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113-462: The Regency of Kepahiang is rich in natural resources including gold, coal, geothermal energy resources, gemstones as well as a range of agricultural, aquacultural and forest products. These include rice, oil- and coconut palms, coffee, tea, corn, wood, natural rubber and pepper, as well as various types of fruits and locally bred fish specimens and products. The local government of Kepahiang operates several development projects to achieve improvements in

226-458: A Sundanese manuscript dated from Saka 1440 or 1518 AD, describes the kris as the weapon of kings, while the kujang is the weapon of farmers. There exist claims of earlier forms predating the Majapahit kris but none are verifiable. In the past, the majority of kris had straight blades but this became less frequent over time. Tomé Pires , in the early 16th century, describes the importance of

339-581: A 16 year old kris dancer was stabbed to death in his heart by his own kris, during a Rangda dance performance in Denpasar, Bali. In Javanese culture the kris is revered as tosan aji ( Javanese for "sacred heirloom weapon") and considered a pusaka . The kris is believed to have the ability to infuse bravery upon its holder: this property is known as piyandel in Javanese which means "to add self-confidence". The pusaka kris or kris-tipped spear given by

452-468: A Javanese keris blacksmith. The scene depicted Bhima as the blacksmith on the left forging the metal, Ganesha in the center, and Arjuna on the right operating the piston bellows to blow air into the furnace. The wall behind the blacksmith displays various items manufactured in the forge, including kris. These representations of the kris in the Candi Sukuh established the fact that by the year 1437

565-399: A Javanese king to nobles or his subjects, was meant to symbolize the king's confidence bestowed upon the receiver and is considered a great honor. During the Javanese wedding ceremony, a kris is required to be adorned with chains of jasmine flower arrangement as an important part of Javanese groom's wedding costume. The addition of jasmine arrangement around the kris was meant as a symbol that

678-465: A blade measuring between 15 and 50 in (38 and 127 cm) long, typically not sharpened as it is meant for stabbing and tearing, broader and asymmetric shape near the hilt, made of a combination of several kinds of metals. A kris's aesthetic value covers the dhapur (the form and design of the blade, with around 150 variants), the pamor (the pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with around 60 variants), and tangguh referring to

791-406: A depiction of human or demon; the carving works are exquisite and skillfully made. This Chinese account also reported that public execution by stabbing using this type of dagger is common. Majapahit knows no caning for major or minor punishment. They tied the guilty men's hands in the back with rattan rope and paraded them for a few paces, and then stabbed the offender one or two times in the back on

904-533: A depth of about 8 meters, is navigable by large ships as far as Palembang, which is the site of major port facilities used primarily for the export of petroleum , rubber and palm oil . This river system, especially around the city of Palembang, was the heart of eponymous 7th to 13th century Srivijayan empire. The river mouth was the site of the SilkAir Flight 185 plane crash which killed all 104 passengers and crew on board in 1997. The river flows in

1017-516: A height of up to 6 meters and therefore is the highest flower in the world, followed by Amorphophallus gigas . These flowers give an impression of the unique natural environment found in the Regency of Kepahiang. The tea plantations in the district of Kabawetan offer fresh climate and a unique panorama view and therefore are a local attraction already suitable for visitors and tourists as well. The plantations are located approximately 9 kilometers from

1130-406: A jealous official, Hang Tuah was ordered to be executed, but he managed to escape and go into hiding with the help of a minister who knew the truth. Hang Tuah's kris and title of Laksamana (admiral) were passed on to his comrade Hang Jebat. Furious that his best friend was unfairly put to death, Hang Jebat rebelled against the royalty and took over the palace. The desperate ruler of Melaka pardoned

1243-506: A kris empu should possess knowledge, technical skills and also spiritual prowess, since kris are believed to have physical and spiritual presence. This was meant to differentiate the masters from common pandai besi that mostly create common metal tools or peasant's weapons like parang or golok . In old Majapahit, a kris bladesmith was referred to as pande and all were reputed to be able to work hot iron with their bare hands. The people of Majapahit would eventually flee to Bali where

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1356-573: A kris may have a blade from Java, a hilt from Bali and a sheath from Madura. ... every man in Java, whether he is rich or poor, must have a kris in his house ... and no man between the ages of 12 and 80 may go out of doors without a kris in his belt. They carry them at the back, as daggers used to be in Portugal ... In many parts of Indonesia and the Malacca Sultanate , the kris used to be

1469-514: A man should not easily be angry, cruel, fierce, too aggressive, tyrannical and abusive. Kris-makers did more than forge the weapon, they carried out the old rituals which could infuse the blade with mystical powers. For this reason, kris are considered almost alive because they may be vessels of spirits, either good or evil. Legends tell of kris that could move of their own volition and killed individuals at will. Some kris are rumored to stand upright when their real names are called by their masters. It

1582-650: A mountainous conservation area of 320 ha, a natural park of 8,515 ha and an area of protected forest of 9,588.11 ha. There are several rivers and a lake in Kepahiang Regency, which are vital to the local agricultural economy and the tourism potential as well. Kepahiang does not have a shortage of water resources, which is why water was an element used in its crest as well. Ten waterfalls have been counted, which would be suitable spots for recreational activities and tourism. The waterfall in Curug Embun

