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Saturday, August 16, 2008

The Kris


Hi everyone, I am ZhiHao. I am going to share with you share with you a book -The Kris written by Edward Frey.
Introduction
The kris is a distinctive weapon or the Malay world. There are many different type of krises. Typically, the kris is an elongated dagger or short sword with of slender proportions with a blade of rough textures sharpened on both ends. The blade may be sinuous or straight and is often damascened with beautiful patterns forged into the steel.
The Magic and the Power of the Kris
The history of the kris abounds with stories of its magic powers. Many stories are told of krises that are slew by the mere act of being pointed at the victim. This is much a superstitious lore, and the Malays in particular believed in a form of magic called tuju. With appropriate incantations, and the deliberate pointing of a finger, human bone or kris at a person could bring bad luck or disaster upon him. Some of the old magic krises were credited with having strong wills, an animus, of their own. One kris kept on display in the museum at Taiping in Malaysia would thirst for blood, sneak away after dark, kill someone, wash and wipe itself and return to its showcase in secret.
The Kris as Cultural Talisman
For the past hundred years or forty years in some parts of the Malay world, the kris has ceased to be worn for personal protection. Because of the presence of the Dutch and English in South-East Asia from the seventeenth century onwards, the need or right to carry a weapon gradually fell into abeyance. The Western colonizers gradually impose their own laws and controls upon the native society. Throughout this process the kris has been retained in ceremonial as a symbol of the heritage it represents.
The deadly Kris
For all the magic, and mysticism and ritual associated with the kris, it was for the first few hundred years of its existence, primarily a weapon of defence and sudden assault. The very smallness of the weapon, fitted as it was with a bent-over or pistol-like grip, made it a perfect stabbing instrument. It was easy to make a straight line thrust to the belly or kidney of a victim while the elboe was bent. This made it effective in confined space and no doubt contributed to its reputation as a weapon of ill repute.
The Kris and Its Blade
The blade is the most important part of any sword. The kris is forged by a technique known as ‘pattern welding’-one in which two or more layers of different steels were pounded together while red-hot, folded or twisted, pounded more and folded more until the desired number of layers, or laminae, were obtained. The rough sword blade so achieved was then filed and polished smooth and finally acid-etched to bring out the contrasting colours of the low and high carbon steels.
The Sheath, Hilt and Fittings
The Javanese say that a kris should be drawn from its sheath carefully and with respect. It should be replaced in the same manner and thus kept from harm and abuse. The sheath of a kris is usually light in weight and not very sturdy. The wood itself is often selected for is ornamental appeal rather than for its strength. However, kris sheaths cannot be considered flimsy as they all seem to be fitted together well. In addition, they are carried in a wide band or sash close to the body, which manner surely offers adequate protection to the sheath and its contents.



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