Tipologi hulu keris tradisi

Abstract

Traditional carving on Malaysian territory covers all aspects of life from architecture, furniture, agricultural tools, fishing equipment and personal items. In general, the type of carving, especially the architecture has a lot to say. Previous research includes understanding the types of carving, patent, and motives. However, engraved personal use items not examined in detail, including the keris. Expertise of artisans who carved the keris hilts are slowly decreasing which make the subject very important to be studied. This study highlights the keris hilts by giving a new typology for the classification. 1919 sample of keris hilts found around this region become a source and example of the study. It takes into account the nature of the classification from basic form leading to ‘bangunan’ and material of the hilt. The typology is based from the appearance of a human figure and a demon form. In zoomorphic form there are three major grouping of animals and birds that made a symbol of keris hilt. Characteristic of the bird is also categorized in the same group. Another group known as the utility is also categorized. There are some hilts which have combination characteristics of a particular group. These hilts are grouped according to their shape and are referred to as hybrid form. From four types of hybrid put forward, there are two small sub-group used as a hybrid. Each group was studied by a sketch for a typical identity. This sketch is a method used to find a typology that led to each group. There were variations in the hilt typology and a typical classification of each group is represented on a chart of 40 typical hilts. Distribution of the three groups is in accordance with changes in appearance from the original shape to some abstract and the full abstract as in the zoomorphic form. Most of the hilts categorized taking into account these factors. With this new typology each group were given details according to appearance of the form. The uniqueness of the hilts covers materials used and the type of decorative engraving the surface. New typology helps facilitate to identify the other types of hilts. This study successfully produced two diagrams that help to determine the existence of the type of hilts from the southern province of Asia such as Thailand, Java, Sumatra and other islands of Indonesia. The second diagram is to facilitate the reading of a new typology for the classification of the hilts based on Asian region.