Puputan is a Balinese term for a mass ritual suicide in preference to facing the humiliation of surrender. It originally seems to have meant a last desperate attack against a numerically superior enemy. Notable puputans in the history of Bali occurred in 1906 and 1908, when the Balinese were being subjugated by the Dutch .
99-676: On September 20, 1906, a substantial force of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army , named the Sixth Military Expedition , landed at the northern part of Sanur Beach. It was under the command of Major General M.B. Rost van Tonningen . Badung soldiers made some attacks on the bivouacs of the Dutch at Sanur on September 15, and there was some resistance again at Intaran village. Overall, the force managed to move inland without much resistance, and arrived in
198-458: 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
297-581: 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
396-468: 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
495-399: 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
594-465: 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
693-406: 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
792-516: A desperate sortie out of his Palace, clad in white and armed with a legendary kris supposed to wreak havoc on the enemy according to a prophecy. The kris failed to fulfill the desired outcome, and the Raja was instead shot by a Dutch bullet. Immediately, the six wives of the king resorted to puputan , killing themselves with their kris, soon followed by the other Balinese in the procession. The Battle of Margarana ( Indonesian : Puputan Margarana )
891-406: 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
990-506: 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
1089-501: 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
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#17327726499691188-573: 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
1287-524: 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,
1386-514: 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
1485-415: 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
1584-597: 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
1683-545: A settlement to become a regency of the Netherlands. The Dutch only offered them exile to nearby Madura or Lombok , and they preferred to kill themselves (puputan) in prison two days later. Their palace was plundered and razed by the Dutch. Another puputan occurred on the 18th of April, 1908, at Klungkung Palace . The intervention was triggered by a Balinese revolt against a Dutch attempt to impose an opium monopoly in their favour. The Raja of Karangasem opposed
1782-456: 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,
1881-541: 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
1980-445: 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
2079-567: 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,
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#17327726499692178-556: 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
2277-528: A wild beating of drums coming from within the palace walls. Upon their reaching the palace, a silent procession emerged, led by the Raja on a palanquin carried by four bearers. The Raja was dressed in traditional white cremation garments, wore magnificent jewelry, and carried a ceremonial kris . The other people in the procession consisted of the Raja's officials, guards, priests, wives, children, and retainers, all of whom were similarly attired. They had received
2376-471: 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
2475-605: 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 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
2574-548: 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
2673-476: 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
2772-473: Is remembered locally as the "Badung Puputan", as a symbol of resistance to foreign aggression. A huge bronze monument was erected on the central square of Denpasar, where the royal palace used to stand, commemorating Balinese resistance in the Puputan. The Dutch force continued to the kingdom of Tabanan , where King Gusti Ngurah Agung and his son fled. They surrendered to the Dutch, and attempted to negotiate
2871-430: 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
2970-505: 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,
3069-896: The Japanese occupation , most of the Dutch and Ambonese personnel were interned in POW camps. During the Indonesian National Revolution , the KNIL's officers were still largely Dutch and Eurasians although most of its troops were recruited from predominantly Indonesian Christian ethnicities, particularly Batak, Moluccas, Timor and Manado. Although there were smaller numbers of Javanese, Sundanese , Sumatran and other Muslim troops in Dutch service, these received comparatively lower rates of pay than their Christian counterparts, leading to resentment and distrust. The Dutch sought to take advantage of these ethnic tensions by claiming that
