Weighing in...collecting from other cultures...

[Nathaniel]

Thanks guys for sharing your thoughts

I agree, we are only temporary custodians and regardless of our origin it is most respectful to help learn from each other, preserve and pass this on to future generations regardless of age, race, color or creed.

Very few of us are 100% anything I might add...scratch below the surface and you see all of our family roots are mix of tribes/ countries/denominations & religions that make in who we are today...so to come out with xenophobic/ xenocentric attitude is not much more than a farce.

It is interesting how attitudes change with time...I have been told from more than one source that there is a Thai belief that swords and even pictures of swords could bring conflict and disharmony to a home if displayed within so that explains some of why perhaps until recently they haven’t been valued by many folks…but this is changing as superstitions become less ‘believed’.

With regards to your comment that a weapon is not sacred, I would follow by saying that to a certain extend it maybe in other cultures. A weapon can be seen as both a item to protect oneself and ones family therefore giving a weapon a potential sacred status. As well life being viewed as sacred, something which can take a life may also be sacred. We see many weapons which have talisman that are not merely decorative but serve to protect the owner...this applies to both sacrificial knives, axes and other tools as well as weapons of warfare.

Just to throw out an example here is some pictures of K.Bancha off KRM of a sword blessing ceremony...







Philip reminded me though in Chinese culture it was old custom for a jian to be above the head of newborn crib...and later this evolved into a jian made of coins
http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=2583

This being said...I thought I would add a little humor in saying all animals are sacred too...Cows are sacred in the Hindu religion...and last week I saw a posting that in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the local Christian church was going to have a blessing of the animals....I didn't go...but I was told people brought their pets...including a bunny rabbit...bird, cat & dog...so all animals must be sacred too