KERIS SI GINJAI

According to legend, the keris Si Ginjai originally belonged to the Orang Kaya Hitam (literally, ‘rich black man’) the forefather of the Jambi people. Because the Orang Kaya Hitam, dared to refuse to pay tribute to the Majapahit kingdom, the king sent an assassin to have him killed with his keris. A man of great strength and power, Orang Kaya Hitam managed to grab and take possession of the weapon, which saved his life. The Majapahit ruler eventually relented, bestowing the land of Jambi and, declaring his exemption from the obligation to pay tribute, and even gave Orang Kaya Hitam one of his daughters, to wed. Orang Kaya Hitam took his Javanese bride to Jambi and, to make the keris even more beautiful, asked an artisan to add five more curves (luk) to the blade, and to further embellish it with a dragon's head. Orang Kaya Hitam would wear this keris as a hair decoration, which is the reason for the Si Ginjai name, which derives from the word gunjai, the name for a hair ornament. Ever since, the Si Ginjai keris has been part of the coronation ceremonies for all successive Jambi rulers who, to signify their ascent to the Sultan's position, would wear the piece on the front of their belts.