The rencong is a small, easily concealed dagger with a curved blade, hilt and scabbard that echo the calligraphic shapes of an Islamic prayer. Designed as a weapon for Acehnese fighters close to five centuries ago, it flashes brightly through history as a symbol of Acehnese heroism in the face of Western colonization. Today, the power of the rencong is growing faint in the wake of modern instruments of war. A few people earn a living producing and selling imitation rencong as souvenirs. Ironically, the customers are mostly soldiers, posted from outside to quell the Acehnese struggle for self-determination.
FOR MY PEOPLE, THE ACEHNESE, THE reuncong or rincongÂcalled rencong in Indonesianis an unparalleled symbol of honor and greatness. This can be seen in the tradition for welcoming guests: the adat (customary) village elder will slip a small rencong into the waistband of the guest as a token of respect for the visitor and a sign of the hosts feeling of being honored by the visit. When important officials come to Aceh, they are given special rencong as mementos. For example, in 1998, Amien Rais, head of the MPR (Indonesian National Peoples Consultative Assembly) was given an heirloom rencong that once belonged to the respected ulama (Muslim religious leader), Tengku Muhammad Daud Beureueh. Appointed governor of the new province of Aceh by Sukarno in 1949, Daud Beureueh later supported the Darul Islam (House of Islam) movement for an Islamic state and led a rebellion, declaring Acehs independence, which began in 1953 and took years to crush. This gift of a weapon used by an old fighter of the Old Order to a new leader of the reformation government was charged with political meaningan act that could be read as a signal of Acehs willingness to seek a peaceful relationship with the new Indonesian regime.
The history of the rencong is inseparable from the story of the struggle of the people of Aceh against foreign occupation. As a kingdom of great military power in the Malay world from the 16th through the 19th centuries, Aceh produced and consumed great quantities of weapons, including all sorts of swords and daggers and knives, used for ceremonial and everyday purposes as well as war.
FOR MY PEOPLE, THE ACEHNESE, THE reuncong or rincongÂcalled rencong in Indonesianis an unparalleled symbol of honor and greatness. This can be seen in the tradition for welcoming guests: the adat (customary) village elder will slip a small rencong into the waistband of the guest as a token of respect for the visitor and a sign of the hosts feeling of being honored by the visit. When important officials come to Aceh, they are given special rencong as mementos. For example, in 1998, Amien Rais, head of the MPR (Indonesian National Peoples Consultative Assembly) was given an heirloom rencong that once belonged to the respected ulama (Muslim religious leader), Tengku Muhammad Daud Beureueh. Appointed governor of the new province of Aceh by Sukarno in 1949, Daud Beureueh later supported the Darul Islam (House of Islam) movement for an Islamic state and led a rebellion, declaring Acehs independence, which began in 1953 and took years to crush. This gift of a weapon used by an old fighter of the Old Order to a new leader of the reformation government was charged with political meaningan act that could be read as a signal of Acehs willingness to seek a peaceful relationship with the new Indonesian regime.
The history of the rencong is inseparable from the story of the struggle of the people of Aceh against foreign occupation. As a kingdom of great military power in the Malay world from the 16th through the 19th centuries, Aceh produced and consumed great quantities of weapons, including all sorts of swords and daggers and knives, used for ceremonial and everyday purposes as well as war.
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