1695-415: A powerful kris to kill the mighty chieftain of Tumapel, Tunggul Ametung. Ken Arok eventually stabbed the old bladesmith to death because he kept delaying the scheduled completion of the kris. Dying, the bladesmith cursed the kris through prophecy that the unfinished or incomplete kris would kill seven men, including Ken Arok. Ken Arok used Mpu Gandring's cursed kris to assassinate Tunggul Ametung, cunningly put

1808-597: A protective personal amulet, remains. However, the kris saw continuous use and forging in the Philippines , which comprised most of the Spanish East Indies . Kris-forgers and swordsmen were referred to as juramentados by the Spanish. Juramentados practice a ritual of sacrifice, a form of Jihad against not only Spanish soldiers, but also against Christian Filipinos alike. The early 20th century saw

1921-468: A range of martial arts are practised in Kepahiang as well. The mayor's office in Kepahiang stands out in regards to dimensions and architectural design and attracts tourists as well as locals. The buildings cupola is of enormous size. It was damaged during a recent earthquake though all damages were of minor type and not irreparable. The restoration is done by non-local experts. The hydro power plant on

2034-597: A realistic chance to become an independent regency. In 1999 a firm proposal was made to transform Kepahiang into such an independent regency, aeparate from Rejang Lebong Regency. The people of Kepahiang supported this by forming an organisation, namely the Panitia Persiapan Kabupaten Kepahiang (PPKK), which fostered the realisation of this project. In 2002 the PPKK handed over their proposals to respective regional and national authorities. This

2147-413: A sanctified heirloom ( pusaka ), auxiliary equipment for court soldiers, an accessory for ceremonial dress, an indicator of social status, a symbol of heroism, etc. Legendary kris that possess supernatural power and extraordinary ability were mentioned in traditional folktales, such as those of Empu Gandring, Taming Sari , and Setan Kober. In 2005, UNESCO awarded the kris the status of Masterpiece of

2260-456: A small content of nickel to create this pattern. The faint pamor pattern has been found in the kris from Majapahit period, which was acquired from iron ores with small nickel content. Most probably this iron ore was imported from the island of Sulawesi , as the pamor Luwu from Luwu region is quite well known in Sulawesi and Java. The best material for creating pamor however,

2373-541: A small dagger from Java reminiscent of kris can be found in Chinese source from the 10th century Song dynasty . In 992 the envoy from She-po (Java) arrived in Chinese court bearing a lot of gifts, consists of a dagger with exquisite hilt made of rhino horn and gold, silk woven with floral motifs made of gold threads , ivories, pearls, silk of various colours, fragrant sandalwood , cotton clothes of various colours, turtle shells, betel nut preparation kit , rattan mat with

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2486-445: A straight blade is one at rest, its power dormant but ready to come into action. In former times, kris blades were said to be infused with poison during their forging, ensuring that any injury was fatal. The poison used to polish kris blade is called warangan . The process of chemical coating was done by warangan or jamas (washing) the blade with acid and minerals that contains arsenic compounds. The process of doing so

2599-567: A symbol of heroism, etc. In the Barong dance of Bali there is a segment called keris dance , in which the villain Rangda magically enchants Airlangga 's soldiers to commit suicide, while another magician makes them invulnerable to sharp objects. In a trance state, the male dancers stab themselves in the chest with their own kris but remain unhurt. The kris dance is a potentially dangerous dance and can lead to fatal accidents. In February 2021,

2712-408: A symbol of the day Kepahiang became an independent regency. In the middle is a betel nut paring. The paring plays an important role in local traditions and customs. Above the paring there is a curved blade of a traditional dagger called kris . The kris is a symbol of bravery and tradition, but also represents progress and development. The paring and the kris are enframed by two different branches on

2825-570: A temperamental evil nature that caused the wielder to be overly ambitious and impatient. Musi River (Indonesia) (Period: 2016–2020)3,066 m /s (108,300 cu ft/s) (Period: 1971–2000)3,211.2 m /s (113,400 cu ft/s) The Musi River ( Indonesian : Sungai Musi ) is a river in Southern Sumatra , Indonesia . It flows from south-west to north-east, from the Barisan Mountains range that form

2938-438: Is a Javanese asymmetrical dagger with a distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron ( pamor ). The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, although many have straight blades as well, and is one of the weapons commonly used in the pencak silat martial art native to Indonesia . Kris have been produced in many regions of Indonesia for centuries, but nowhere—although

3051-408: Is a local acronym for the following combination: Selaras (Consistency) Elok (Beauty) Harmonis (Harmony) Aman (Safety) Sentosa (Peacefulness). Kepahiang has the following coordinates: Longitude 101° 55′ 19″ – 103° 01′ 29″; Latitude 020° 43′ 07″ – 030° 46′ 48″. Kepahiang is characterized by a rangy, arboreous and fertile natural environment. The highest point is 1,600 metres above sea level where

3164-471: Is acquired in a quite unusual way, as it is made from rare meteorite iron. Traditionally the pamor material for the kris smiths connected with the courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta originates from an iron meteorite that fell to earth at the end of 18th century in the neighborhood of the Prambanan temple complex. The meteorite was excavated and transported to the keraton of Surakarta; from that time on

3277-558: Is always spelled kris and pronounced either as kris or krit (กริช) in Thai , while in the Yala dialect it is spelled kareh . In Cambodia it is spelled as kris (គ្រីស) in Khmer . Other alternative spellings used by Europeans include "cryse", "crise", "criss", "kriss" and "creese". In English, the plural form is often simply "kris" as well. The kris's history is generally traced through

