new keris magazine

A. G. Maisey · 30th April 2007, 09:11 AM

I read the new edition of "KERIS", I think, two weeks ago.

My opinion remains unaltered.

Regarding the possibility of an English edition of The Big Keris Book.

Nobody I have spoken with in Solo has heard of this possibility, and one person amongst these people is in a position where he should have known if an English edition was on the program.

What I did hear was that there is a desire to publish similar books to "Keris Jawa" that would deal with Balinese, Bugis, Sumatran, and other keris. The problem seems to be that the collectors who own the necessary top drawer examples of these other keris have been less than cooperative in promises to make pieces from their collections available for photographs.

One very high level collector was mentioned as being quite willing to allow his collection pieces to be photographed, provided he recieved an (apparently) extortionate level of royalties.

I feel that bearing in mind all factors, the Indonesian language edition of "Keris Jawa" may be all we will ever see. I hope I'm wrong, but that's the way I read it.

Alam Shah · 30th April 2007, 01:16 PM

Alan, I believe it may not be suitable for you, but it is suitable for one whom have very little knowledge and exposure, like myself.

I tend to agree that these magazine are meant for local distribution.
As for the Big Keris Book, it doesn't look good for the English version...hmmm.

David, in this case, you should go ahead with the Indonesian version. Coupled with a good Javanese-English dictionary, it should be readable. I'm sure Alan can recommend a good dictionary.

Boedhi Adhitya · 30th April 2007, 04:15 PM

Regarding the English version of Keris Jawa: antara Mistik dan Nalar, I've asked the Secretary General of SNKI Mr. Wiwoho Basuki personally on 22 April, and he said the translation is 'in progress'. The chairman of PT Indonesia Kebangganku, Mr. Rudy Pesik, as the publisher, also said so, last year. Sooner or later, I believe, the English Version would be published, as one of the aims of PT Indonesia Kebangganku (as it's name implies) is to introduce Indonesian artwork internationally. But everything goes very slow down here, so for those who reallty wish to have the English Version, please be patient, a lot...

The Keris and Pamor magazines, while it discuss the same subject (that is, keris or wesi aji), have a very different approach. The Keris Magazine's discussion tends toward the cultural aspect or stories of keris and any other news about traditional culture. Most of Keris reporters are not knowledgeable in tosan aji world, and many of the editor came from former Tempo News Magazine. Thus, Keris' content would be more general and more 'entertaining'.

Pamor, on the other hand, published by Panji Nusantara, a Jakarta-based keris collector organization which is trying to open branch nationwide. Most of Pamor editor are keris 'professional', that is, those who make living from keris/tosan aji. The editor put heavy emphasize on technical or historical aspect of keris. Ones may learn something, but use it with (a lot of) precautions.

Alam Shah, the pictures of Kraton Yogyakarta's pieces were taken from Kraton Jogja, History and Cultural Heritage, the official book regarding Kraton Yogyakarta. The pictures, which were inverted in the book, had already corrected in Keris Magazine, but the caption remains false. The pictures of K.K Purbaniyat should be K.K. Toyatinaban, and vice versa.

Alam Shah · 30th April 2007, 04:49 PM

Hi Boedhi, thank you for the timely update.

In that case, David... hold your horses... bear with it a little longer.

Thanks again. I will correct the labels in the magazine.

A. G. Maisey · 30th April 2007, 11:51 PM

Well, Pak Boedhi, I certainly hope you are right.

I got back home from Solo on Saturday. While I was in Solo I spoke with a number of people in the keris trade, and with well connected collectors. I did not speak with Bp. Rudy Pesik, I do not personally know him, and from all accounts he is just a little difficult to gain personal access to.However. one of the people I did speak with counts himself as a close friend of Pak Rudy, and in turn, he is a close, long time friend of mine. My friend's comment was something along the lines of :- "Yes, well, there are always many plans. If an English edition ever does come out, I do not think I will see it." My friend is 64, and in good health.

I hope my friend is wrong, and that you are right.

In respect of the magazines, not one of my friends in Solo has purchased a copy of either magazine after the first of each, and some did not purchase even the first.Their opinions are about the same as mine, but several people were very much more scathing in their criticism, than I would care to be.

ganjawulung · 9th May 2007, 01:16 PM

I've read the three editions of Keris, and also Pamor. The main story of newest edition of Keris, (published in April), is about The Dawn of Cirebon Palace (Kingdom). What suprised me, is the foto of pusakas of Cirebon. The photographer (I heard, that he is a National Geographic Photographer, hired especially for the main story) took photos of various forms of old Kudi (or Kujang, the West Java people often call them).