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3168-539: The United Kingdom and United States were forbidden from serving. Other foreigners who could not prove fluency in either Dutch or German were also not accepted for service. It was against the law to send Dutch conscripts from the Netherlands to the East Indies but Dutch volunteers continued to enlist for colonial service in the KNIL. In 1890 a Colonial Reserve Corps (Koloniale Reserve) was established in
3267-576: 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
3366-575: The 19th century. During the protracted Aceh War the numbers of European troops were kept to 12,000 but continued Achenese resistance necessitated the deployment of up to 23,000 indigenous soldiers (mainly from Java , Ambon , and Manado ). Even slaves of the Ashanti ( Ivory Coast and Ghana ) were recruited in limited numbers for service in the East Indies (see Belanda Hitam ). The ratio of foreign and indigenous troops to those of Dutch origin
3465-561: The Ambonese would lose their special privileges and pensions under a Javanese-dominated government. As noted above, these factors contributed to clashes between demobilised KNIL units and the Republic of Indonesia 's military throughout 1950. Kris 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
3564-569: 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
3663-501: The Dutch soldiers in that battalion interned and imprisoned 500 of their Indonesian native comrades within the camp. Harsh treatment and penalties were issued out by the Dutch on any independence seeking soldiers. This led to the deaths of two KNIL native soldiers; one was a possible suicide and the other was a protest leader. This brought about condemnation from Australian locals, who forced the Australian authorities to repatriate all
3762-597: The Dutch to open fire with rifles and artillery . As more people emerged from the palace, the mounds of corpses rose higher and higher. The whole procession numbered hundreds, and is said to have been over 1,000 people in all. It was mown down by Dutch gunfire. Alternative accounts describe that the Dutch first opened fire on the Balinese mass moving outside of the palace gate, only equipped with traditional krises, spears, and shields, and that survivors killed themselves, or had themselves killed by their followers according to
3861-632: The Japanese as POWs . 25% of the POWs did not survive their internment. A handful of soldiers, mostly indigenous personnel, mounted guerrilla campaigns against the Japanese. These were usually unknown to, and unassisted by, the Allies until the end of the war. During early 1942, some KNIL personnel escaped to Australia. Some indigenous personnel were interned in Australia under suspicion of sympathies with
3960-669: The Japanese. The remainder began a long process of re-grouping. In late 1942, a failed attempt to land in East Timor , to reinforce Australian commandos waging a guerrilla campaign ended with the loss of 60 Dutch personnel. Four "Netherlands East Indies" squadrons (the RAAF-NEI squadrons ) were formed from ML-KNIL personnel, under the auspices of the Royal Australian Air Force , with Australian ground staff. KNIL infantry forces (much like their counterparts in
4059-547: The KNIL ceased to exist but its traditions are maintained by the Regiment Van Heutsz of the modern Royal Netherlands Army . At the time of disbandment the KNIL numbered 65,000, of whom 26,000 were incorporated into the new Indonesian Army and should be received with the same rank. Some of them later in the 70s reached the rank of Major General in Indonesian Army. It is estimated that around 39,000 of
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4158-594: The KNIL were involved in an abortive coup in Bandung planned by Raymond Westerling and Sultan Hamid II . The coup failed and only accelerated the dissolution of the federal Republic of the United States of Indonesia . The KNIL was disbanded by 26 July 1950 with its indigenous personnel being given the option of demobilising or joining the newly formed Indonesian military . However, efforts to integrate former KNIL units were impeded by mutual distrust between
4257-473: 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 ,
4356-1018: The Netherlands East Indies were severely weakened by the defeat and occupation of the Netherlands itself, by Nazi Germany , in 1940. The KNIL was cut off from external Dutch assistance, except by Royal Netherlands Navy units. The KNIL, hastily and inadequately, attempted to transform into a modern military force able to protect the Dutch East Indies from foreign invasion. By December 1941, Dutch forces in Indonesia numbered around 85,000 personnel: regular troops consisted of about 1,000 officers and 34,000 enlisted soldiers, of whom 28,000 were indigenous. The remainder were made up of locally organised militia, territorial guard units and civilian auxiliaries. The KNIL air force, Militaire Luchtvaart KNIL ( Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force ; ML-KNIL) numbered 389 planes of all types, but
4455-497: The Netherlands itself to recruit and train these volunteers and to re-integrate them into Dutch society upon the conclusion of their overseas service. On the eve of the Japanese invasion in December 1941, Dutch regular troops in the East Indies consisted of about 1,000 officers and 34,000 men, of whom 28,000 were indigenous. The largest proportion of these "native troops" had always consisted of Javanese and Sundanese soldiers. During
