original_query: What is the significance of the kris or keris in Indonesian and Malay culture?
query: What is the significance of the kris or keris in Indonesian and Malay culture?
answer: The kris is a significant cultural symbol in Indonesia and Malaysia, serving as both a weapon and a spiritual object.  It holds symbolic meaning related to heroism, power, authority, and refinement, and is often associated with magical powers and is passed down through generations as a sacred heirloom.