The Pekan District is a district in Pahang , Malaysia . Located in the east of Pahang, the district borders Kuantan District on the north, South China Sea on the east, Maran District on the west and Rompin District on the south.
89-591: Pekan is a town in Pekan District , Pahang , Malaysia . It is also the royal capital of the state. Its name comes from a flower, the Bunga Pekan . Pekan is also the name of the district the town is situated in, and a parliamentary constituency in its own right. It is the home of the state's royal family headed by Sultan Abdullah of Pahang . It is also the hometown of the second Prime Minister of Malaysia , Tun Abdul Razak Hussein . The Masjid Abdullah,
178-458: 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
267-478: A tropical rainforest climate (Af) with heavy to very heavy rainfall year-round. 3°30′N 103°25′E / 3.500°N 103.417°E / 3.500; 103.417 Pekan District The following is based on Department of Statistics Malaysia 2010 census. Pekan district representative in the Federal Parliament (Dewan Rakyat) List of Pekan district representatives in
356-581: 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
445-468: 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
534-399: 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
623-465: 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
712-406: 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
801-697: A hunting expedition. The villagers at Kampong Mengkasar, about one kilometre from Pekan in the direction of Kuantan, are said to be direct descendants of Tok Tuan from Makassar in Sulawesi , Indonesia. Among the well-known figures, Tun Abdul Razak was recognised as having a Sulawesi heritage. From Kuantan , Pekan is accessible by 3 routes, namely Tanjung Lumpur Highway ( Federal Route 183 ) which runs through Tanjung Lumpur , Penor and Ceruk Paloh , Jalan Pekan ( Federal Route 3 and AH18 ) and also through Gambang, Pahang by Tun Razak Highway ( Federal Route 12 ). From Kuala Lumpur , one may travel to Pekan by
890-406: 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
979-506: 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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#17327757057621068-501: 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
1157-573: 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
1246-524: 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, a sanctified heirloom ( pusaka ), auxiliary equipment for court soldiers, an accessory for ceremonial dress, an indicator of social status,
1335-626: A landmark in Pekan which dates from the 1920s, and the newer Abu Bakar Royal Mosque is near the Sultan Abu Bakar Museum. The stretch by the river bank from the Abu Bakar Royal Mosque heading towards the Sultan Abu Bakar Museum is Pekan's Heritage Route. According to local lore, a flowering plant named Bunga Pekan used to grow wild along the banks of Pahang River , and the town was therefore so named. The flower
1424-514: 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
1513-415: 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
1602-597: 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
1691-456: 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,
1780-541: 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
1869-445: 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
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#17327757057621958-567: 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,
2047-556: 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 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
2136-441: A variety of delicious food. Being a Royal Town, Pekan enjoys the best kuih-muih (Malay delicacies) which are prepared by the same people or their descendants who used to prepare the same delicacies for the palace. Breakfast menu is aplenty to choose from. One particular novelty for breakfast is the 'roti naik' (a heavenly treat. Looks similar to small buns sold in supermarkets, but with a completely different taste, especially when it
2225-471: 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
2314-488: Is hot). This particular bread can only be found in very few places, Pekan being one of them. Other delicacies are nasi dagang, kuih bakar, ikan bakar (fresh grilled fish) and others. Kampong Mengkasar is also well known of its Murtabak . It is a unique variant of the original Indian dish that can only be found in Pekan. The Murtabak Pekan was not started in Kampong Mengkasar, but it is available here throughout
2403-548: 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 the Philippines and Thailand . In
2492-476: 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
2581-515: 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 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
2670-399: Is said to be white like jasmine , although the particular plant species is also said to have become extinct. The river at the Pekan town (near Mengkasar village) is also called Pekan River, however there is no evidence that Pekan derived its name from this river. Other sources say the name "Pekan" came from "Pekan Sehari" (Pekan Sehari or Sunday Market still exists today), and the word "Sehari"
2759-430: 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
