Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Kebo Lajer

ganjawulung · 31st March 2010, 11:07 AM

Thank you, Alan, for enriching us on this "kebo" matter. At least, "male" could symbolize as "leader" too. As does in javanese, red color could means as "brave" or white as "sacred" too... Male kebo, could possibly mean leader kebo..

What is interesting to me is, the word "kebo" (mahesa) that was very frequently used in Java -- either for naming things like keris dapur, or even people's name in the past (or in legend) such as Mahesa Wong Ateleng (one name in Singasari legend), or Kebo Anabrang, Kebo Ijo (in the period of Ken Arok and the deadly keris)..

In keris, at least there are a dozen of keris dapur which bearing "kebo" name. As kebo lajer, kebo dhungkul, kebo giring, kebo kanthong, kebo teki (all straight kerises, with different small details), and kebo nabrang, kebo nempuh, kebo soka (three luks), kebo dhendheng, kebo dhengen, kebo tedhan, kebo tedhas (five luks). As do, carita dhapur. More than five keris dhapur bear names with "carita"...

Then, why "kebo"? Is it a mystical and powerful creature in the javanese world?

GANJAWULUNG

31st March 2010, 11:07 AM	#4
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	Thank you, Alan, for enriching us on this "kebo" matter. At least, "male" could symbolize as "leader" too. As does in javanese, red color could means as "brave" or white as "sacred" too... Male kebo, could possibly mean leader kebo.. What is interesting to me is, the word "kebo" (mahesa) that was very frequently used in Java -- either for naming things like keris dapur, or even people's name in the past (or in legend) such as Mahesa Wong Ateleng (one name in Singasari legend), or Kebo Anabrang, Kebo Ijo (in the period of Ken Arok and the deadly keris).. In keris, at least there are a dozen of keris dapur which bearing "kebo" name. As kebo lajer, kebo dhungkul, kebo giring, kebo kanthong, kebo teki (all straight kerises, with different small details), and kebo nabrang, kebo nempuh, kebo soka (three luks), kebo dhendheng, kebo dhengen, kebo tedhan, kebo tedhas (five luks). As do, carita dhapur. More than five keris dhapur bear names with "carita"... Then, why "kebo"? Is it a mystical and powerful creature in the javanese world? GANJAWULUNG Last edited by ganjawulung; 31st March 2010 at 06:08 PM.