Well if we move from Australia and make the same statement in another country and culture, then in fact it would be true. In Indonesia one such dagger, the Kris, is considered a spiritual object as well as a weapon whose essence encompasses good luck for its owner. This essence is so highly regarded in Indonesian society that the Kris can serve as a legitimate, intangible, though temporary, substitute for the lucky man!

Being the consumer society that we are here in Australia we seem more concerned with things tangible things that we can touch, see and feel, like the new model car, boat, the latest appliance or mobile phone - you know, the things that one can show off with. I mean you can't show off the essence of an intangible thing, now can you? Yet intangible things make up part of the world cultural heritage but I wonder how many of us are aware of it?

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) created the World Heritage List so that tangible objects (eg: The Great Barrier Reef, The Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China etc.) could be saved and preserved as part of humankind's cultural heritage and hopefully spared from being razed to the ground by those to whom 'cultural heritage' means nothing when there's a profit to be made.

UNESCO in its wisdom then turned its attention to identifying, what they coined, Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It began in 2001 with 19 items. In 2003 another 28 items were added and the list is growing. In 2005 UNESCO identified the Kris of Indonesia with this title.

Intangible Cultural Heritage (or ICH) includes things like songs, skills, crafts, music, things that can be recorded but not touched or interacted with.  You cannot see 'skill' but you see its end product. You can't see or touch 'music' but you can hear it. Although you can most definitely touch and hold the Kris its physicality is not what UNESCO identified but rather its essence and what it stands for.

Looking at the updated list of items on ICH I see that Australia isn't on the list. How does one get on the list? Well any country can nominate an item and they can be supported by other countries. Any suggestions? I reckon because of its relevance in the life and culture of Indigenous Australians that we nominate the Didgeridoo (the skill in playing it, that is.) If you have other suggestions, let me know. If we get a decent selection I'll forward them on your behalf to our government in Canberra for their consideration.

In the meantime have a look at The Kris of Life and see if it kick-starts your imagination!