# Rudus

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Klewang sword

Rudus A rudus displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art shows a style distinctive to the region of northern Sumatra inhabited by the Aceh and Pakpak people. Type Klewang sword Place of origin Indonesia (Sumatra) Service history Used by Malay people Specifications Hilt type Wood Scabbard/sheath Wood

A **Rudus** is a sword or cutlass associated with the [Malay culture of Sumatra](/source/Malay_people). Together with the *pemandap*, the rudus is among the largest swords of Malay people. Rudus is also a symbol of certain Malay state in the Island, e.g. the Province of [Bengkulu](/source/Bengkulu) in [Sumatra](/source/Sumatra), [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia).[1]

## Description

The rudus is associated with the Islamic [Malay culture](/source/Malay_culture). It is found to be more common in Sumatra than in the Malay peninsula. Together with the pemandap, the rudus is considered to be a symbol of the Sumatran Malay culture. The [Acehnese people](/source/Acehnese_people) and the Malay of [Bengkulu](/source/Bengkulu) are recorded to have the rudus as their cultural identity. Rudus is also found in the Malay [Banjar people](/source/Banjar_people) of [South Kalimantan](/source/South_Kalimantan), where it was an official traditional weapon of the province of South Kalimantan, together with the [kuduk](/source/Kuduk).[1]

In the Islamic period of Indonesia, the island of Sumatra was divided into multiple small sultanates that were at war with each other. The province of [Bengkulu](/source/Bengkulu) in South Sumatra alone had many sultanates, among the sultanates were the Sultanate of Sungai Serut, Selebar, Pat Petulai, Balai Buntar, Sungai Lemau, Sekiris, Gedung Agung and Marau Riang. These warring sultanate states would equip their warriors with weapons e.g. the [badik](/source/Badik), rambai ayam and rudus. Rudus was also used in the ceremony of the election of the datuk, the chief of the [adat](/source/Adat).[2]

During the colonial period, rudus was used by the natives as a form of resistance toward the colonial government. Because of this romanticized patriotic notion of using the rudus to rise against the oppressor, the rudus is featured in the seal of the [Bengkulu](/source/Bengkulu) province to symbolize heroism.[2]

## Form

The seal of the province of [Bengkulu](/source/Bengkulu) features two rudus.

The rudus consists of the *mata* (literally "eyes", the blade), the *ulu* ("hilt"), and the *sarung* ("sheath").[2]

The rudus is often inscribed with [Jawi script](/source/Jawi_alphabet) at certain parts of the sword, usually at the blade or at the hilt. The Jawi script is a kind of Perso-Arabic alphabet that was used for writing the Malay language, especially by the [Acehnese](/source/Acehnese_people), [Banjarese](/source/Banjar_people), and [Minangkabau](/source/Minangkabau_people). The maker of the rudus sword would carve the date of the completion of the sword, as well as his name and his village of origin. In some cases, however, the inscription indicated the date of the re-decoration of the blade. A rudus kept in the [Metropolitan Museum of Art](/source/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) has inscription which identifies that the artist came from a village in Peninsular Malaysia, however the shape of the decoration is not endemic to the Peninsular Malaysia, but more to the northern Sumatran region which is inhabited by the [Aceh](/source/Acehnese_people) and [the Batak Pakpak people](/source/Pakpak_people). This indicates that the rudus was brought from Sumatra to neighboring Malaysia to be redecorated.[3]

Inscriptions can be written on the blade or on the hilt. The Metropolitan Museum of Art example has the inscriptions inlaid with gold. Some chose to carve it on its wooden hilt.[3]

The rudus is carried slung at the side.

## See also

- [Indonesia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Indonesia)

- [Co Jang](/source/Co_Jang)

- [Surik (sword)](/source/Surik_(sword))

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTENewbold1839212_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTENewbold1839212_1-1) [Newbold 1839](#CITEREFNewbold1839), p. 212.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-beng_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-beng_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-beng_2-2) ["5 Senjata Tradisional Bengkulu"](http://www.kamerabudaya.com/2017/05/inilah-5-senjata-tradisional-dari-bengkulu.html) [Five Traditional Weapon of Bengkulu]. *Kamera Budaya* (in Indonesian). Kamera Budaya. 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-met_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-met_3-1) ["Sword (Rudus) and Scabbard"](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/662961). *The Metropolitan Museum of Art*. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2017.

## Cited works

- Newbold, T.J. (1839). [*Political and Statistical Account of the British Settlements in the Straits of Malacca*](https://books.google.com/books?id=RMcNAAAAQAAJ). Oxford University.

v t e Indonesian traditional weapons, armors, and premodern gunpowder-based weapons Traditional weapon Swords (Pedang) & cutlasses (Klewang) Alamang Amanremu Balato Bara Sangihe Belida Co Jang Dua Lalan Gari Hemola Jenawi Krai Silai Ladieng Langgai tinggang Luwuk Mandau Moso Niabor Pakayun Pandat Parang nabur Penai Piso Halasan Piso Sanalenggam Rudus Rugi Sikin Panyang Sundang Surik Daggers (Belati) & knives (Pisau) Badik Dohong Kris Keris bahari Patrem Kujang Pasatimpo Palitai Peurawot Pisau raut Pisuwe Rencong Sewar Si Euli Tappi Tumbok Lada Wamilo Choppers (Parang) & machetes (Golok) Bendo Blakas Buko Guma Golok Ciomas Golok Rembau Jimpul Kabeala Kandawulo Kudi Parang Chandong Parang Latok Parang Taawu Peda Tangkin Wedung Impact weapons Cabang Gada Indan Pole or spear weapons Arbir Bambu runcing Bessing Kawali Lembing Pantu Trisula Flexible weapons Cambuk Miscellaneous weapons Celurit Kerambit Salukat Sumpit Tolor Gunpowder weapon Firearm Bedil Bedil tombak Istinggar Java arquebus Pemuras Terakul Cannon Cetbang Ekor lotong Lantaka Lela Miniature meriam kecil By name Anak Makassar Bujang Timpang Berang Ki Amuk Si Jagur Armor and outfit Shield Baluse Cakalele Kanta Klebit Bok Kliau Kurabit Peurise Awe Peurise Teumaga Salawaku Body armor Baju Empurau Baju Lamina Baju Rantai Baru Lema'a Baru Öröba Karambalangan Kawaca Siping-siping Helmet Katapu Paseki Takula tofao Category Traditional weapons Weapons of pencak silat

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rudus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.