About The Program
Enigmatic Malaysia - Keris: The Myth & Magic
20-Aug-2009, 10:00:00 PM
Genre: Documentary
Language: English

Weapons have played one of the most important roles in human history. from the longbows of the British to the long range of the canons of the Ottomans and the ´nihonto´ (swords) of the Japanese samurai. For the people of the Malay Archipelago, the Keris, an asymmetrical dagger, represents more than just its effectiveness in battle. Each Keris is seen as a living object. a conduit to another realm, and thereby bestowing its owner with ´supernatural´ powers. Come on a journey and discover the mysterious world of kings and warriors. of heroes and villains. of myth and legend. Learn how a ´special´ keris blade is created, and listen to the unique stories and beliefs of a distinctive culture. Today, the Keris stands as a symbol of peace, wisdom and justice to the modern Malays. Your path of discovery begins here.

The term keris had a Javanese origin, although the etymology is uncertain. The term "keris" may have originated from the old [FONT="Times New Roman"]Javanese word ngiris which means "to slab", "to wedge" or "to sliver." Kris is a European rendering of this Javanese term.