3390-460: Is around 100 metres high and a regional place for excursions, just as the Musi River , which has significant water volumes allowing a 3 × 70 MW water power plant to function properly. The south of Sumatra and the province of Bengkulu and Kepahiang in particular are the natural habitat for Rafflesia arnoldii flower. This flower was found by Joseph Arnoldi and Sir Thomas Raffles in 1818. Raffles

3503-507: Is available online as well. It serves two major goals. First, it is meant to spread relevant information within Kepahiang. Secondly, it shall provide reliable information about the Regency of Kepahiang, recent and ongoing programs as well as potentials and opportunities for interested investors and entrepreneurs. Right now, the magazine is available in Indonesian language only. Until just recently proper health care service were available in

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3616-399: Is based on the regencies natural resources, agriculture and plantations, horticulture as well as livestock and fish breeding. Many potentials in this regards are not yet tapped or require optimisation. Although there are no oil and gas reserves found in Kepahiang, the existing assets of the regency seem to provide a solid foundation for progressive economic development. The current challenge for

3729-485: Is considered as a cultural symbol of Indonesia and also neighbouring countries like Brunei , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , and Thailand . A kris can be divided into three parts: blade ( bilah or wilah ), hilt ( hulu ), and sheath ( warangka ). Each part of the kris is considered a piece of art, often carved in meticulous detail and made from various materials: metal, precious or rare types of wood, or gold or ivory. A kris's aesthetic value covers

3842-540: Is cultivated in line with the B.A.C.K. Model, which prescribes a sustainable cultivation strategy and provides organisational and financial options to farmers as well. It entails the complementary growing approach, combining Sengon and Taro cultivation. Taro is harvested after 5 month and therefore generates income to farmers prior to harvesting the Sengon trees. By that it diversifies the income structures of farmers and lessens dependencies. Kris The kris or keris

3955-646: Is grown on another area of 650 ha, which is called Kabawetan tea in Indonesia. In 2007 corn was grown on an area of 1,019 ha. 3,017 tons were harvested In 2007 manioc was grown on an area of 285 ha. 3,328 tons were harvested. Taro (Talas Satoimo) is predominantly consumed in Japan whereas most of it is imported from China. However, there is still a shortage in Taro which cannot be covered by imports from China. Due to this fact, Kepahiang aims to grow Taro for

4068-487: Is located in Bengkulu. Kepahiang is in need of specific expertise and know-how in order to use its full potentials. Due to this fact, the local government provides advanced educational programs including provision of scholarships for students willing to study majors related to geothermal energy supply and technology for instance. There are 3 hotels in Kepahiang with a total number of 55 rooms and 77 beds. The local economy

4181-447: Is located to the south from the regency of Kepahiang, whereas Kepahiang adjoins the regency of North Bengkulu in the west. Kepahiang Regency is subdivided into eight districts ( kecamatan ) comprising a total of 117 villages (of which 11 have urban status). The districts are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes

4294-476: Is more difficult for them to find successors to whom they may transmit their skills. The traditional kris-making industry still survives in some villages, such as Banyu Sumurup village in Imogiri subdistrict, Bantul , Yogyakarta, either specially made as a sacred amulet ordered by a kris enthusiast who seeks its spiritual power, or merely as souvenirs for tourists. Physically, the kris is a form of dagger with

4407-461: Is not rare that foreign guest attend those events as well. The local cultural and heritage is closely bound the Malay culture. Due to this representatives of Malay culture, aristocrats and royalty not just from Indonesia but from Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines (Mindanao) for instance maintain good relations to Kepahiang and are regular guests there. They maintain the common cultural background and, at

4520-478: Is substantially suburban to the town of Curup in neighbouring Rejang Lebong Regency . The population of Kepahiang Regency is growing at slow pace with an average of 1.2% per annum. There are 5% more men than women. Therefore, the demographic development in Kepahiang is significantly below the national average. Since the transition of Kepahiang into an independent regency in the province of Bengkulu, four mayors assumed office. The current mayor, Hidayatullah Sjahid,

4633-441: Is the primary forest product. This is a partial list of locally available products. In 2009 coffee was grown on an area of 24,017 ha whereas a total number of 16,060 tons were harvested. The cultivated area increased in 2011 to 24,928 ha. Farmers grow both types of coffee, Arabica and Robusta. Besides the regular cultivation of coffee, farmers increasingly produce luwak coffee as well, which generates additional income for

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4746-430: Is the reason warriors often made offerings to their kris at a shrine. There is also the belief that pointing a kris at someone means they will die soon, so silat practitioners precede their demonstrations by touching the points of the blades to the ground so as to neutralise this effect. Several folktales—linked to historical figures—mention legendary kris that possess supernatural power and extraordinary ability. Most of

4859-606: The dhapur (the form and design of the blade, with around 60 variants), the pamor (the pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with around 250 variants), and tangguh referring to the age and origin of a kris. Depending on the quality and historical value of the kris, it can fetch thousands of dollars or more. Both a weapon and spiritual object, kris are often considered to have an essence or presence, considered to possess magical powers, with some blades possessing good luck and others possessing bad. Kris are used for display, as talismans with magical powers, weapons,

4972-505: The keraton (royal court) of Yogyakarta and Surakarta , and also the princedom of Mangkunegaran and Pakualaman . The Javanese kings and nobles of these courts are known to employ some kris blacksmiths ( empu ) and become the patrons of their works, although the activity of kris-making is declining. Until the 1990s, kris-making activities in Java had almost come to a standstill due to economic difficulties and changing socio-cultural values. However, thanks to several concerned kris experts,

