FIGURAL HILTS -- Bird (Demon)

ganjawulung · 6th June 2008, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newsteel

You're right BluErf,
Compare this with the recent one I just post (also got it from Sumatra). BluErf can post a good example of Tajong hilt (from Kelantan, Northern Malaysia).

Thanks a lot, Newsteel, BlueErf,

Comparison is one of the best way for me to improve my knowledge on keris. So, thank you once again Newsteel. The comparison of examples you gave, is really a useful lesson to me.

Now I am still trying to search the answer of my own question: why did the people of afar choose the Jawa demam style as the root of their style? Is there any certain philosophy behind it?

The pictures below are only comparison too, on older style of "raksasa" hilt. The older one is a figural hilt which were used in Cirebon -- north coast of Central Java, just neighboring city of Tegal. (Cirebon Sultanate was founded by Sunan Gunungjati in the 16th century -- the same era as Demak Sultanate in north coast of Central Java too). People used to call the hilt style as "Rajamala" (Demon King). This hilt style, of course was not from Northern Peninsula...

And the other illustration, is the later style which is believed developping during King of Kasunanan Surakarta, Paku Buwana IV after he married a madurese noble in 18th century (PB IV 1788-1820). This Solonese rajamala style, is a combination of "nunggak-semi style" (the style which is used in Solo or Surakarta until now) and figural style of older rajamala...

BluErf · 7th June 2008, 07:28 AM

The jawa demam is not related (at least not closely) to the tajong, or the rashaksa hilts that seemed to be the ancestor of the tajong.

If you look carefully at the posture of the arms and legs, you can see the difference between the jawa demam hilt, and the rashaksa hilts. The tajong's posture has been so stylized that if you had not seen the rashaksa hilts, you probably would not be able to make out that it is the vestigial representation of the rashaksa's posture. I believe someone had named the postures before, as well as the hand sign, or mudra. Anyway, the rashaksa is squatting, with hands on knees, with the thumb of one hand sticking out, while the little finger of the other hand is sticking out. This is supposedly a mudra to drive away evil.

At some point in time, some rashaksa changed posture, with one leg raised, the other leg down. This is possibly the rajalila posture. The arms have also changed posture, folded across the chest instead.

Now, how did the jawa demam come about? That's the million dollar question. The jawa demam is squatting, it has one arm folded across the chest, but it is not the same even with the latter day rashaksa. The rashaksa is both arms folded equilaterally in front of the chest. The jawa demam is one arm folded across the chest, holding on to the other shoulder, while the other arm is folded against itself. There is also the suggestion of a blanket of clothe over the shoulder that is held by the arm stretching across the chest. What is the origin of jawa demam? There seems to be no obvious answer.

The palembang hilt posted above (the garuda form with the long nose, not the lampung one) has the jawa demam arm posture and the squatting legs, but that's where the similarities end. The long nosed lampung hilt adopts the old rashaksa's posture.

Anyway, jawa demam and the tajong are not that related, at least posture-wise.

ganjawulung · 9th June 2008, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluErf

The jawa demam is not related (at least not closely) to the tajong, or the rashaksa hilts that seemed to be the ancestor of the tajong.

.... Now, how did the jawa demam come about? That's the million dollar question. The jawa demam is squatting, it has one arm folded across the chest, but it is not the same even with the latter day rashaksa. The rashaksa is both arms folded equilaterally in front of the chest. The jawa demam is one arm folded across the chest, holding on to the other shoulder, while the other arm is folded against itself. There is also the suggestion of a blanket of clothe over the shoulder that is held by the arm stretching across the chest. What is the origin of jawa demam? There seems to be no obvious answer.

The palembang hilt posted above (the garuda form with the long nose, not the lampung one) has the jawa demam arm posture and the squatting legs, but that's where the similarities end. The long nosed lampung hilt adopts the old rashaksa's posture.

Anyway, jawa demam and the tajong are not that related, at least posture-wise.

For comparison, here are pics of some variants of Jawa Demam hilts. I hope it won't waste your time in downloading the pics from this thread...

Marcokeris · 9th June 2008, 12:16 PM

Another cirebon hit (Bima?)

ganjawulung · 16th June 2008, 05:52 AM

Thanks, Marco for the beautiful pics. Here is another examples of Cirebon hilts, ganesha motif...

Marcokeris · 16th June 2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Thanks, Marco for the beautiful pics. Here is another examples of Cirebon hilts, ganesha motif...

i love this hit

9th June 2008, 12:16 PM	#4
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	Another cirebon hit (Bima?) Attached Images

16th June 2008, 05:52 AM	#5
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	CIREBON Ganesha Hilt Thanks, Marco for the beautiful pics. Here is another examples of Cirebon hilts, ganesha motif... Attached Images

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7th June 2008, 07:28 AM	#2
BluErf Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,180	The jawa demam is not related (at least not closely) to the tajong, or the rashaksa hilts that seemed to be the ancestor of the tajong. If you look carefully at the posture of the arms and legs, you can see the difference between the jawa demam hilt, and the rashaksa hilts. The tajong's posture has been so stylized that if you had not seen the rashaksa hilts, you probably would not be able to make out that it is the vestigial representation of the rashaksa's posture. I believe someone had named the postures before, as well as the hand sign, or mudra. Anyway, the rashaksa is squatting, with hands on knees, with the thumb of one hand sticking out, while the little finger of the other hand is sticking out. This is supposedly a mudra to drive away evil. At some point in time, some rashaksa changed posture, with one leg raised, the other leg down. This is possibly the rajalila posture. The arms have also changed posture, folded across the chest instead. Now, how did the jawa demam come about? That's the million dollar question. The jawa demam is squatting, it has one arm folded across the chest, but it is not the same even with the latter day rashaksa. The rashaksa is both arms folded equilaterally in front of the chest. The jawa demam is one arm folded across the chest, holding on to the other shoulder, while the other arm is folded against itself. There is also the suggestion of a blanket of clothe over the shoulder that is held by the arm stretching across the chest. What is the origin of jawa demam? There seems to be no obvious answer. The palembang hilt posted above (the garuda form with the long nose, not the lampung one) has the jawa demam arm posture and the squatting legs, but that's where the similarities end. The long nosed lampung hilt adopts the old rashaksa's posture. Anyway, jawa demam and the tajong are not that related, at least posture-wise.