Kepings or Barongs

Ian · 27th May 2022, 05:05 AM

Rob,

I think one of the key points that xasterix was making is that the Maranao call all leaf-shaped blades keping. Thus, a traditional barung from the Sulu Archipelago, when dressed in Maranao style, would qualify as a keping in the Maranao dialect.

So we have barung (Sulu), keping (Maranao), badung (Palawan) to describe similar leaf-shaped blades from different regions of the Moro peoples. These regions also have distinctive local styles for hilts and scabbards that help distinguish them (most of the time). I'm sure we will find exceptions to this general classification, but it seems useful for the present time to help distinguish between the three forms.

RobT · 1st June 2022, 10:58 PM

Ian,

Sorry for the tardy reply. I believe you are correct in your assessment. In a way it's like the Uzbek pichok vs the Tajik kord. For my part (unless I have pretty much ironclad Maranao provenance), I think the best way forward is to call anything with a barong style hilt and blade a barong unless the blade or hilt differs markedly from standard.

Sincerely,
RobT

27th May 2022, 05:05 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,399	Rob, I think one of the key points that xasterix was making is that the Maranao call all leaf-shaped blades keping. Thus, a traditional barung from the Sulu Archipelago, when dressed in Maranao style, would qualify as a keping in the Maranao dialect. So we have barung (Sulu), keping (Maranao), badung (Palawan) to describe similar leaf-shaped blades from different regions of the Moro peoples. These regions also have distinctive local styles for hilts and scabbards that help distinguish them (most of the time). I'm sure we will find exceptions to this general classification, but it seems useful for the present time to help distinguish between the three forms. Last edited by Ian; 28th May 2022 at 01:15 AM.

1st June 2022, 10:58 PM	#2
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 550	Point Taken Ian, Sorry for the tardy reply. I believe you are correct in your assessment. In a way it's like the Uzbek pichok vs the Tajik kord. For my part (unless I have pretty much ironclad Maranao provenance), I think the best way forward is to call anything with a barong style hilt and blade a barong unless the blade or hilt differs markedly from standard. Sincerely, RobT