Mandau (knife)
Encyclopedia
Mandau, also known as Parang, is the traditional weapon of the Dayak people
of Borneo. Mandau is mostly ceremonial, however, a less elaborate version is used as an everyday practical tool.
Associated with the Headhunting
Ceremony, where people would gather to attack other tribes, and gather heads to be used in various festivities, mandau is both a work of art in itself and a formidable weapon.
The blade is mostly made of tempered metals, with exquisite vineworks and inlaid brass
. The hilt is made from animal horns, such as deer
's horns, although some variations with human bones and fragrant wood also have been found. Both the hilt and scabbard are elaborately carved and plumed. Details of carvings vary from tribe to tribe, but mostly depict creatures or, if human bones were used, anthropomorphic deities.
Dayak people
The Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...
of Borneo. Mandau is mostly ceremonial, however, a less elaborate version is used as an everyday practical tool.
Associated with the Headhunting
Headhunting
Headhunting is the practice of taking a person's head after killing them. Headhunting was practised in historic times in parts of China, India, Nigeria, Nuristan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Borneo, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Micronesia, Melanesia, New Zealand, and the Amazon Basin, as...
Ceremony, where people would gather to attack other tribes, and gather heads to be used in various festivities, mandau is both a work of art in itself and a formidable weapon.
The blade is mostly made of tempered metals, with exquisite vineworks and inlaid brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
. The hilt is made from animal horns, such as deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
's horns, although some variations with human bones and fragrant wood also have been found. Both the hilt and scabbard are elaborately carved and plumed. Details of carvings vary from tribe to tribe, but mostly depict creatures or, if human bones were used, anthropomorphic deities.