The Indonesian Kris

Centuries ago, a meteorite fell to earth in Central Java. The metal from this meteorite is made into a knife, or kris. The kris maker meditates before he starts to make the blade, the most sacred part of the kris knife. Every year, the sultan of yogyakarta orders a kris from the master sword-smith. The meteor was made mainly of iron with about five percent of nickel. A kris may take up to six months and the blade is considered to be magical. The kris maker spends his whole life honing his craft.

No-one knows where the kris came from originally but sources say that they first came from Java a thousand years ago. The patterns on the blade have a special meaning and the owner must take proper care of it. The pattern is made by a style of filing and layering of metal. The profession of kris maker is passed down from father to son for centuries. The sultan lives in jogjakarta, which is a special region straddling both modern and ancient times. It was the capital of Indonesia during the war of independence from the Dutch during the forties. The Royal palace is hundreds of years old. Time stands still at the palace of the sultan of jogjakarta and it is a mixture of European and Indonesian architectural styles. The frescoes tell of the history of the region. The palace guards wear the kris as part of their official uniform.

Every Sunday morning dancers are taught the traditional art of Java. The dance is accompanied by the gamelan orchestra. The dance steps are restrained and meditative. It takes years of training to master certain gestures. Wayang Kulit puppet shows act out the myths and stories of Java and their people. The puppets are made from leather and the puppets are said to contain the souls of the dead. The puppet master is called a dalang. Wayang golek puppets are made from wood. The puppeteer relies on his kris to give him strength and they say it has a magical influence.

Bali is a tiny island paradise but most Balinese are Hindu and still retain some animist beliefs. The country is full of temples with cultures that were imported from Java. The kris probably came from Java to Bali but it has retained its own characteristics in Bali. Ancient Balinese texts tell of the ancient traditions of the kris. Balinese weddings are a lavish affair. Elopements are often planned because the family cannot afford a full blown wedding ceremony. The lontar book is consulted before the wedding to find out if the bride and groom are compatible. Everyone dresses in their finest clothes and the kris is a prominent part of the wedding ceremony in Bali.

A wedding is accompanied by a tooth filing ceremony where the canine teeth are filed smooth. It is primarily a symbolic act and not much tooth is removed. The tooth filings and saliva are buried close to the temple to keep their power close to the owner. The clothes are changed after the teeth filing because a transformation is said to have taken place. Bali is full of rice fields which have more than one crop per year. Centuries ago, a meteorite fell to earth in Java and the metal from this meteorite has been used in kris knives ever since.

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