Keris boy

[brekele]

I heard few years ago that there is keris for a boy. (For ceremony).
Finally, by searcing in internet, I found a pic of small boy holding keris.
First impression was shocked and starting big questions, How come adult let a small boy holding sharp keris?



But after few minutes watching this pic carefully, I came up with feeling that new generation (Keris lover) of Indonesian people is just starting.
As I know for many people in Indonesia, keris is stil sinengker (English? )

Hmm....., This pic made me said...Hey, baby boy is born (keris boy). The new generation stil can learning about keris from their own Indonesian people. At least nightmare of older Indonesian keris lover should not happend.



Gentleman, what is your impression after watching this pic?




bre.

[Rick]

Teach your children well ...

[asomotif]

And keep warangan / keris oil and any other chemicals locked away !

[A. G. Maisey]

Absolutely and totally inappropriate.

A child, particularly one as young as this one, has no connection to the keris as a cultural symbol.

Since before the time of Majapahit , the keris has been a symbol of the male. Its place is together with a male past the age of puberty, not with a baby. The child in this photo is of an age where it is possible that it might not even have a real name. It is certainly not a member of its community. It has no right to be in possession of a keris.

On the other hand ---if we are looking at a posed photograph that is somebody's idea of "cute", I guess that we can accept the "cuteness" as OK. Not everybody is attuned to traditional values.

PS--- I don't know that it is possible to give a precise translation of the idea of "sinengker", but this word has the sense of "secret", or "hidden", or "undisclosed", or "unrevealed"---and so on.

[Lew]

I don't think it is very wise to give a 4 yr old a keris. People do foolish things whether if it is a keris or gun like what happen last month when some fool gave an 8 year old a loaded uzi to shoot some pumpkins and the poor kid could not control the gun and ended up killing himself. Btw I noticed a bottle of J.W. scotch in the background sitting on the floor next to the boy? Another smart move by the parents of this kid .



Lew

[kulbuntet]

Oke in our eyes it looks ..bad.

Now in an other perspective... Reincarnation!!

We dont know the history of the keris in the pic.

Let's say that i'm in the 15th reincarnation now. In my 11th reincarnation i was a indo.. that got his keris when i became a adult. I had a good life and my keris too. I die, my keris dont die..it lives on. My keris wil try to get to me in my later reincarnations! Now in my 15th, my keris found me(we think we wil find the keris, that's not posible...a keris picks you, you dont pick the keris. you only think you do!). And the both of us are senang again. Story with happy ending

Now place this story in the photo, changes the view...doesn't it?

Regards Michel

[A. G. Maisey]

There are many ways in which to consider all things.

[David]

Well, i, like Lew, am more concerned with all the other dangerous things this kid's parents seem to leave at child level, like the bottle of scotch and who knows what else in those other bottles. Also, letting a child this age hold a keris under the supervision of adults is one thing, but it would appear that a keris stand full of other sharp and pointies is kept on the floor where this child can always get at them.
I will admit that the photo seems to show that the child has some understanding, respect and/or recognition of the keris in his hand, but photos can be deceptive that way, showing us only a fraction of a second in time that doesn't tell the full truth of the moment.
I agree with Alan that the keris should be reserved for an older age, understanding and participation in community, though i do think that children should be taught the history. But there is a time and place for possession and ownership, and i am not sure that this is the correct age for that.
I would say that even if this keris did belong to this child in a previous incarnation, that there is still a proper time for him to take repossession of it. If he is indeed in his 15th incarnation he should probably know that himself as well.

[Jussi M.]

Greetings,

Irresponsible is the best word I can come up with. I dont like this picture.

Thanks,

J

[asomotif]

Ps. it looks a bit as if Winnie the Pooh is also trying to get hold of the keris.

But seriously, sharp pointy things are no toys.
And considering indeed Alan's argument keris are by definition not for children.