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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 817719, member: 2844&quot;]It is not a keris, but a related spiritual symbol. It is a Tibetan representation of the flaming sword of Manjushri.</p><p>Manjushri is the Boddhisattva of insight. A Boddhisattva is an aspect of the Buddha.</p><p><br /></p><p>The sword is a symbol that ignorance and duality are cut down by insight.</p><p>Duality in this case means the concept of good v. evil. In enlightenment good and evil are replaced by an all encompassing higher awareness. When that awareness becomes the essence of a person, it can be represented by the flaming sword.</p><p><br /></p><p>I hope I explained that well.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The Vajra/Dorje on top of the hilt is a symbol of the way enlightement can be reached. The mythical animal is a Makara, it is there to protect the sword.</p><p>These hilts are seen on many Himalayan ceremonial daggers, also ones that are centuries old.</p><p><br /></p><p>Tibetan Manjushri, note the Dorje finial on the hilt:</p><p><img src="https://s14-eu5.startpage.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthumbs.dreamstime.com%2Fz%2Fgold-bronze-tibetan-manjushri-buddha-statue-holding-sword-tibet-temple-gild-cloisonne-manjusri-kwan-yin-buddh-128295587.jpg&amp;sp=251f687bad5a051fca7c3e50ae94ca53" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Manjushri swords are intended for ceremonial dances, most are straight:</p><p><img src="https://s14-eu5.startpage.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F1c%2F1f%2Fa8%2F1c1fa864cc46a296743fe11a5bd3fd61.jpg&amp;sp=6de23166dcc246231ee36206e2321980" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Yours has nice natural wear on the bronze. Please don&#039;t ever melt it.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie66" alt=":nailbiting:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Just de-rust it.</p><p>The shape of is unusual, but ceremonial daggers of various shapes abound in Asia.</p><p>It reminds me of a West Javanese kujang rather than a keris. Like my ceremonial Kujang Siliwangi, full of symbolism in shape and Islamic texts:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]192598[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>About the Islamic texts on an item with pre-Islamic roots, that is typical for Javanese/Madurese syncretism, the acceptance and blending together of different spiritual traditions. When something is good, it is good whatever your nominal faith is.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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