Adam, anything is possible.
In so far as societies where many, or perhaps most, of the population subscribe to the concept that we could perhaps refer to as the "magical world view", it can be accepted that the phenomenon of irrational belief is a component part of the fabric of these societies.
I have never been a permanent resident of Jawa, nor of Bali, but I have spent months at a time in both these societies, over a period of many years. During these extended stays, I have experienced & witnessed some occurrences that if measured by the norms of societies in most, if not all of the societies that comprise the "Western World", would be deemed to be creations of an over imaginative mind.
The belief systems that surround the keris, in Jawa in particular, but also in other keris bearing societies, do most definitely fall into the purview of keris understanding.
Thus, when you suggest that the use of wood in a component part of a keris could possibly be talismanic, we could, perhaps, be inclined to accept this suggestion as a possibility, as above:- "anything is possible".
However, if we are to undertake a serious study of the keris, & its place in those societies that hold the keris to be a cultural icon, then I suggest that it might be advisable to limit our understandings of what might be & what might not be considered as having some talismanic or other unseen essence, to those beliefs that already exist in the particular context under consideration.
In other words, do we know of the use of talismanically empowered woods used in items of keris dress? Well, actually we do, but in all cases of which I am aware there would be some visible evidence that indicates the presence of a talismanic value.
If we wish to affix a talismanic value to any object, keris related or otherwise, in the absence of visible evidence of such talismanic value, then perhaps it might be advisable to be able to present a strong argument to support the existence of such value.
There can be no doubt that the keris itself --- by this I mean the blade --- does have beliefs attached to it that can sometimes seem to be "magical".
Some keris literate Javanese people attribute these "magical" beliefs to Dutch & other European influence going back to the early days of European contact when there was still a strong belief in magic in European countries, when witches were burnt, garlic above a doorway kept evil out of the house, and a pinch of salt thrown over the left shoulder kept Satan at bay.
I was taught the salt thing as a child by my grandparents, so this little belief was still alive for some people in the mid 20th century. These grandparents also had a strong belief in the powers of garlic. And Holy Water Fonts.
Yes, the keris is magical, but that magic is anchored in its binding power & the belief that the Keris Pusaka acts as a bond between ancestors who have moved to the Hidden World and the extended family of those ancestors in the current world. It seems that this belief was not always accepted nor understood by those people from outside Javanese & Balinese culture who came in contact with the keris. Even if they were ever made aware of the belief.
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