Keris daggers, used as deadly weapons centuries ago, are now collector's items and heirlooms in Indonesia passed down from generation to generation. Believed to have magical powers, these daggers are forged by empus, masters of their craft, and some take months to complete because of the rituals and time-consuming steps involved. But the number of empus in the country is dwindling, and the government is trying to get more young people involved in the dying art form. A new keris culture study program was established at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Surakarta, and one of the country's most famous empus, Subandi Suponingrat, was recruited to help train new recruits — including his own son. MORE STILL STANDING VIDEOS: 12 Fascinating Jobs Done By Women Around The World | Still Standing | Business Insider Marathon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTThCI8WsOY How One Of The Oldest Forms Of BBQ Is Preserved By One Mayan Chef | Still Standing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFfBh1PJrP0 How Judaism's Most Sacred Prayer Object Is Made With 3000-Year-Old Techniques | Still Standing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OYxADDluNI ------------------------------------------------------ #indonesia #keris #businessinsider Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: https://www.businessinsider.com/ Business Insider on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/businessinsider Business Insider on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insiderbusiness Business Insider on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/businessinsider Business Insider on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Business_Insider/5319643143 Business Insider on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessinsider How 1,200-Year-Old Keris Daggers Tradition Is Fighting To Survive | Still Standing