Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 7th March 2016, 01:04 PM

Salaams All Tibetan weapons must be one of the most difficulot subjects in our entire ensemble thus I note how well this thread examines this extraordinary subject . I offer this from https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tb...tbar.htmSwords

Quote."Swords were the primary handheld weapons in Tibet from at least the seventh up to the early twentieth century. In addition to their utilitarian function, they could also be clear indicators of rank and status, based on their quality or amount of decoration. In some situations, such as among the Khampa tribesmen of eastern Tibet, the sword was an essential part of male dress and still remains an important element of traditional attire. The sword also has rich symbolic significance within Tibetan Buddhism, particularly as the Sword of Wisdom, which represents the ability to cut through spiritual ignorance, and is an important attribute of many deities, such as Manjushri.

Many Tibetan swords are distinguished by light and dark lines that make a hairpin-shaped pattern visible on the surface of the blade (36.25.1464). This was formed by combining harder and softer iron, referred to as “male iron” and female iron” in traditional Tibetan texts, which was folded, nested together, and forged into one piece in a blade-making technique called pattern welding. The hilts are often made of engraved silver set with coral or turquoise, or in some rare instances are intricately chiseled and pierced in iron that is damascened in gold and silver (1995.136)".Unquote.

See also http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/13/ar...armo.html?_r=0

https://books.google.com.om/books?id...eapons&f=false

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

7th March 2016, 01:04 PM	#13
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams All Tibetan weapons must be one of the most difficulot subjects in our entire ensemble thus I note how well this thread examines this extraordinary subject . I offer this from https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tb...tbar.htmSwords Quote."Swords were the primary handheld weapons in Tibet from at least the seventh up to the early twentieth century. In addition to their utilitarian function, they could also be clear indicators of rank and status, based on their quality or amount of decoration. In some situations, such as among the Khampa tribesmen of eastern Tibet, the sword was an essential part of male dress and still remains an important element of traditional attire. The sword also has rich symbolic significance within Tibetan Buddhism, particularly as the Sword of Wisdom, which represents the ability to cut through spiritual ignorance, and is an important attribute of many deities, such as Manjushri. Many Tibetan swords are distinguished by light and dark lines that make a hairpin-shaped pattern visible on the surface of the blade (36.25.1464). This was formed by combining harder and softer iron, referred to as “male iron” and female iron” in traditional Tibetan texts, which was folded, nested together, and forged into one piece in a blade-making technique called pattern welding. The hilts are often made of engraved silver set with coral or turquoise, or in some rare instances are intricately chiseled and pierced in iron that is damascened in gold and silver (1995.136)".Unquote. See also http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/13/ar...armo.html?_r=0 https://books.google.com.om/books?id...eapons&f=false Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi.