A Study of Ethical Values in the Lombok Keris within the Traditional Values of the Sasak Ethnic

Abstract

This study aims to examine the Lombok keris as a medium of traditional ethical education within the Sasak cultural community. A qualitative method with an ethnographic approach was employed to understand the symbolic meanings and values embedded in the keris based on participatory observation, in-depth interviews, as well as documentation of traditional ceremonies and community practices. The findings indicate that the Lombok keris embodies ethical values such as courage, responsibility, purity, honor, balance, and harmony. These values are transmitted through oral traditions within families, the roles of customary leaders, and community involvement in rituals and ceremonies. Beyond being a material artifact, the keris functions as a pedagogical tool that shapes the character and cultural awareness of younger generations. However, modernization and the pressures of globalization have driven a transformation in the keris’s meaning, shifting it from an ethical symbol to a decorative object and cultural commodity. This situation poses challenges to the preservation of its inherent values. The conclusion of this study emphasizes the necessity of an adaptive and participatory approach in maintaining the keris’s function as a medium for ethical education, through the integration of local values into contemporary cultural learning spaces.