Indonesian

Keris, World Heritage from Indonesia

Helloindonesia.id – Basically, it is necessary to explain why the keris, which is a weapon, is considered an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Basically working on a dagger requires very high skills in combining metal. When compared with the expertise of other metals in the world, the fineness of the final product of the kris gets high appreciation among metal artists.

Keris is a symbol of the governance of personal life and the social life of the people of the archipelago and has been recognized as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. (Source: wikipedia)

At the same time, the symbol in the traditional curves, including the catchers (warangka), provided information on knowledge and pembataninan that were very rich in Nusantara symbols, such as gold, tendrils, flowers, directions, and so on.

Kris is one type of traditional weapon typical of the archipelago that has existed since the 5th century AD. Experience its golden age in the era of the Majapahit kingdom. The blades are straight and some are straight, they are winding. Turns from 1 to 13. But there are more than 13, and this can be said to be abnormal.

What is unique about this traditional weapon is its presence which is a symbol of the governance of personal life and the social life of the archipelago. A presence that exceeds its function as a weapon.

In the relationship between the kris and the prospective owner, there is a term match, meaning that it must match the owner. This is a kind of spirit from the kris itself. Keris which is good for increasing ambition and courage, will not be matched with someone who is angry. If someone is cowardly, low self-esteem and has no ambition, it cannot be matched with someone who often surrenders, is nrima, and is peaceful.

Socially, the keris also becomes a symbol that goes beyond its physical form. At the end of the Dutch colonial period, for example, in certain villages in the archipelago, there were folk ceremonies called clean villages, namely salvation ceremonies to prevent the villagers from being disastrous, whether in the form of diseases, pests in fields and fields, or other disasters.

In the ceremony, a small keris is often included. From this context, the kris is present as a binder of cohesiveness and togetherness at the community level.