For: Kris (disambiguation)

The kris spread from the island of Java to many parts of the archipelago of Indonesia, such as Sumatra, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, South Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and to the Southeast Asian areas now known as Malaysia, Brunei, southern Philippines, southern Thailand, and Singapore.

In 2005, UNESCO gave the title Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity to Kris of Indonesia.UNESCO, Proclamation 2005: "The Indonesian Kris".

Kris vs. keris

The term keris had a Javanese origin, though it cannot be ascertained how it came about. The term "keris" may have originated from the old Javanese word ngeris which means 'to stab' or 'to pierce'. Kris is a European rendering of this Javanese term.

As noted by Frey (2003), kris is the more frequently used term, but this pertains mainly to the Western world. The term "keris" is more popular in the native lands of the dagger, as exemplified by the title of a popular Javanese keris book entitled the "Ensiklopedi Keris" (Keris Encyclopedia), written by the late Bambang Harsrinuksmo. Some collectors prefer keris, others kris. Other spellings used by European colonists include cryse, crise, criss, creese.

The Kris is also loosely used to differentiate between the Moro kris swords found in Southern Philippines and the keris daggers found everywhere else in the archipelago.

Origins

Frey (2003) concludes from Raffles' (1817) study of the Candi Sukuh that the kris recognized today came into existence around AD 1361. Scholars, collectors and others have formed myriad theories about the origins of the kris. Some believe the form that is credited with being the earliest form of the kris, the keris majapahit, was inspired by the daggers of the Dong-Son in Vietnam (circa 300 BC). Frey (2003) dismisses the Dong-Son origin of the Majapahit. Unverifiable claims of another form predating the Majapahit exist. Kris history is traced through study of carvings and bas relief panels found in Southeast Asia. One of the more famous renderings of a kris appears on the Borobudur temple (825 CE) and Prambanan temple (850CE)Fact: date=May 2008.

Use

Kris has a cranked hilt, which serves as a support for stabbing strike. At the same time it allows the strength of the wrist to add pressure on the blade while slashing and cutting. A kris has no special protection for the hand, except for the broad blade at the hilt, which offers minimal protection. In rare cases a kris may have its blade forged so the blade's axis lies at an angle to the hilt's axis. The intention is to get the blade automatically turning to slip past the ribs. This works poorly and makes the weapon less durable.Fact: date=September 2008