Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

ariel · 3rd June 2012, 01:46 PM

"Ariel you have raised some seemingly interesting questions here, and I'll do my best to respond. My responses are interpolated."

Thanks for the explanations.
What I take out of it, is that real study of keris is essentially limited to the selective few individuals who made a conscious decision to immerse themselves into indonesian society in all its aspects, from language, customs, mode of interactions, religious and mystic beliefs etc, and only then start learning the specifics of keris as such, in all its technical, ethnic, artistic and evolutionary aspects. In short, to become a highly intelligent and educated native indonesian with deep knowledge of keris per se. The rest of us can only glimpse the superficial aspects..... Rather depressing....

Well, perhaps that explains and justifies my decision not to become a dedicated "kerisologist", but to concentrate on other weapon traditions.

With your permission, from time to time I shall still continue to ask naive keris-related question, and hope to get some snippets of education from the specialists.

With my highest respect and best wishes.

3rd June 2012, 01:46 PM	#76
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	"Ariel you have raised some seemingly interesting questions here, and I'll do my best to respond. My responses are interpolated." Thanks for the explanations. What I take out of it, is that real study of keris is essentially limited to the selective few individuals who made a conscious decision to immerse themselves into indonesian society in all its aspects, from language, customs, mode of interactions, religious and mystic beliefs etc, and only then start learning the specifics of keris as such, in all its technical, ethnic, artistic and evolutionary aspects. In short, to become a highly intelligent and educated native indonesian with deep knowledge of keris per se. The rest of us can only glimpse the superficial aspects..... Rather depressing.... Well, perhaps that explains and justifies my decision not to become a dedicated "kerisologist", but to concentrate on other weapon traditions. With your permission, from time to time I shall still continue to ask naive keris-related question, and hope to get some snippets of education from the specialists. With my highest respect and best wishes.