20/10/2026
NUOVO LIBRO IN USCITA | NEW BOOK RELEASE!
Mystical Archipelagos - VOL. II
Invulnerability and Masculinity in Pencak Silat. Paradigms and Symbols of Martial Practices in the Malay Mystical World
🇬🇧 I am pleased to announce the release of the second volume in the Mystical Archipelagos series, a journey into the lesser-known dimensions of Southeast Asian martial traditions.
The book explores Ilmu Kebal, ritual invulnerability, and its relationship with masculinity, warrior identity and the sacred in the Malay mystical world.
Drawing on firsthand accounts, field research and historical and ethnographic sources, it investigates a world in which the body is not only an instrument of combat but also an expression of belonging, authority and spiritual power.
A journey through jawara, jago, silat gurus, initiation rituals and traditions that preserve a significant part of the Indonesian archipelago’s cultural heritage.
A book that goes beyond technique to explore the cultural and spiritual roots of Pencak Silat.
For the photographic session dedicated to this volume, I would like to thank the owners and staff of Bellamore for their warm hospitality.
Located in the historic Villa Saibante Monga 1623, in the heart of Valpolicella Classica, Bellamore is a place of elegance and beauty, where frescoes, ancient stonework and architectural details preserve the charm of the past, in harmony with the surrounding vineyard landscape.
IG: Bellamore Valpolicella
www.bellamore1623.com
You can find this and all my books: www.maxmorandini.com
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Captured by: in.mowo