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2848-505: 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,
2937-624: The East Coast Expressway , exiting at the Gambang Interchange to the Tun Razak Highway . From Johor , a scenic coastal road passes through Kuala Rompin . Alternatively, the Tun Razak Highway can be taken, which links Segamat and Kuantan . The rapidKuantan bus route 400 connects Pekan to Kuantan. The Sultan Abu Bakar Museum displays many artefacts which are important in the state's history and
3026-562: The State Legislative Assembly (Dewan Undangan Negeri) Pekan has 11 mukims , which are: This Pahang location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Keris The kris or keris 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
3115-576: 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 the study of carvings and bas-relief panels found in Java , Indonesia . Some of the most famous renderings of
3204-408: The 1960s. Pekan is home to Malaysia's DefTech 's Defence Technologies Division plant. DefTech is Malaysia's largest military vehicle manufacturer. The plant was established at a cost of approximately RM70 million in 2001. The plant is situated on a 25.6-acre site and has a covered work area of approximately 180,000 sq feet. The plant is responsible for the manufacture of all armoured vehicles and
3293-621: 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
3382-625: The Chieftains in Pahang who visited Pekan to attend meetings and events at the Istana. Until today, the Chiefs' Rest House offers good, clean and reasonable accommodation to travellers. Most of the furnitures adorning this building were brought over from the Istana. It is advisable to reserve your room in advance, as it can be packed during school holidays, weekends and whenever there are functions in
3471-746: The Istana. The Chiefs' Rest House is located along Jalan Istana Abu Bakar in Pekan. It is along the road approaching the Istana area. Other places of interest include the Royal Palace (the Sultan Abu Bakar Palace), Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque , Royal Mausoleum, the Royal Pahang Polo Field nearby the Palace, the Royal Pekan Golf Club, birth house of late Tun Abdul Razak at Kampung Pulau Keladi and
3560-473: 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 ,
3649-690: The Pahang Royal Silk Weaving Centre. Nearby the Royal Pahang Polo Field is a long-established Islamic college, known as Kuliah Sultan Abu Bakar (the Sultan Abu Bakar Kulliyyah). It has produced eminent scholars all over the State of Pahang and Malaysia. Its students consistently further their studies in the esteemed Al-Azhar University in Cairo , Egypt. Pekan is 15 minutes from clean, sandy beaches. North on
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3738-704: 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 is always spelled kris and pronounced either as kris or krit (กริช) in Thai , while in
3827-471: 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
3916-505: 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
4005-507: The banks of Sungai Parit which flows to Sungai Pekan. Early settlement of shops first started in this area. The original wooden structure of these shops can still be seen until today around Pekan Lama. Istana Pantai was once located here, but it is no longer around and the site is now occupied by the Majlis Agama Islam Daerah Pekan building. Bangunan UMNO Pekan Lama is situated nearby and had been on that site since
4094-488: 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
4183-406: 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
4272-535: 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,
4361-520: The early 1970s, local and global automotive corporations have chosen Pekan as their base. This industrial chapter in Pekan history was introduced and gathered momentum during Tun Abdul Razak's tenure as the 2nd Prime Minister of Malaysia. The legendary Tun had the vision to make Peramu as the industrial centre of Pekan. Back then, companies like TATA (of India) and Isuzu (of Japan) had assembled motor vehicles in their Pekan base. Past and current automotive companies operating in Pekan are: Pekan offers
4450-511: 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,
4539-547: 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
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#17327757057624628-576: 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
4717-463: 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
4806-416: 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,
4895-536: 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
4984-405: 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;
5073-635: 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 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
5162-418: 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 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
5251-456: 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,
5340-717: 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
5429-423: 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
