Dapur Carita?

[A. G. Maisey]

Pak Ganja, I apologise for making life difficult for you, and perhaps for some others as well. I know just how very difficult it can be to get to the core of a matter when we are forced to address that matter in a language other than our own. Personally, I consider that you handle the English language extremely well indeed, and I freely admit, some of the concepts I was skirting around in last night's post might be beyond the grasp of many native English speakers. It was a long post, and I was on my hobby-horse and enjoying the ride.

I'll try to simplify.

Opinion:-

anybody can have an opinion

but everybody's opinion is not equal

there is the informed opinion, and there is the uniformed opinion

in any matter of weight only a fool will give an opinion and not wish for his opinion to receive respect

if we wish our opinion to be treated with respect we need to provide evidence or argument that our opinion is worthy of respect

when we are dealing with the keris, we can adopt at least two varying positions:- we can adopt the "social" position, where we make noises and give opinions simply to engage in conversation; opinions given whilst in this mode need not be taken too seriously and rejection need not cause offence

or, we can adopt the "serious" position, and when we do this we do need to provide evidence or argument to validate the opinion we give

with reference to the keris, this is relatively easy to do, because a number guidebooks and documents set forth the parameters by which we shall classify a keris

where such a guidebook or document has had the approval of a ruler, then the only variation that is permissable within the area where the dictates of that ruler are considered to be paramount, is a variation that has the approval of the current ruler of that area.

However,

where any group of people is not under the influence of any Ruler, that group of people may opt to classify a keris according to their own parameters, but we need to be aware that such system of classification will probably lack the bonds to tradition that adoption of a Karaton authorised system of classification virtually gaurantees.

In light of the above, I believe it should be obvious that any opinion given whilst in the "serious" mode of keris discussion must be accompanied by evidence or argument to support the opinion.


Value of dhapur classification:-

dhapur names are a system of classification

however, although those names can be understood, and do have a superficial meaning, they fail to convey any sense

the philosophical meanings that are currently attached to many dhapur names are probably no more than a couple of hundred years old, in most cases, and have more to do with Javanese philosophy than with the origins of the keris as a social icon --- however, this is essentially a different subject and need not be addressed here.

any classification system only has value as a device to sort things into groups :- it does not imply any knowledge of the content of that which is classified, it only verifies knowledge of the system by which one classifies.As an example, a clerk in an inwards mail facilty can read a letter, or an email, and he can classify it according to its content and direct it to the person in his organisation who can deal with the matters therein. But that clerk knows nothing of those matters that need to be dealt with.

it is exactly the same when we classify a keris according to dhapur or pamor or tangguh or whatever:- we understand the classificatory system, but we fail to understand the keris that we have classified.

Because of this I hold the position that knowledge of the classifcatory systems used in dealing with the keris is knowledge of a very minor degree.