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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 415
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Here are three kujangs from my collection, all contemporary.
Picture 1 is a Kujang Bikang 5 holes The blade measures 7 1/2" and 1/4" thick hand-forged spring steel. It is fully etched or engraved on both sides. It also has a 5" sharpened false-edge, fileworks; sharpened and hardened. The handle is 2 colors hardwood ("Sonokeling") with mild steel ring. The sheath is stained hardwood, carved dragon in light varnish. The overall length is 13 1/4". Pictures 2 and 3 is a Kujang with pamor Sersan 3 holes - Style / Dapur: Kujang - Surface Pattern: Sersan - Sheath and handle made from sonokeling wood - Length of the blade is app. 25 cm - Total length is app. 40 cm Picture 4 is a Kujang with pamor naga rangsang no holes! - Style / Dapur: Kujang - Surface Pattern: Naga Rangsang - Sheath and handle made from sonokeling wood - Length of the blade is app. 25 cm - Total length is app. 42 cm |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Toulouse - FRANCE
Posts: 83
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Hello,
Here under, a translation of the French text on the Kijang-Kudi in my study on Keris ( my site Blade http://blade.japet.com/KRISS/K-Arme-.../Kudi/Kudi.htm). It does not claim that's the truth. Originally from West Java (Pasundan - Sundan), the Kujang (Kudi) was first an agricultural widespread. - By the XII°, it takes value as talisman with a blade having two characteristics: - the shape of the island of "Djawa Dwipa" (the current Java) representing the ideal of unification of small kingdoms into one empire. - 3 holes in the blade representing the Trimurti or three main aspects of Hindu religion: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (also representing the three main kingdoms of Java). - When the Muslim influence grew, the base of Kujang (corresponding to the country geographically Sundan) was modified to take the form of the Arabic letter "Syin" (first letter of the verse "Syahadat" by which the devotee expresses belonging to Islam). Similarly, five holes representing the five pillars of Islam has replaced on the blade the 3 holes of the Trimurti. Usually, they are talismans worn by Pawang (magicians) and Brahman. The variety of derivative forms is important. It can be mounted either on a short handle or shaft of a spear. Hope that help. Louis-Pierre |
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#3 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,278
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Absolutely fantastic information Dave and Louis-Pierre!!! Thank you so much.
Truly a fascinating weapon with this history and explanation of thier symbolism. All best regards, Jim |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Toulouse - FRANCE
Posts: 83
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Hi Jim
Have a glance please to the Takouba team as we had some talks (Iain and I) Have a nice day. LP |
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#5 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,218
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Thought you might be interested in an older example (dress is contemporary)...four holes...now i wonder what THAT means...
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,013
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Perhaps David we should consider this to be 3 holes + 1 hole?
Oh goodness me I love this esoteric hypothesising. Interestingly Harsrinuksmo, who was not at all shy about floating the odd hypothesis here and there did not say much at all in this regard about kudis and kujangs. What he did say was that the people who might have known were long gone. Something I personally find very interesting is that with the passing of time how much more previously unknown information becomes available for us to be astonished by. |
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#7 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,218
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Maybe the owner was a Hindu who had a Muslim son-in-law... ![]() ![]() ![]() Honestly i find the hypothesizing to be an interesting exercise. My only problem is that we must be very careful to remember that in the end we really haven't a clue and that we don't propagate any of this "information" as fact. Dave's retelling of what a dealer in Solo (whose is selling him contemporary kudi as Dave has noted) told him about the significance of these holes is long and detailed including the names of empus and dates and places. This report has an air of authority and certainty (partly due to all the names and dates), but what is the real source of this information? It would be very tempting to accept this report as fact and just as tempting to pass it along next time the question arises. But is it fact or merely a salesman's pitch? I don't think there is any way that we can tell for sure. Jim's thought on the subject show just how easy it is to pass along a theory in his research that might well be taken as fact by another reader. Jim may well have read it think it just a theory, but when an idea is presented again and again it very often has a nasty habit of taking on a life of its own. Krockew's reporting of these same ideas was no more supported by any solid evidence as Dave's dealer story (names and dates not withstanding) so it remains nothing more than a hypothesis IMHO. ![]() |
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#8 | |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,278
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'OK, splain THIS!!!' ![]() -Ricky Ricardo |
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 415
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Hello all,
I'm resurrecting this thread (perhaps too strong a word) since I stumbled upon a diagram today that associates the number of holes in a kudi/kujang with the number of months in a pregnancy (1 to 9). The original can be found here: http://picturepush.com/+bQhR There are also some interesting other graphs showing varieties of Kudi / Kujang that you can click through to visit. Best, Dave A. |
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 24
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#11 | |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,218
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#12 | |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 415
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#13 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Minneapolis,MN
Posts: 350
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Hello all,
Does anyone know if the article VVV mentions in this post ever got published? Thanks, Leif |
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