Quote:
Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey
David, regarding the word "pusaka".
It has several meanings, in Bahasa Indonesia it simple means "heirloom".
In Javanese it can mean an heirloom or revered object that has been passed down through a family, it can mean any sort of inheritance, it can mean a family ricefield, it can mean any weapon that the owner considers to be a personal talisman.
In colloquial speech, people who are a part of keris culture will sometimes use the word "pusaka" to loosely refer to any weapon.
I personally think that the already colloquial use of this word has become even more loose as it is used by some dealers.
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Thanks Alan. Yes, i am well aware that pusaka is not a term reserved solely for keris.
I also understand that the word has found its way into Bahasa Indonesian, but my personal feeling is that how the word is defined in the original Javanese perspective is mush more pertinent when it is used to discuss keris.
As for colloquial usage, i find it confusing that it has become a word used to describe any weapon. As for its use by dealers, my feeling is that it is a word they choose to use only to elevate the perceived value of their stock.