Inscriptions on Keris?

[Boedhi Adhitya]

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

The word "kres" in old inscription was quoted -- not only by Bambang Harsrinuksmo in his Keris Ensiklopedi (2004) -- but also by Haryono Guritno in his recent book "Keris Jawa, Antara Mistik dan Nalar" (2006), and Ensiklopedi Kebudayaan Jawa (2005) by Dr Purwadi M Hum. According to the three gentlemen, "kres" was mentioned in Prasasti (Inscription) Karang Tengah which dated 748 Saka or 842 AD (Anno Domini).

Unfortunately, this three gentlemen didn't mention the sources they quoted from. But in regard of Ensiklopedi Keris of Ensiklopedi Budaya Nusantara (the earlier edition of Ensiklopedi Keris), as I recall, it could be attributed to S. Lumintu. His book 'Besi, Baja dan Pamor Keris' also quoting the inscription and the picture from the insciption. Lumintu was a Ensiklopedi Keris' contibutor also. There is a short bibliography in Lumintu's book, thus you could probably find the book he was quoting from. I'm apologize for not giving you further hint, as I don't have the book at hand now.

Regarding the 'wsi-wsi prakara', according to Denys Lombard, were a set of agricultural tools given by the king to be used by the Sima's owner/lord, as iron was scarce in Java. The Sima, a free-tax land, usually bestowed to Brahmin who took care a temple. Golds also provided to the local landlord/official as compensations for their tax-losts. By providing a free-tax land and all the tools needed, a king secured the Brahmin's loyalty/favor towards him. The land-for-loyalty policy preserved long after the Hindu eras. In Mataram Islam times it was called 'Perdikan', were given to the local/court 'strongmen' (It might be already in used since Demak/Pajang era), Those who held Perdikan called "Ki Ageng"
This, unfortunately, didn't explain the function of kris as part of 'wsi-wsi prakara' in insciptions. Was it a part of 'agricultural tool' or 'weapon'? Was it simply a ceremonial offering (sajen), or was it a 'Sima's Pusaka', which served as the Sima's symbol ? It was quite common in legends/stories that a Kadipaten or Perdikan was attributed to certain pusaka, for examples, Kyai Baru Klinthing was attributed to Ki Ageng Mangir, thus also attributed to The Mangir Perdikan. Until now, Madiun still retains it's Kadipaten's Pusakas.

Many of the Javanese's traditional histories/legends, especially those from Babads, were 'engineered' to support the court's legitimacy. But with use of care, some real historical evidence could be 'extracted'. The Medang Kamulan, according to Denys Lombard (once again) who quoted the Chinese source/report, was situated near the 'natural salt source'. As there is only one 'natural salt source' exists in Java, Lombard proposed that Medang Kamulan was situated near 'Bledug Kuwu', Grobogan, Central Java.

http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bledug_Kuwu

Originally Posted by ganjawulung

Maybe somewhere, in museum. But not in the National Museum in Jakarta. I've just visited the museum this afternoon. There are more than 20 prasasti there, mostly dated from 8th-10th century. Some from Mulawarman era (5th?). But not exist there, Dakuwu Inscription that were found in Grabag, Magelang. Someone in the Archeological dept of the Museum will try to search for me the existence of that interesting inscription...

Mas Ganja, I should take my hat off for your effort Perhaps you should go to Balai Arkeologi Jogjakarta (while hunting for some kerises, ). Reading an inscription isn't an easy job. By the way, have you seen the (not so) newly open gold room in National Museum ? It has some beautiful keris collections. The unsheated 'Si Ginje' is exhibited, amongs other. Harsrinuksmo falsely mentioned it as having dhapur Singa barong, as I recall.

Please note that every quotation here based only on my memory, which has been proven to be unreliable, and as it getting colder here, my memory tends to be more sluggish . As I would be away from home for quite a long time, I can not check everything on the book, and I'm too lazy to borrow it from British Museum. I apologize for the trouble and inconvenient that I've made.

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Boedhi Adhitya

Many of the Javanese's traditional histories/legends, especially those from Babads, were 'engineered' to support the court's legitimacy. But with use of care, some real historical evidence could be 'extracted'. The Medang Kamulan, according to Denys Lombard (once again) who quoted the Chinese source/report, was situated near the 'natural salt source'. As there is only one 'natural salt source' exists in Java, Lombard proposed that Medang Kamulan was situated near 'Bledug Kuwu', Grobogan, Central Java.

http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bledug_Kuwu

Nice to "see" you again in this Waroeng, Mas Boed. I know that you are a "Britt-man" now... (this gentlemen is studying in England since this November). Thanks, for your valuable view on "Medang Kamulan". By coincidence, I went and "stayed" for more than one week in Grobogan -- also visited Bleduk Kuwu -- to make a simple documentation on folk arts in Blora and Purwodadi. Yes, I took fotos too the fantastic Bleduk Kuwu (Please see picture below). Really it is a miraculous "plain salt mud vulcano", that even you could come near to around 20 meters from the "natural salt bomb"...