5085-540: The Philippines and Thailand . In the Philippines, the kris and similar stabbing daggers are known as gunong or gulok , while the much larger slashing sword versions are known as kalis or sundang . The larger kalis sword was introduced from the Sulu Sultanate of the Philippines back to Kalimantan and Sulawesi in Indonesia, where it became known keris Sulu . In Thailand it

5198-436: The kelurahan of Tangsi Baru. (e) including the kelurahan of Ujan Mas Atas. (f) including the kelurahan of Durian Depun. The capital and administrative centre of the Regency of Kepahiang is the town (and district) of Kepahiang, which has over a third of the regency's inhabitants as well. The average population density was 217.8 people per km in 2023, while the districts significantly differ in this regard. Merigi District

5311-621: The British or Dutch East Indies colonial state. In number of regions, a ban was placed on carrying of cutting and stabbing weapons. In Java, the turning point was the end of the five-year-long Java War when the rebellious Prince Diponegoro was defeated and detained, and had to hand his kris over to the Dutch in 1830. This event marked the disarmament of the kris as a combat weapon among the Javanese populace. Its ceremonial function, however, as part of traditional costumes, as sacred heirloom and as

5424-424: The Dutch in Indonesia, the city of Kepahiang was the capital of the regency of Rejang Lebong, which is a neighboring regency of Kepahiang today. Kepahiang remained the capital during the 3.5 years of Japanese rule in Indonesia. In the cause of the independence war and Indonesia's declaration of independence on 17 August 1945, Kepahiang became the regional center for Indonesian organisations, the independence movement in

5537-463: The Japanese market. It is grown as a secondary plant next to Sengon trees for instance instead of monocultural plantations which would again create unfavourable dependencies for farmers. The shortage on the Japanese market amounts to 45,000 tons per annum and therefore constitutes significant economic potential for farmers in Kepahiang who can develop the capacities to serve this particular market. Taro

5650-421: The Malay world and Java, an honourable form of execution was death by kris to the heart. Kris were used commonly in battle, during the early modern period , instead of having professional armies, most kings within the region relied on their courtiers to mobilize for war whenever required and since most Javanese, Malay and Makassarese would own a kris, the weapon would have seen regular combat. During amok ,

5763-522: The MusiRiver, which is about 11 kilometres away from the city if Kepahiang, has a capacity of 3 × 70 MW. There it is a place of interest for technically interested people. Furthermore, the hydro power plant is located in a pleasant natural scenery. It therefore became a place of excursions for locals and visitors. However, the facility primary function is of course to pave the way for economic development in Kepahiang. The waterfalls in Kepahiang, especially

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5876-796: The Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity . The word kris come from the Old Javanese term " kris " ( Javanese : ꦏꦿꦶꦱ꧀ ) which means "dagger". In Javanese , kris is known as kris ( Javanese : ꦏꦿꦶꦱ꧀ ), dhuwung ( Javanese : ꦝꦸꦮꦸꦁ ), and wangkingan ( Javanese : ꦮꦁꦏꦶꦁꦔꦤ꧀ ). In Malay (subsequently Indonesian and Malaysian ), Sundanese , Balinese and Sasak it is spelled keris ( Pegon and Jawi : کريس). Other names include karih in Minangkabau , and sele (ᨔᨙᨒᨙ) in Buginese and Makassarese . Two notable exceptions are

5989-457: The Pancasila doctrine taught in Indonesia. The crest further contains elements that reflect certain natural and cultural characteristics of Kepahiang. In the upper part of the crest there is the contour of mountains, illustrating that Kepahiang is a mountainous regency. Below that, one can see a wavelike symbol signifying Kepahiang's abundant water resources. The blue point between the waves is

6102-613: The Province of Bengkulu in south Sumatra. Its blossoḿs can be up to 1 meter in diameter and weigh up to 11 kg. Sporadic occurrence of this flower are reported from Aceh and parts of Malaysia. Furthermore, Kepahiang is also home to the Bangkai flower, a member of the genus Amorphophallus . The flower is of different types such as the Bangkai raksasa, Suweg raksasa or titan arum ( Amorphophallus gigas ), more commonly known as Sumatra giant amorphophallus. Amorphophallus titanum can reach

6215-682: The Regency of Kepahiang is celebrated and often a cause for music groups and artists come to Kepahiang. There is a range of traditional, folkly songs such as the Gritan-, Mambak-, Nyerambeak- and the Merjung song. These popular songs are part of the Rejang cultural heritage dominating Kepahiang. The largest group in Kepahiang are the Rejang Kepahiang; hence their customs are dominant as well. The Rejang do have various types of folk dances such as

6328-711: The Sekapur Sirih, Kejei, Semamea Cupik, Petik Kopi (Coffee Harvesting), Panen Padi (Rice Harvesting) and the Bujang Semulen dance. Due to its unique natural environment Kepahiang offers a range of recreational activities and outdoor activities such as trekking, biking, walking and alike. The local government regularly invites to common bicycle tours in order to encourage an active way of life. The natural park covers an area of 8,515 ha and provides for further possible outdoor activities for all those enjoying nature. Other types of sports such as soccer, badminton and