I had been once there, in Cirebon, visited the old palace and the museum where the Kudis are. The Kudis are closed in the cupboard. But the photographer was able to take photos of the Kudis, using special instrumen. Probably small lense you can put through keyhole of a cupboard. So we can see the various forms of Kudi, original Kudi from the old Royaume of Pajajaran -- the ancestor of Cirebon. That's great.

If I may compare the two magazines, Keris magazine tends to report: keris in a broad view, in order to take attention of Indonesians who don't even bother their unique heritage of keris. It is no wonder, Mr Wiwoho Basuki Tjokrohadiningrat (one of the senior board of editor) is the no 1 person in Indonesia Keris Association (they call the organization, SNKI Secretariat of National Keris Indonesia. This organization is the secretariat of around 30 paguyuban or associations on keris lovers).

The Pamor magazine, published by one of the association, Panji Nusantara in Jakarta. (Panji Nusantara also one of SNKI members). Pamor is more technical than Keris. Both of them have their own targets, their own aims, and audience. Pamor especially for masyarakat (community) of keris, and Keris is meant for masyarakat keris and also people who pays attention on keris.

Keris is more entertaining. But good too for keris lover. Every edition they put "Keris Bulan Ini" or "Kris of the Month". As if Playboy Magazine: Model of the Month. Also "Kawruh" or knowledge on keris, like what is pamor beras wutah, or pamor udan mas (rain of gold?).

Pamor has their own style. Sometimes, too technical and too difficult to understand by non-Indonesians. But anyway, both of them encourage the keris world in Indonesia. As you know, many Indonesian even "throw" keris in the rubbish because of different belief (musyrik). The image of keris in Indonesia, even almost identic with "dukuns" or paranormal, witch. So just throw them to the rubbish...

Anyway, the two magazine on keris, have their contribution in repromoting keris to the nation. Bravo..!

David · 9th May 2007, 01:44 PM

Ganja, thank you so much for that breakdown on these two new magazines. It is very interesting to hear of their different approaches on the subject. I sure do wish they made an English edition.

Keris tossed in the garbage would be such a shame....unless, of course, i was passing by on trash day.

Hopefully these magazines will raise the general level of understanding of the keris for the Indonesian people.

9th May 2007, 01:16 PM	#6
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	Keris and Pamor I've read the three editions of Keris, and also Pamor. The main story of newest edition of Keris, (published in April), is about The Dawn of Cirebon Palace (Kingdom). What suprised me, is the foto of pusakas of Cirebon. The photographer (I heard, that he is a National Geographic Photographer, hired especially for the main story) took photos of various forms of old Kudi (or Kujang, the West Java people often call them). I had been once there, in Cirebon, visited the old palace and the museum where the Kudis are. The Kudis are closed in the cupboard. But the photographer was able to take photos of the Kudis, using special instrumen. Probably small lense you can put through keyhole of a cupboard. So we can see the various forms of Kudi, original Kudi from the old Royaume of Pajajaran -- the ancestor of Cirebon. That's great. If I may compare the two magazines, Keris magazine tends to report: keris in a broad view, in order to take attention of Indonesians who don't even bother their unique heritage of keris. It is no wonder, Mr Wiwoho Basuki Tjokrohadiningrat (one of the senior board of editor) is the no 1 person in Indonesia Keris Association (they call the organization, SNKI Secretariat of National Keris Indonesia. This organization is the secretariat of around 30 paguyuban or associations on keris lovers). The Pamor magazine, published by one of the association, Panji Nusantara in Jakarta. (Panji Nusantara also one of SNKI members). Pamor is more technical than Keris. Both of them have their own targets, their own aims, and audience. Pamor especially for masyarakat (community) of keris, and Keris is meant for masyarakat keris and also people who pays attention on keris. Keris is more entertaining. But good too for keris lover. Every edition they put "Keris Bulan Ini" or "Kris of the Month". As if Playboy Magazine: Model of the Month. Also "Kawruh" or knowledge on keris, like what is pamor beras wutah, or pamor udan mas (rain of gold?). Pamor has their own style. Sometimes, too technical and too difficult to understand by non-Indonesians. But anyway, both of them encourage the keris world in Indonesia. As you know, many Indonesian even "throw" keris in the rubbish because of different belief (musyrik). The image of keris in Indonesia, even almost identic with "dukuns" or paranormal, witch. So just throw them to the rubbish... Anyway, the two magazine on keris, have their contribution in repromoting keris to the nation. Bravo..!

