Degradation of important keris over time

jagabuwana · 15th June 2022, 06:56 AM

In Keris cultures, my understanding is that important keris are ritually cleaned periodically by their caretakers.

Over time this leads to degradation of the keris itself.

The keris is a physical object with metaphysical content and meaning - both of which make up its importance.

So when its physical aspect is degraded over time, at what point is it deemed "too" degraded?

Assuming that it is very inappropriate to simply discard it, what is done with the material that is left?

Finally, what is understood to be happening at the metaphysical level when the keris, the shrine, is degraded over time like this? e.g. does it reduce its potency as a shrine or conduit to ancestors and previous custodians?

15th June 2022, 06:56 AM	#1
jagabuwana Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 276	Degradation of important keris over time In Keris cultures, my understanding is that important keris are ritually cleaned periodically by their caretakers. Over time this leads to degradation of the keris itself. The keris is a physical object with metaphysical content and meaning - both of which make up its importance. So when its physical aspect is degraded over time, at what point is it deemed "too" degraded? Assuming that it is very inappropriate to simply discard it, what is done with the material that is left? Finally, what is understood to be happening at the metaphysical level when the keris, the shrine, is degraded over time like this? e.g. does it reduce its potency as a shrine or conduit to ancestors and previous custodians?