Originally Posted by Boedhi Adhitya

Mas Ganja, I should take my hat off for your effort Perhaps you should go to Balai Arkeologi Jogjakarta (while hunting for some kerises, ). Reading an inscription isn't an easy job. By the way, have you seen the (not so) newly open gold room in National Museum ? It has some beautiful keris collections. The unsheated 'Si Ginje' is exhibited, amongs other. Harsrinuksmo falsely mentioned it as having dhapur Singa barong, as I recall.

I have thought so. I was willing to ask gentlemen there, in Balai Arkaeologi (Prambanan) about that "Grabag" inscription. Not hunting keris anymore, Mas Boed. Daily life needs are more important for this time being...

Yes, I have seen some very good displays of original Bone kerises, Sulawesi kerises, Kalimantan and Java kerises, and also two beautiful keris panjang, Also ... Si Ginje. (I will post in other thread). The new (four stories) museum beside the old one is more "thematique". Some good old forms of kerises are also exhibited there..

Ganjawulung

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Boedhi Adhitya

Many of the Javanese's traditional histories/legends, especially those from Babads, were 'engineered' to support the court's legitimacy. But with use of care, some real historical evidence could be 'extracted'. The Medang Kamulan, according to Denys Lombard (once again) who quoted the Chinese source/report, was situated near the 'natural salt source'. As there is only one 'natural salt source' exists in Java, Lombard proposed that Medang Kamulan was situated near 'Bledug Kuwu', Grobogan, Central Java.

http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bledug_Kuwu

Hai, nice to see you again "Britt-man" (this gentleman is studying in England since November). Your views are very valuable, mas Boed. Thanks for reminding on Lombard... Yes, coincidentally I went to Grobogan (Purwodadi) and Blora for more than one week two months ago, to make a simple documentation on folk arts there. On "Mancanegara" (far outside of central palaces in Solo and Jogja) folk arts... (Please see, my foto below on Bleduk Kuwu). It is really a miraculous "salt mud volcano". You could even come to around 20 meters from the "natural salt bomb" of Kuwu...
[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Boedhi Adhitya

Mas Ganja, I should take my hat off for your effort Perhaps you should go to Balai Arkeologi Jogjakarta (while hunting for some kerises, ). Reading an inscription isn't an easy job. By the way, have you seen the (not so) newly open gold room in National Museum ? It has some beautiful keris collections. The unsheated 'Si Ginje' is exhibited, amongs other. Harsrinuksmo falsely mentioned it as having dhapur Singa barong, as I recall.

Thank you for the recomendation. I was just thinking of asking the Balai Arkeologi in Prambanan, maybe in the next two weeks, hopefully. But, no keris hunting for the time being. Daily needs are more urgent...

The new four stories National Museum in Merdeka Barat Jakarta, is just beside the old one. The stones displays are still in the old place, but the more "thematique" displays are exhibited in the new one. Yes, I will post the "Si Ginje" in another thread. Really nice "Ki Nom style" Si Ginje. A very valuable gift from Java to the ruler of Sumatera in the past...

Ganjawulung

[A. G. Maisey]

Here's a pic of Si Ginjei.

Si Ginjei was a part of an exhibition of Islamic Art held at the National Gallery of Australia a little while back.

Pak Ganja, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Si Ginjei attributed to Ki Nom, not just in the style of Ki Nom? I've read this somewhere, I'll try to find the reference.

[A. G. Maisey]

Pak Boedhi, land grants to favoured court retainers also occurred during Majapahit. These grants were normally made as a reward for important services rendered, and had the effect of raising the status of the grantee to that of the landed gentry.

There were the Buddhist domains, the dharmas, there were domains that were held by the Brahmins, there were the domains of the landed gentry(akuwu) and there were domains held by powerful people of the court as a result of grants from the ruler. For instance, Gajahmada was granted an area of land that was probably located near present day Malang. Nala, the commander in chief after Gajahmada's death was also granted land.