30th April 2007, 09:11 AM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	I read the new edition of "KERIS", I think, two weeks ago. My opinion remains unaltered. Regarding the possibility of an English edition of The Big Keris Book. Nobody I have spoken with in Solo has heard of this possibility, and one person amongst these people is in a position where he should have known if an English edition was on the program. What I did hear was that there is a desire to publish similar books to "Keris Jawa" that would deal with Balinese, Bugis, Sumatran, and other keris. The problem seems to be that the collectors who own the necessary top drawer examples of these other keris have been less than cooperative in promises to make pieces from their collections available for photographs. One very high level collector was mentioned as being quite willing to allow his collection pieces to be photographed, provided he recieved an (apparently) extortionate level of royalties. I feel that bearing in mind all factors, the Indonesian language edition of "Keris Jawa" may be all we will ever see. I hope I'm wrong, but that's the way I read it.

30th April 2007, 01:16 PM	#2
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Alan, I believe it may not be suitable for you, but it is suitable for one whom have very little knowledge and exposure, like myself. I tend to agree that these magazine are meant for local distribution. As for the Big Keris Book, it doesn't look good for the English version...hmmm. David, in this case, you should go ahead with the Indonesian version. Coupled with a good Javanese-English dictionary, it should be readable. I'm sure Alan can recommend a good dictionary.

30th April 2007, 04:15 PM	#3
Boedhi Adhitya Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 103	Regarding the English version of Keris Jawa: antara Mistik dan Nalar, I've asked the Secretary General of SNKI Mr. Wiwoho Basuki personally on 22 April, and he said the translation is 'in progress'. The chairman of PT Indonesia Kebangganku, Mr. Rudy Pesik, as the publisher, also said so, last year. Sooner or later, I believe, the English Version would be published, as one of the aims of PT Indonesia Kebangganku (as it's name implies) is to introduce Indonesian artwork internationally. But everything goes very slow down here, so for those who reallty wish to have the English Version, please be patient, a lot... The Keris and Pamor magazines, while it discuss the same subject (that is, keris or wesi aji), have a very different approach. The Keris Magazine's discussion tends toward the cultural aspect or stories of keris and any other news about traditional culture. Most of Keris reporters are not knowledgeable in tosan aji world, and many of the editor came from former Tempo News Magazine. Thus, Keris' content would be more general and more 'entertaining'. Pamor, on the other hand, published by Panji Nusantara, a Jakarta-based keris collector organization which is trying to open branch nationwide. Most of Pamor editor are keris 'professional', that is, those who make living from keris/tosan aji. The editor put heavy emphasize on technical or historical aspect of keris. Ones may learn something, but use it with (a lot of) precautions. Alam Shah, the pictures of Kraton Yogyakarta's pieces were taken from Kraton Jogja, History and Cultural Heritage, the official book regarding Kraton Yogyakarta. The pictures, which were inverted in the book, had already corrected in Keris Magazine, but the caption remains false. The pictures of K.K Purbaniyat should be K.K. Toyatinaban, and vice versa.

30th April 2007, 04:49 PM	#4
Alam Shah Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,248	Hi Boedhi, thank you for the timely update. In that case, David... hold your horses... bear with it a little longer. Thanks again. I will correct the labels in the magazine.

30th April 2007, 11:51 PM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Well, Pak Boedhi, I certainly hope you are right. I got back home from Solo on Saturday. While I was in Solo I spoke with a number of people in the keris trade, and with well connected collectors. I did not speak with Bp. Rudy Pesik, I do not personally know him, and from all accounts he is just a little difficult to gain personal access to.However. one of the people I did speak with counts himself as a close friend of Pak Rudy, and in turn, he is a close, long time friend of mine. My friend's comment was something along the lines of :- "Yes, well, there are always many plans. If an English edition ever does come out, I do not think I will see it." My friend is 64, and in good health. I hope my friend is wrong, and that you are right. In respect of the magazines, not one of my friends in Solo has purchased a copy of either magazine after the first of each, and some did not purchase even the first.Their opinions are about the same as mine, but several people were very much more scathing in their criticism, than I would care to be.

9th May 2007, 01:44 PM	#7
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Ganja, thank you so much for that breakdown on these two new magazines. It is very interesting to hear of their different approaches on the subject. I sure do wish they made an English edition. Keris tossed in the garbage would be such a shame....unless, of course, i was passing by on trash day. Hopefully these magazines will raise the general level of understanding of the keris for the Indonesian people.