Balinese Life
Kris, An Ancient Weapon, and Modern Attraction

Dynamic and rhythmical Barong and Kris dances are performed regularly everyday at stages around Denpasar and Batubulan. Travel agents offer this attraction to travelers as a starter program before resuming the city tour in the morning. At the climax of the storyline, a group of men in half costume impressively stab themselves by kris dagger in a tranced condition. This is the most amazing scene of the show.

Kris is a famous dagger with a wavy-edged blade and popular in Malaysia and Indonesia. In terms of its shape, kris’s vary from one region to another throughout Indonesia, either in its wavy-edge (luk), handgrip or accessories. The maker of kris is known as empu. He is not only an expert at metallurgy but also at mysticism. In history, a famous kris maker was Empu Gandring who lived during the reign of Tunggul Ametung in Tumapel Kingdom (in East Java) in the 13th century. In past times, kris’s were mostly used as personal weapons. In the bitter war of Puputan Badung, myriads of Balinese warriors struggled all out by using kris other than bamboo spears against the Dutch troops to maintain their beloved fatherland, the Badung Kingdom.
The making of kris in Bali needs to pass trough a long process. Apart from selecting the best quality material, the kris maker should as well choose the auspicious day when starting the process. When the making has been completed, a ritual procession is held to appeal for divine power to reside on the kris. It is expected that the kris will have better quality and give better protection to its owner.
Today, kris’s are no more used as real weapons. However, it remains to be employed as ritual paraphernalia with other traditional weapons like spears, tridents and so forth. A Hindu Balinese bridegroom affixes a kris on the upper back at his wedding ceremony. Why on the back? It’s meant to show politeness. Never does one behave offensively. One of its functions is to symbolize protection, as the ceremony is an important personal and official event. Similarly, the traditional security task force or pecalang always brings it along when on duty. This can be seen when they are in charge of several customary-related rituals like temple festivals, rites of the lifecycle and so forth.
Balians or traditional healers in Bali sometimes apply a kris as a medium in their healing practice. But, kris’s for this purpose usually are of smaller and shorter form and are obtained through solemn meditation or paica (divinely bestowed gift). Meanwhile, some players in the arja operetta also affix kris’s on their backs. It also functions as a personal protection based on the character they play.
Kris form a part of a family heirloom where every generation should look after them continuously. Every Tumpek Landep (210 days) in the Balinese calendar system, the family performs a ritual to these kinds of weapon and other tools commonly used in obtaining livelihood. This ritual is dedicated to Hyang Pasupati, manifestation of God that believed to give power quality to every tool. (BTN/Wy Punia)