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.