4554-647: 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
4653-643: The UK ), were augmented by recruitment among Dutch expatriates around the world and by colonial troops from as far away as the Dutch West Indies . During 1944–45, some small units saw action in the New Guinea campaign and Borneo campaign . Just south of Casino, New South Wales , a camp was established in 1942 for a KNIL Technical Battalion. Upon the declaration of the Indonesian Republic,
4752-471: 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
4851-505: 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
4950-665: The archipelago was considered pacified the KNIL was mainly involved with military policing tasks. To ensure a sizeable European military segment in the KNIL and reduce costly recruitment in Europe, the colonial government introduced obligatory military service for all resident male conscripts in the European legal class in 1917. In 1922 a supplemental legal enactment introduced the creation of the Home Guard ( Dutch : Landstorm ) for European conscripts older than 32. Dutch forces in
5049-646: The area including the Padri War (1821–1845), the Java War (1825–1830), crushing the final resistance of Bali inhabitants to colonial rule in 1849, and the prolonged Aceh War (1873–1904). In 1894, Lombok and Karangasem were annexed in response to reports of the local Balinese aristocracy oppressing the native Sasak people. Bali was finally taken under full control with the Dutch intervention in Bali (1906) and
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#17327726499695148-476: The army consisted of European soldiers, while the other half was made up of indigenous soldiers. However, starting from the late 1830s the ratio between European soldiers and indigenous soldiers went from 1:1 to 1:3. The reason for this was that there were not enough European volunteers to keep up with the recruitment of indigenous soldiers. Besides European volunteers and indigenous recruits the KNIL also recruited foreign mercenaries of several nationalities during
5247-488: 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
5346-406: 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
5445-408: The city of Kesiman on 20 September 1906. There, the local king, a vassal of the king of Badung , had already been killed by his priest, as he had refused to lead an armed resistance against the Dutch. The palace was in flames and the city was deserted. The force marched to Denpasar , Bali , as if in a dress parade. They approached the royal palace, noting smoke rising from the puri and hearing
5544-467: 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,
5643-405: The dictates of the puputan . The soldiers stripped the corpses of the valuables and sacked the ruins of the burned palace. The palace of Denpasar was razed to the ground. The same afternoon, similar events occurred in the nearby palace of Pemecutan, where the co-ruler Gusti Gede Ngurah resided. The Dutch let the nobility at Pemecutan kill themselves, and proceeded with the looting. The massacre
5742-511: 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,
5841-547: 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
5940-482: The final Dutch intervention in Bali (1908) . In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the KNIL resumed the conquest of the Indonesian archipelago. After 1904 the Netherlands East Indies were considered pacified, with no large-scale armed opposition to Dutch rule until World War II , and the KNIL served a mainly defensive role protecting the Dutch East Indies from the possibility of foreign invasion. Once
6039-576: 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
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#17327726499696138-463: 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
6237-506: The imprisoned soldiers, despite being reluctant to heed earlier requests for assistance. Following World War II, the KNIL was used in two large military campaigns in 1947 and 1948 to re-establish Dutch control of Indonesia. The KNIL and its Ambonese auxiliaries have been accused of committing war crimes during this "police action". Dutch efforts to re-establish their colony failed and Netherlands recognition of Indonesian sovereignty came on 27 December 1949. On 26 January 1950, elements of
6336-416: 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,
6435-536: 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
6534-405: 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;
6633-635: 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
6732-418: 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
6831-456: 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,
6930-717: 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
7029-423: 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
7128-537: 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
7227-400: 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
7326-531: 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 ,
7425-399: 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
