keris for comment

[Alam Shah]

Originally Posted by Montino Bourbon

As I have said before, if I like it and I hold it in my hand, it's got plenty of chi; but I would refer you to an article called

What Makes a Weapon "Magickal"?
A Cross-Cultural Survey of Empowering Characteristics
Ruel A. Macaraeg

As for imbuing a weapon with mystical elements, it can be done even on new pieces. There are 'chants', 'mantras', prayer rituals...etc, to enpower the a piece for a specific role. It could be achieved.
But I won't go further, as I'm not a learned person in this field.

There are a few good keris references books which i found helpful.
1.) Ensiklopedi Keris (Keris Encyclopedia)
- Auth: Bambang Harsrinuksmo, Pub: Jakarta : Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2004.
- Format: Hardcover, 630 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.
- ***** A must have primer reference. In Bahasa Indonesia.

2.) The World of the Javanese Keris
http://www.eriksedge.com/TheWorldoftheJavaneseKeris.html
- Auth: G. & B.Solyom, Pub: East West Centre Pub., Honolulu 1978
- ISBN 0-9620340-0-2
- ***** A must have primer.

3.) The Kris: Mystic Weapon of the Malay World,
- Auth: Edward Frey, Pub: Oxford University Press, Oxford 1989 (2nd Edition)
- ISBN 0-19-588906-1
- ***** Another very good primer with lots of good info but lack illustration.

4.) The Kris: an earthly approach to a cosmic symbol
- Auth: David van Duuren.
- Format: Hardcover, 95 pages, Published: 1998, Netherlands, 1st Edition
- ISBN: 907318732X
- ***** Another good primer with good color photos.
About This Book
Scholarly account of the kris - its distribution, history, function and
production. The significance of the design and motifs on the blade, hilt and
sheath and the regional variations are all described with the aid of illustrations from the Royal Tropical Institute Collection, Amsterdam.
- - -
There are other books, too. For a beginner like me, these books helps to build foundational knowledge regarding keris.