanship has increased again.

Over the past three decades, kris have lost their prominent social and spiritual meaning in
society. Although active and honoured smiths who produce high quality kris in the
traditional way can still be found in some places such as Madura, Surakarta, Yogyakarta,
Makassar and Palembang, their number is dramatically decreasing, and it is more difficult
for them to find successors to whom they may transmit their skills.[5] The traditional kris-
making industry still survives in some villages, such as Banyu Sumurup village in Imogiri
subdistrict, Bantul, Yogyakarta, either specially made as a sacred amulet ordered by a kris
enthusiast who seeks its spiritual power, or merely as souvenirs for tourists.[13]
Kris made in the Philippines are often in variants, with half-wavy half-straight blades. It has
become an essential and symbolic weapon to Moro culture, much as it is associated with
Javanese cultures.