Thunderstones (and Touchstones) in Asian Tradition

TheĀ krisĀ orĀ kerisĀ is anĀ JavaneseĀ asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron (pamor). The kris consists of three parts; blade (wilah), hilt (hulu) and sheath (warangka) Tantri Yuliandini (April 18, 2002).Ā “Kris, more than just a simple dagger”.Ā The Jakarta Post. Archived fromĀ the originalĀ on 29 July 2014. RetrievedĀ 30 JulyĀ 2014.

In Burma they are used as a cure and preventative forĀ appendicitis.

In Japan they cure boils and ulcers.

In Malaysia and Sumatra they are used to sharpen theĀ kris, are considered very lucky objects, and have been credited with beingĀ touchstonesĀ for gold.

  • Leach, Maria. “”Flint”.” Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend. 3rd ed. New York, New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1972. Print.

AĀ touchstoneĀ is a small tablet of dark stone such asĀ slateĀ orĀ lydite, used forĀ assayingĀ precious metalĀ alloys. It has a finely grained surface on which softĀ metalsĀ leave a visible trace. Drawing a line with gold on a touchstone will leave a visible trace. Because different alloys of gold have different colours (seeĀ gold), the unknown sample can be compared to samples of known purity. This method has been used since ancient times.Ā 

  • “Touchstone”.Ā Oxford English Dictionary. RetrievedĀ 10 MarchĀ 2013.

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