6441-471: The admiral Hang Tuah is said in the Hikayat Hang Tuah to have armed himself with one short and one long kris. Women also wore kris, though usually of a smaller size than a man's. In battle, a fighter might have carried more than one kris; some carried three kris: his own, one from his father-in-law, and one as a family heirloom. The extra two served as parrying daggers, but if none were available

6554-503: The aforementioned goals. IKUTT aims to structure the sector of livestock and fish breeding, horticulture and the cultivation of food plants whereas SELUNA is meant to manage and optimize the cultivation of sengon trees, dragon fruits and the production of luwak (civet cat) coffee. A variety of agricultural products such as coffee, tea, corn, dragon fruits, manioc, pepper, oil- and coconut palms, pecan nuts, taro (talas), cloves and range of fruits for instance are cultivated in Kepahiang. Sengon

6667-505: The age and origin of a kris. The kris blade is called a wilah or bilah . Kris blades are usually narrow with a wide, asymmetrical base, one rare kind of kris with a broad blade is the keris buah beko in Kelantan and Java copying the shape of the oroxylum seed pod. The kris is famous for its wavy blade; however, older types of kris dated from the Majapahit era have straight blades, as do more than half of all kris prior to

6780-680: The backbone of Sumatra, in Kepahiang Regency , Bengkulu Province, to the Bangka Strait that forms an extension of the South China Sea . The Musi is about 750 kilometers long, and drains most of South Sumatra province. After flowing through Palembang , the provincial capital, it joins with several other rivers, including the Banyuasin River , to form a delta near the town of Sungsang. The river, dredged to

6893-488: The blame to Kebo Ijo, and built a new kingdom of Singhasari . The prophecy finally came true, with four men enlisted as the kris' first death roll, including Mpu Gandring himself, Tunggul Ametung, Kebo Ijo to whom Ken Arok lent the weapon, and finally Ken Arok himself. The unfinished kris then disappeared. Another version of the tale describes that the kris passed to Ken Arok 's stepson Anusapati which in turn killed his stepfather after recognized that his biological father

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7006-406: The choice weapon for an execution known as the hukuman salang . The executioner's kris had a long, straight, slender blade. The condemned knelt before the executioner, who placed a wad of cotton or similar material on the subject's shoulder or clavicle area. The blade was thrust through the padding, piercing the subclavian artery and the heart. Upon withdrawal, the cotton wiped the blade clean. In

7119-492: The city of Kepahiang. There are 31.90 km highway roads in Kepahiang, which are of good quality in a provincial comparison. Besides that there are 54.15 km of asphalted roads. The next airport is located in Bengkulu, which can be reached within 2 hours by car. The local government of Kepahiang has launched a magazine in 2011 called the Tabloid Warta Kepahiang. The magazine Tabloid Warta Kepahiang

7232-535: The decline of kris forging as carrying edged weapons was banned in the Dutch East Indies. However its spiritual and ceremonial function still continues and is celebrated mainly in kraton and istana (courts) throughout Indonesia, Malaysia and the Muslim-inhabited parts of the southern Philippines. In Java, the traditional art of kris-making is preserved in the Javanese culture heartland,

7345-511: The effect of the acids. The handle or hilt ( hulu ) is an object of art, often carved in meticulous details and made from various materials: precious rare types of wood to gold or ivory. They were often carved to resemble various animals and Hindu deities, although this became less common with the introduction of Islam. In Bali, kris handles are made to resemble demons coated in gold and adorned with semi precious and precious stones, such as rubies. In Java, kris handles are made in various types,

7458-547: The fall of Majapahit Empire and the rise of the Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century. Tun Sri Lanang 's book, the Sejarah Melayu , tells that it was made by a Javanese empu and first used by the champion of Majapahit , a pendekar named Taming Sari. He was defeated in a duel to the death by the Melakan admiral Hang Tuah , after which the king of Majapahit presented the weapon to the victor. After being framed by

7571-426: The farmers and therefore lessens the traditionally strong dependency on the annual harvests of coffee beans, which, besides the naturally caused fluctuations, is also subject to price fluctuation on the market. The luwak (civet) cat coffee of the Regency of Kepahiang is known to be of high quality and is among the most expensive types of coffee worldwide. The local government supports the production of Luwak Coffee within

7684-476: The forest and was not able to return to Kepahiang as the infrastructure was not existing any more. Because of this, the administration had to move to the city of Curup, which provided sufficient infrastructure at that time. In 1956, Curup was declared the new capital of Rejang Lebong Regency, and Kepahiang finally lost its prior position as the administrative center. In the context of political and administrative reforms in Indonesia that started in 1998, Kepahiang had

7797-453: The framework of the SELUNA program. Luwak coffee is supported primarily by providing expertise on the subject to interested farmers. On an area of 275 ha farmers grow Oolong tea, which is exported to Taiwan exclusively, as it the tea is of high quality and good taste. Olong means black dragon in Chinese which is a symbol for good things. The tea is exported as semi-fermented tea. Black tea

7910-576: The gap between the floating ribs, which resulted in severe bleeding and instant death. Currently, the Kris of Knaud is the oldest known surviving kris in the world. Given to Charles Knaud, a Dutch physician, by Paku Alam V in the 19th century Yogyakarta in Java, the kris is on display at the Tropenmuseum , Amsterdam. The kris bears the date of 1264 Saka (which corresponds to 1342 AD) in its iron blade. Scientists suspect that due to its special features