7524-491: The monopoly, leading to Balinese riots in the capital of Klungkung . Riots also erupted in Gelgel , when the Balinese killed a Javanese opium dealer. The Dutch sent troops to quell the riots. In Gelgel, they killed 100 Balinese, forcing the Raja to flee to Klungkung. The Dutch then bombarded the city of Klungkung. In a final confrontation on 18 April 1908, Dewa Agung Jambe, the Raja of Klungkung, accompanied by 200 followers, made
7623-452: 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
7722-445: The number of Africans much higher ) and at least 1,666 Eurasian recruits. The officer corps was wholly European and was probably close to 1,300. There were also about 1,300 horses. Recruitment was carried out in the Netherlands and Indonesia, with over 1,000 Dutch subjects and 500 foreigners enlisting annually. The foreign troops consisted of Flemish , German , Swiss , and French volunteers. Walloons , Arabs , and nationals of both
7821-458: 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,
7920-548: 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
8019-456: 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
8118-446: 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
8217-562: The predominantly Ambonese KNIL troops and the Javanese -dominated Republican military, leading to clashes at Makassar in April and the attempted secession of an independent Republic of South Maluku (RMS) in July. These revolts were suppressed by November 1950 and approximately 12,500 Ambonese KNIL personnel and their families opted for temporary resettlement in the Netherlands. Following this,
8316-611: The remaining KNIL troops who majority of whom came from Ambon , took the option of retiring or joining the Royal Dutch Armed Forces and serving in Papua or Suriname. Some of them were involved in the Dutch contingent in Korean War (1950–1953). During its formation, it was stated that the KNIL would include both European and indigenous soldiers. In the beginning the KNIL was equally divided, which meant that half
8415-458: The rites of death, were dressed in white, and had had their ritual kris blessed. When the procession was a hundred paces from the Dutch force, they halted and the Raja stepped down from the palanquin and signaled a priest, who plunged his dagger into Raja's breast. The rest of the procession began killing themselves and others. Women mockingly threw jewelry and gold coins at the troops. A 'stray gunshot' and an 'attack by lance and spear' prompted
8514-414: 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 ,
8613-409: 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,
8712-469: 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
8811-411: 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
8910-476: 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,
9009-615: Was a battle fought between the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) and the recently created, rebelling Ciung Wanara Battalion that occurred in Marga in Bali , Indonesia . Royal Dutch East Indies Army The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army ( Dutch : Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger ; KNIL , pronounced [knɪl] ; Indonesian : Tentara Kerajaan Hindia Belanda )
9108-672: 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
9207-436: 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
9306-569: Was largely outclassed by superior Japanese planes. The Royal Netherlands Navy Air Service, or MLD, also had significant forces in the NEI. During the Dutch East Indies campaign of 1941–42, by forces of the Empire of Japan, most of the KNIL and other Allied forces were quickly defeated. Most European soldiers, which in practice included all able bodied Indo-European males, were interned by
9405-420: 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
9504-558: Was not part of the Royal Netherlands Army , but a separate military arm specifically formed for service in the Netherlands East Indies . Its establishment coincided with the Dutch drive to expand colonial rule from the 17th century area of control to the far larger territories constituting the Dutch East Indies seventy years later. The KNIL was involved in many campaigns against indigenous groups in
9603-478: Was reported to be 60% to 40%. After the Aceh War, the enlistment of non-Dutch European troops ceased and the KNIL came to consist of Dutch regulars recruited in the Netherlands itself, Indonesians, Indos (Eurasians), and Dutch colonists living in the East Indies and undertaking their military service. In 1884 personnel strength was numbered at 13,492 European, 14,982 Indonesian, 96 African (though some sources put
9702-419: 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
9801-642: Was the military force maintained by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in its colony of the Dutch East Indies , in areas that are now part of Indonesia . The KNIL's air arm was the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force . Elements of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Government Navy were also stationed in the Netherlands East Indies. The KNIL was formed by royal decree on 14 September 1814. It
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