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#17327757057625518-404: The lake. Prices differ according to the chosen routes (duration of boat trip from 45 minutes to 3 hours). There are also Orang Asli (natives) settlements nearby providing a hands-on experience of their living culture. Pekan is also the location of one of the permanent campuses of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). Pekan Lama. Pekan Lama means Old Pekan. It is situated on
5607-411: The late Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tengku Afzan . As of October 2008, the museum has been undergoing renovations. Visitors are advised to call the museum first for more information. Pekan is home to the Chiefs' Rest House. This wooden structure was completed in 1926 and is featured in the ' Lonely Planet ' Travel Guide as a must-visit site in Pekan. It was originally built by the British as a guest house for
5696-705: The local Malay culture. The museum was officially opened by Sultan Ahmad Shah in October 1976. It is located in the former residence of the British Resident , which was built in 1929. It was acquired by the Sultan of Pahang in 1948 and was renamed Kota Beram Palace. In 1965, the Sultan moved his residence to a new palace (the Abu Bakar Palace), where the current Royal Palace is situated. The museum
5785-537: 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
5874-400: 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
5963-531: 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 ,
6052-399: 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
6141-452: 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
6230-423: The museum. One example of these is a keris (a type of Malay dagger) which was found by a young man in a river about 20 km from the town of Pekan. This particular keris drew a lot of attention, coupled with strange stories of its mystical prowess. The keris is still on display at the museum. The museum has dedicated galleries focusing on water transportation, personal belongings of the late Sultan Abu Bakar and
6319-458: 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,
6408-548: 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
6497-456: 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
6586-446: 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
6675-414: 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 ,
6764-464: 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,
6853-469: 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
6942-411: 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
7031-535: 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,
7120-574: The way to Kuantan, there is Pantai Legenda (Lagenda Beach), which features a golf course. South on the way to Kuala Rompin is the Pantai Batu 16 (the 16th Mile Beach), which used to have a royal retreat complex. A one-hour drive from Pekan is Lake Chini , a beautiful freshwater lake which is one of the largest in Malaysia. It features a resort with restaurant, jungle trekking paths and a boat station. Boat trips are available by various routes around
7209-515: The year. Other murtabak outlets in Pekan, such as the Murtabak Mawar (also known as murtabak Sultan), are only available in the month of Ramadhan . Personalities from Pekan Education Hub Due to its serene settings, ample amenities and strategic location, Pekan is now fast becoming a hot spot for education. Tertiary level education: Secondary level education: Primary level education : Pre-school level education: Pekan has
7298-418: Was divided into Pekan Baharu and Pekan Lama (New and Old Pekan), and the old name for Pekan Baharu used to be Kampung Cina. Several Arab and Chinese writers mentioned Pekan. During the late 19th century, relations between the sultan and local villagers were close. For example, when a gong in the palace was struck, local villagers would assemble to the palace for the sultan's service such as accompanying him on
7387-407: Was eventually omitted and the locals simply called it "Pekan". Pekan is thought to have been in existence since the time of Old Pahang Kingdom . The old name was Inderapura , although it was also commonly known with the short form 'Pura', which some Malays called Pekan. The old capital was located on both the left and right banks of Sungai Pahang and Sungai Pahang Tua up to Tanjung Langgar. The town
7476-474: Was given a RM100 million upgrade in 2014 to prepare for the production of DefTech's chief vehicle, the DefTech AV8 . The plant is fitted with required resources and facilities and has the flexibility to undertake a variety of different jobs at once. It is also fully equipped with facilities which are capable of generating most of its requirements in house. The Plant also has: Automotive Plants Since
7565-672: 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
7654-436: 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
7743-420: 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
7832-590: Was officially opened to the public in October 1976, in conjunction with the birthday celebrations of the Sultan of Pahang. The first chairman of the museum was the late YBhg. Dato' Haji Mohd Mokhtar bin Haji Daud, and the first director/curator was YBhg. Dato' Mohamed Mokhtar bin Haji Abu Bakar. The museum expanded its collections of artefacts very actively during this era up to 1997. The locals eagerly surrendered and provided as gifts certain unique artefacts to
7921-419: 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
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