Nogo and Singo Origins

[A. G. Maisey]

To address this matter as simply as possible, what we can do is place a date on the introduction of both the Naga motif & the singha motif to Javanese art & ornamentation.

For the Naga, that is the Central Javanese Classical period, 7th to 8th century, & for the singha, it is the East Javanese Classical period under Kediri & Singhasari.

Regrettably it is not possible to place a date upon when those two motifs began to appear on keris, but we very probably can place the appearance of these two motifs on keris if we use the Tangguh system of keris classification, which applies the appraisal of certain characteristics of a keris blade to classify the blade as falling within one of a number of classifications that are named after particular eras or geographic locations.

This classification convention does not necessarily dictate a date as we understand any dating system, however, it can be reasonably reliable in the recognition of an older blade from a more recent blade.