8023-408: The government and implemented on a national scale. Kepahiang adopted a rather sustainable approach avoiding huge monocultural plantations such as oilpalm plantations. It depends on its sensitive natural environment and understand that it has to maintain and protect it properly in order to achieve long-lasting success. The pentagonal frame of Kepahiang's crest reflects its territorial entity, as well as

8136-523: The image of white cockatoo , and a small model of house made of sandalwood adorned with valuable ornaments. However, Raffles ' (1817) study of the Candi Sukuh states that the kris recognized today came into existence around 1361 AD in the kingdom of Majapahit , East Java . The scene in bas relief of Sukuh Temple in Central Java , dated from 15th century Majapahit era, shows the workshop of

8249-416: The intrinsic elements of nature: tirta (water), bayu (wind), agni (fire), bantolo (earth, but also interpreted as metal or wood which both come from the earth), and aku (lit: "I" or "me", meaning that the kris has a spirit or soul). All these elements are present during the forging of kris. Earth is metal forged by fire being blown by pumped wind, and water to cool down the metal. In Bali,

8362-613: The island of Bali comes close—is the kris so embedded in a mutually-connected whole of ritual prescriptions and acts, ceremonies, mythical backgrounds and epic poetry as in Central Java . Within Indonesia the kris is commonly associated with Javanese culture , although other ethnicities in it and surrounding regions are familiar with the weapon as part of their cultures, such as the Balinese , Sundanese , Malay , Madurese , Banjar , Buginese , and Makassar people . The kris itself

8475-536: The kris had already gained an important place within Javanese culture. In Yingya Shenglan —a record about Zheng He 's expedition (1405–1433)— Ma Huan describes that all men in Majapahit , from the king to commoners, from a boy aged three to elders, slipped pu-la-t'ou ( belati or more precisely kris dagger) in their belts. The daggers are made entirely of steel with intricate motifs smoothly drawn. The handles are made of gold, rhino's horn or ivory carved with

8588-405: The kris is associated with the nāga or dragon, which also symbolizes irrigation canals, rivers, springs, wells, spouts, waterfalls and rainbows; thus, the wavy blade symbolizes the movement of the serpent. Some kris have the head of a naga (dragon) carved near the base with the body and tail following the curves of the blade to the tip. A wavy kris is thus a naga in motion, aggressive and alive;

8701-456: The kris might be even older, but was decorated during Majapahit period to celebrate an important event. The kris bears scenes from the Ramayana on an unusual thin copper layer which partially covers it. Although the people of Southeast Asia were already familiar with this type of stabbing weapon, the development of the kris most probably took place in Java, Indonesia. From its origin in Java,

8814-717: The kris to the Javanese. While it is commonly believed that kris were the primary weapons wielded by fighters in the past, they were actually carried by warriors as a secondary armament if they lost their main weapon, which was usually a spear. For commoners however, kris were worn on a daily basis, especially when travelling because it might be needed for self-defense. During times of peace, people wore kris as part of ceremonial attire. Ceremonial kris were often meticulously decorated with intricate carving in gold and precious stones. Heirloom blades were handed down through successive generations and worn during special events such as weddings and other ceremonies. Men usually wore only one kris but

8927-423: The kris was used in a furious charge to scatter or kill a number of enemies even at the cost of one's own life. In the 16th century, European colonial powers introduced firearms into the archipelago that contributed to the decline of using the kris as the weapon of choice in battle. The forging of edged weapons went into decline from the moment that the sultans or rajas were subjugated and their realms annexed by

9040-527: The largest group in Kepahiang and dominate the local cultural life. Because the various groups have coexisted for a long time, cultural influences by others groups (Palembang, Serawai, Javanese, Sundanese, Padangnese, Batak, Acehnese or Chinese) can be identified as well. The heterogenous backgrounds of Kepahiang society caused the development of social aptitudes and manners within society, enabling peaceful coexistence. Customs and traditions are maintained in Kepahiang. Cultural events take place regularly whereas it

9153-408: The left and on the right. One of the branches is from a coffee tree, whereas the second branch is from a rice plant. Both reflect the favourable natural environment in Kepahiang, which provides its inhabitants with sufficient subsistence. The tranches are bound together seven times as a symbol for the regency's coherence. At the bottom of the crest there is a writing showing the word SEHASEN. This word

9266-469: The local government and farmers federations likewise is to balance the interest of large corporations and locals so that aspects such as market integration, internationalisation, the generation of local income and the agricultural diversification are brought into harmony. The dependency of local peasants on certain agricultural products such as coffee for instance shall be reduced by certain strategic agricultural programs. Programs like IKUTT and SELUNA do foster

9379-441: The locations of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district (totaling 105 rural desa and 12 urban kelurahan ), and its post code. Notes: (a) including the kelurahan of Keban Agung. (b) including the kelurahan of Tebat Karai. (c) comprising 7 kelurahan (Dusun Kepahiang, Kampung Pensiunan, Padang Lekat, Pasar Kepahiang, Pasar Sejantung, Pasar Ujung and Pensiunan) and 9 desa . (d) including

9492-439: The lowest point is 250 metres above sea level. The rangy environment is reflected in the crest of Kepahiang. The climate is tropical. The average temperature is 23.87 °C whereas the air humidity is 85.21% in average. The average rainfall amounts to 233.5 mm/ month. Kepahiang has a total area of 710.11 km of which 48,393.69 ha cultivatable and further 18,106.31 ha of forest area. The forest area consists of

