Travelholic: Keris Taming Sari - Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery, Perak

Keris Taming Sari

(Taming Sari Dagger)

Everyone knew the famous and legendary dagger or keris as what we Malaysia calls it.

And this keris in particular – Keris Taming Sari is almost a must know by all Malaysia.

Legend says that it is owned by Malaccan warrior Hang Tuah. The frequently told story is that keris Taming Sari would and could leap out of sheath on its own and attack the assailant, its mystical power as well as Hang Tuah and four comrades Hang Kasturi, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu bravery is highly respected are known in the whole Malay archipelago.

Despite Hang Tuah being a Malay folklore, the keris actually exist and it made of 21 different types of metal, its wooden part (or sampir in Malay) as well as the lower part of the wooden sheath is covered in gold leaf. Keris Taming Sari is categorised as keris terapang gabus. Keris terapang gabus comes from keris panjang which is the highest stature amongst the keris family, it is ONLY used by kings and royal court officials. The differentiation is that kering terapung gabus is a gold plated keris panjang. Wielded by Javanese blacksmith; the champion of Majapahit - pendekar named Taming Sari of which the keris got its name.

The question is how Keris Taming Sari ended in Perak, in Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery?

Sultan Mahmud of Malacca passed the keris together with other royal regalia his son Muzaffar Shah, later became the Sultan of Perak. This was during Portuguese invasion of Malacca in 1511 which led to Sultan Mahmud retreating to Sumatra. The Keris Taming Sari is still being kept in Perak ever since 1528.

According to Puan Nor Janati Ibrahim; Perak Museum Director it is the original keris Taming Sari and not a replica as claimed by some. The famous Keris Taming Sari exhibition will be held every year during the sultan’s birthday in June at Gallery Sultan Azlan Shah, this is where and when the public can view the legendary keris Taming Sari. The exhibition usually last for one week.

Aside from keris Taming Sari, Sultan Azlan Shah also house memorabilia items and personal belongings of Sultan Perak. Aside from memorabilia, there is a separate building displaying the state cars and patrol cars used during Sultan Azlan Shah's travels.

The Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery was originally built as the residence of Perak Sultan Idris Shah I in 1898, it was later reconstructed to turn it into a gallery in 2001 and was completed in 2003. Resembling the National Palace, Ipoh High Court and Ipoh railway station architecture, however in 1957, this building was turned into a school, known as Sekolah Kebangsaan Istana Kota before converting it into what it is now, this majestic gallery.