Before the gun was invented,
the dagger and sword were generally regarded as the most used weapons in the
medieval world. The keris, also spelt and pronounced as crease, creese, kreese
and kris is synonymous with Malay culture.Keris blades have existed for
thousands of years, yet many are uninitiated in regard to the fascinating
history of these highly collectable and sought after blades. Keris blades
are indigenous to Malaysia, Indonesia and the southern Philippines. They are similar
in reverence to the natives of these countries as Samuri swords are to Japanese
natives. In past, the purpose of this creation are for self-defence and
symbolizes our social status. There a lot of type of this traditional weapon
such as Keris Bali, Keris Sajen, Keris Sumatera, Keris Bugis and others. Many
functions are attributed to the keris, first and foremost as a double edged
stabbing weapon, secondly as a symbol of social status and thirdly as a
talisman for protection. It was also used as an execution device, for various
ceremonies and rituals, and as an object of reverence, and was widely believed
to possess supernatural powers.
Each has its own characteristics and a staright or a wavy blade.
Each has its own characteristics and a staright or a wavy blade.
Abdul Mazin bin
Abdul Jamil, the Keris Maker and also a father of 12 children.
Currently stays at Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar, Perak. He started to
make Keris from his late father, Allahyarham Abdul Jamil Pandak Lam Pandak
Yunus. He has been making this traditional weapon when he was 12 years old by
using wood. Immediately after that, he learned how to forge the blade of the
Keris in the same age of his. Furthermore, he is also the 4th generation
in the making of this masterpiece. His son, Saiful Hazrin Abdl Mazin, 26 also
admire and want to persue into this traditional weapon since he was a kid. In
addition, he also plays an important role as the next legacy of Tukang Mamat.
One of his accomplishment and recognition of his perfectionist manner when
doing something is he had given a full responsible by Istana Nega in Perak to
create 25 Keris for the Royal Coronation Day of Tuanku Abdul Halim, Yang
Dipertuan- Agong 14th in the 80’s. He usually makes 3 units of
Keris in a month in order to make a perfect and exclusive for the buyer to
purchase.
"IT'S NOT EASY AS
IT SAYS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KNOW EVERY INCH OF THE CREATION AND HOW TO HANDLE
IT PROPERLY"
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With
the person who is in charge, Pakcik Mazin
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Some
of his acheivement and recognition
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To make a
high-quality of Keris, the maker itself need to be aware of “7pa”. Basically “7
pa”is a combination of 7 type of steel which is consists of Paku, Pisau Pahat,
Putting, Pencebak and Pagar. These steel will be burn and will be thinned and
tied up by a wire steel until it melts and eventually will form into one piece
of solid steel. This procees couldn’t take for a granted since it is a crucial
process in order to make a valuable and hiqh- quality one. The blade must
consist of two parts, which is blade itself and the Ganja and it will be form
parts of base of the blade. The average of creating of this traditional weapon
approximately takes one and a half weeks depends on which types of the buyer
wants. After this Keris Smith done creating on that piece o solid steel,
various chemicals such as oils and vinegar were used by Pakcik Mazin to create
pattern on the blade. The more elaborate the pattern, the more desirable the
Keris become. The handle or also known as Hulu in Malaysia’s national language
will be carved smoothly by him by the piece of wood that have been carved
first. Usually for the handle part, he will be using Ganja’s wood because that
wood is very rare to find these days.
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Some
of his collection.
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The
minimum’s price that he was been sold was from RM1,000 until RM5,000 depends on
what type, size and the quality of the keris that has been ordered by the
customer. There are also a bunch of student from Universiti Teknologi Mara
(UiTM) went here for practical training for 4 months. His achievement also had
been published in some popular newspaper such as Kosmo and Utusan Malaysia.
His
story also been publish in one of the famous travel channel in Youtube, which
is Go Asean.