9605-537: The magical kris are of Javanese origin, while the tales are mainly derived from Javanese ancient manuscript and Babad (Javanese chronicle). One of the most famous legends from Java comes from the Pararaton (Book of Kings). It describes a legendary bladesmith called Mpu Gandring or Empu Gandring and his impatient customer, Ken Arok , in the last days of the Kediri kingdom in the 13th century. The customer ordered

9718-400: The mighty viceroy ( adipati ) of Jipang who was killed by his own kris called Setan Kober ("devil of the grave"). It was forged by Empu Bayu Aji in the kingdom of Pajajaran , and had 13 luk on its blade. Near its completion when the empu tried to infuse the weapon with spiritual power, he was disturbed by a crying demon ( djinn ) from the graveyard. As a result, although powerful, the kris had

9831-531: The minister so long as Hang Tuah could win him back the throne. Having trained under the same master since childhood the two friends were nearly equals but of the two, Tuah was the superior fighter. However, even after a long battle in the palace, neither could best the other because the Kris Taming Sari evened the odds. Only after taking his weapon back did Hang Tuah manage to stab Jebat, who died soon after. Javanese folk story tells of Arya Penangsang ,

9944-399: The modern era. The number of curves on the blade (known as luk or lok ) is always odd. Common numbers of luk range from three to thirteen waves, but some blades have up to 29. In contrast to the older straight type, most kris today have a wavy blade which is supposed to increase the severity of wounds inflicted upon a victim. According to traditional Javanese kejawen , kris contain all

10057-452: The most common design being the abstract stylized representation of the human form. Examples of hilt designs include Tunggak Semi Putri Kinurung hilt from Surakarta, Batara Guru and Pulasir hilt from Madura, Punukan hilt from Palembang, Ratmaja from Bali, Pulungan hilt from Cirebon, Pekaka hilt from Pattani, and a seabird-like hilt from Lampung and Sulawesi. The kris usually has a curved pistol-grip hilt that aids in stabbing strikes. It allows

10170-500: The neighbouring regency of Bengkulu only. This changed in 2012, when Kepahiang built his own public hospital. The hospital though is not yet fully operative. There are currently 74 hospitals beds available in Kepahiang. The hospital adheres to national standards but announced its plan to implement international standards in the future as well. Kepahiang offers a comprehensive school system in Kepahiang with 164 schools capable of preparing pupils for university as well. The nearest University

10283-458: The occult. Kris were worn at special ceremonies, with heirloom blades being handed down through successive generations. Both men and women might wear them, though those for women are smaller. A rich spirituality and mythology developed around the weapon. Kris are used for display, as talismans with magical powers, weapons, sanctified heirloom, auxiliary equipment for court soldiers, as an accessory for ceremonial dress, an indicator of social status,

10396-548: The occupation has been preserved by the Pande clan to this day, members of whom also make jewellery. A bladesmith makes the blade in layers of different iron ores and meteorite nickel. Some blades can be made in a relatively short time, while more intricate weapons take years to complete. In high quality kris blades, the metal is folded dozens or hundreds of times and handled with the utmost precision. Empu are highly respected craftsmen with additional knowledge in literature, history, and

10509-447: The one in Curug Embun, which is approximately 100 metres high, are popular recreational places. The waterfall in Curug Embun is surrounded by forest and coffee fields of local peasants. It provides an exotic panorama view and is properly accessible by car or even public means of transportation. Its location is about 6 kilometres from the town of Kepahiang. The place is also popular with locals for its fresh climate and therefore became one of

10622-456: The owner had a bad dream, the blade was unlucky and had to be discarded, whereas if the owner had a good dream the dagger would bring good fortune. However, just because a blade was bad for one person didn't mean it would be bad for another. Harmony between the weapon and its owner was critical. Because some kris are considered sacred and believed to possess magical powers, specific rites needed to be completed to avoid calling down evil fates which

10735-446: The palm of the holding hand to add pressure to the blade while stabbing. A kris only offers minimal protection for the hand by the broad blade at the hilt. As with the hilt, a kris' sheath ( warangka ) is also an object of art. It can be made from various materials, usually a wooden frame to hold the blade which can be coated with metals such as brass, iron, silver, or even gold, usually carved in sulur floral motifs. The upper part of

10848-465: The primary place of excursions in the Regency of Kepahiang. Besides the waterfall in Curug Embun there are several more waterfalls such as those in Merindu, which are of similar characteristics but not that popular. Eight more cascades suitable to serve as natural recreational spots are counted in Kepahiang. The largest flower in the world, Rafflesia arnoldii , has its natural habitat in Kepahiang and

10961-405: The region and its military forces. Due to this fact, the Dutch targeted and destroyed the entire administrative infrastructure in Kepahiang during an attempt to regain power over the region in 1948. The mayors office, administrative buildings, post offices, telecommunication centres and police stations were annihilated completely. In 1949, the local administration was coerced to relocate itself into

11074-430: The same time, set an example of peaceful coexistence with groups of different cultural heritage. There are several religious groups in Kepahiang. 88% of the population are Muslims. Further religions present in Kepahiang are Hinduism (7%), Catholicism (5%) and Buddhism (4%). Music concerts take place regularly in Kepahiang whereas groups of nationwide popularity perform there along with local groups. The annual birthday of