This practice causes one think, as it is known that the power of the old Javanese rulers was a power over people, not a power over land, so we need to consider carefully exactly what the royal title over land constituted. It could be that the ruler in fact had no title over the land, but did have the right to administer the land. I'm a bit unclear on this.

In any case, it seems it was an ancient practice, and could perhaps even go back to the early classical period.

"wsi-wsi prakara" in Old Javanese carries the sense of "types of iron". "Prakara" means "macam" or "jenis". We do not have the full inscription, but it probably read something like (freely) "various types of iron things, small axes, big axes,adzes---etc, etc---".

I agree with what you say about being able to use the babads as historic sources---with care. This has been shown over and over again. However, the operative word is care. For instance, Prapanca had China and India paying tribute to the ruler of Majapahit.

In the case of Medang Kamulan, we have a plethora of myths centered around this wonderful kingdom. If Medang Kamulan appears in a badad, it is simply a case of the migration of myth into literature. In this case we can probably discount the Chinese sources as any proof of existence, because of variation in era, and because the Chinese were reporting only what they were told, it was not a case of the Chinese going and seeing this place and noting its position, it would be the recording of transmitted information. I don't know exactly what Chinese documents this might be in, but I can probably find it, I'll have a look and see if we can find out exactly what is written.

Regarding Balai Arkeologi in Prambanan, I have approached these people several times, probably the most recent time might have been 6 or 7 years ago, and I found them very helpful. If you go there Pak Ganja, I'll be very surprised if they are not prepared to assist you.

Good to see you back Pak Boedhi. I thought you'd got lost in Darkest Africa.

[Boedhi Adhitya]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Pak Boedhi, land grants to favoured court retainers also occurred during Majapahit. These grants were normally made as a reward for important services rendered, and had the effect of raising the status of the grantee to that of the landed gentry.

Yes, absolutely, Pak Alan. What I meant with 'It might be already in used since Demak/Pajang era' was the 'Perdikan' terminology, vis-a-vis to Sima terminology. It is worth to note that besides 'perdikan', the free-tax land, there was also the 'lungguh', land granted to royal families/officials for their income. There were no salary system as known today. The lungguh, obviously, including all the peasants who stayed there. The peasants were burdened with compulsory work, conscription, and of course, some part of their harvests as taxes. No money needed in this system. No wonder kerises and spears/tombak scattered all over the Javanese villages (compared to, for example, Japanese's Katana). While you could borrow a plow from your neightbour, you could not borrow a keris or tombak when consciption announced This is, certainly, from the 'functional' point of view.

In the Islamic Mataram era, the land divided into several categories : Nagari, was the capital, obviously belongs to the king, the Negaragung, the immediate surroundings around the Negari, also belongs to the king, the Narawita Dalem, the land of king which granted to the royal families or officials as 'lungguh', and Mancanegara, the farthest land, mostly with great autonomy.

Originally Posted by A.G. Maisey

Good to see you back Pak Boedhi. I thought you'd got lost in Darkest Africa.

Thank you, Pak Alan. I thought you didn't quite happy to see me back, as I gave you more troubles than solutions

oh, well, my post seems to drift away from the topic... sorry..

[A. G. Maisey]

Yes, as you describe it Pak Oesmen.

If you consider this system I believe that you may identify one of the causes of some of Indonesia's difficulties in the modern world.

What problems did you ever cause me Pak Oesmen?

I can recall none.

I can recall that you are knowledgeable and well mannered, but I can recall nothing negative concerning you.

[Raden Usman Djogja]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

.... correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Si Ginjei attributed to Ki Nom, not just in the style of Ki Nom? I've read this somewhere, I'll try to find the reference.

Pak Alan,

Sultan Hanyakrakusumo sent 2 (beautiful and powerful) kerises for local king during expedition to Jambi for building of strategic partnership. By these two kerises, Sultan Jambi became more powerful and legitimate.

Perhaps, if you can find de graf's books, he wrote about Mataram-Jambi.

Regards,
OeSmen

[A. G. Maisey]

Thanks Oesmen.

Yes, I'm aware of the keris which were sent from Mataram. There were other gifts, including keris , sent to South Sumatera from other Central Javanese rulers, also. It seems that there has been a continuing contact between Central Jawa and South Sumatera over an extended time.

But, be that as it may, it doesn't effect the Si Ginjei question either one way or the other:- we still do not know the maker, but we can accept the attribution. In fact, it would be unusual for a maker to have his name attached to a piece of his making, in thought at that time, it was the ruler who was making the keris, the empu was simply the tool of the ruler.