The Malay Keris: Artistry in Iron

The storied Malay keris, with its sinuous, serpentine blade, is an example of craftsmanship that shades into art. Working with bars of iron, blacksmiths forged blades according to prescribed configurations, and used their metalworking skills to create damascene patterns on their surfaces. The hilt and sheath of a keris are themselves works of art.

According to tradition, the physical dimensions of a keris determined its value as a weapon. Moreover, Malay literary texts imbued certain keris with special powers that make them especially effective in combat.

Once routinely carried in the Malay world for ceremonial purposes and as a weapon, the keris has become a cultural artefact. Museum holdings, private collections, and the regalia of the Sultans contain notable examples, and it retains a role on ceremonial occasions.

Most of the articles in this volume first appeared in the Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. The authors discuss the place of the keris in Malay society, its origins and manufacture, and beliefs associated with it. In a newly-penned introductory essay that accompanies this volume, Datuk Prof Emeritus Ahmat Adam highlights references to the keris and other weapons in classic Malay literature.