11187-471: The sector of agriculture, energy supply and education. Some of these initiatives gained nationwide attention and were implemented by the central government in Jakarta on a national scale. Besides the formerly mentioned potentials, Kepahiang has significant tourism potential, which remains largely untapped. It is one of the official development goals to foster tourism in Kepahiang. During the colonial rule of

11300-414: The sheath formed a broad curved handle made from wood or sometimes ivory. It could be adorned with precious or semi-precious stones. The making of a kris was the specialised duty of metalworkers called empu (lit. "possessor") or pandai besi (lit. "iron-skilled"). In Java the honorary title empu refer to those ironsmiths who possess the special skill of forging the kris. According to Javanese beliefs ,

11413-464: The sheath would serve the same purpose. Kris were often broken in battle and required repairs. Yearly cleanings, known in Javanese tradition as jamasan , is required as part of the spirituality and mythology surrounding the weapon, often left ancient blades worn and thin. The repair materials depended on location and it is quite usual to find a weapon with fittings from several areas. For example,

11526-469: The smiths of Vorstenlanden (the Royal territories) used small pieces of meteoric iron to produce pamor patterns in their kris, pikes, and other status weapons. After etching the blade with acidic substances, it is the small percentage of nickel present in meteoric iron that creates the distinctive silvery patterns that faintly light up against the dark background of iron or steel that become darkened by

11639-516: The southern area of Sumatra , which has a predominantly tropical rainforest climate (designated as Af in the Köppen-Geiger climate classification). The annual average temperature in the area is 24 °C. The warmest month is July, when the average temperature is around 26 °C, and the coldest is February, at 22 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2579 mm. The wettest month is April, with an average of 344 mm rainfall, and

11752-663: The study of carvings and bas-relief panels found in Java , Indonesia . Some of the most famous renderings of a kris appear on the bas-reliefs of Borobudur (825) and Prambanan temples (850), originating from Hindu - Buddhist Mataram Kingdom of Central Java . The term kris was mentioned in several ancient Javanese inscriptions, including Humanding inscription (707 Saka or 875 CE), Jurungan inscription and Haliwangbang inscription (708 Saka or 876 CE), Taji inscription (823 Saka or 901 CE), Poh inscription (827 Saka or 905 CE), and Rukam inscription (829 Saka or 907 CE). The description of

11865-411: The tradition is being revived and kris craftsmanship has increased again. Over the past three decades, kris have lost their prominent social and spiritual meaning in society. Although active and honoured smiths who produce high quality kris in the traditional way can still be found in some places such as Madura, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Makassar and Palembang, their number is dramatically decreasing, and it

11978-476: The use of kris spread throughout the Indonesian archipelago, Singapore, Malaysia, Southern Thailand and the Philippines through diplomacy and trade. The spread of the kris to other nations such as Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, some historians say, was credited to the growing influence of the Majapahit Empire in Java around the year 1492. The Sanghyang Siksa Kandang Karesian canto XVII,

12091-551: Was accepted and finally ratified by General Hari Sabarno, who served as the Minister of Interior at that time, and came into effect at 7 January 2004. Since then Kepahiang has had four local administrations under three different regents. The newly formed regency progressed socially and economically since then at high pace. Its administration (4th period) received several honours from the central government in Jakarta and managed that locally applied development concepts were adapted by

12204-536: Was appointed as Acting Regent in January 2004; after a gap of more than a decade, he was elected into office in February 2021. The local government adopts an innovative approach to use the vast potentials of the Regency of Kepahiang. Declared priorities are: Kepahiang Regency's society is culturally, religiously and ethnically heterogeneous. The different religious groups and tribes coexist peacefully. The Rejang are

12317-672: Was kept secret among smiths. Different types of whetstones, acidic juice of citrus fruits and poisonous arsenic bring out the contrast between the dark black iron and the light colored silvery nickel layers which together form pamor , damascene patterns on the blade. The distinctive pamor patterns have specific meanings and names which indicate the mythical properties they are believed to impart. There are around 60 variants of pamor recognized today in traditional kris blades. Some examples of pamor include beras wutah , udan mas , kembang kacang , kembang pala and ladrang cendan . The kris blade forging uses iron with

12430-436: Was killed by Ken Arok with the same kris. The bloody feud continued on and on until the reign of Kertanegara , the last king of Singosari Empire Taming Sari ("flower shield") is one of the most well-known kris in Malay literature, said to be so skilfully crafted that anyone wielding it was unbeatable. In some versions of the legend, the weapon would grant its user physical invulnerability. The legend took place sometime during

12543-420: Was mainly assigned to government officers who were paid, in whole or in part, with foodstuffs such as rice . There are several ways of testing whether a kris is lucky or not. A series of cuts on a leaf, based on blade width and other factors, could determine if a blade was good or bad. Also, if the owner slept with the blade under their pillow, the spirit of the kris would communicate with the owner via dream. If

12656-419: Was said that some kris helped prevent fires, death, agricultural failure, and many other problems. Likewise, they could also bring fortune, such as bountiful harvests. Many of these beliefs were derived from the possession of different kris by different people. For example, there is a type of kris in Java that was called Beras Wutah , which was believed to grant its possessor an easy life without famine. This kris

12769-423: Was the governor of the province of Bengkulu at that time. The florescence of this flower is the biggest in the world. Its cross-section dimension can be up to 1 meter and it weighs up to 11 kg. The flower is interesting and adds to the tourism potential of the region. In the north Kepahiang Regency borders on the regency of Rejang Lebong. To the east there is the regency of Lahat. The regency of Central Bengkulu

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