Thai daab/katana fusion

[DhaDha]

Really, really nice. Really.

[wilked aka Khun Deng]

As Mark mentions there was quite the Japanese influence in Thailand. Should you get the chance check out the Grand Palace in Bangkok as you enter there is another section that will cost you few extra baht to enter, but well worth the investment. It house much of the Royal jewelry, arms and insignia. It was there through and interview with a guard that I learned about the different royal ranks and who could what (enamel, copper, silver, gold, jewels) on their accouterments. Apparently there were court rules that governed all of this - never did find a copy.

But you've got to stop by the armory - dha galore - and surprisingly keris also. But the one part that stuck in mind and has to do with what Mark is talking about here was a small sign near, what I thought was, a katana. Mentioned that in 1660 (I think) a Japanese merchant was elevated to the rank of Chao Praya (or one those ranks), the highest achieved by any foreigner after he raised 3000 troops (from within Thailand) to fight for the king in one of the wars.

That along with the fact that the Japanese used to trade blades for Thai rayskin, the Prince's sword is a Thai katana and I'm thinking that qualifies as significant Japanese influence

[wilked aka Khun Deng]

BTW Mark I've only seen these in a museum and the one you have - keep a watchful eye on that one my brother.

[Nathaniel]

Stunning piece Mark! Thanks for sharing...I think many are drooling...I know I am...I especially like the imitation of the cord wrap on the handle...and the seal on the end!

Here are some pictures of some Thai -Japanese hybrids Puff posted a while back:

[sirupate]

I wonder if one of the main influences for this style of sword in Siam/Thailand, didn't stem from when Yamada Nagamasa with 800 ronin helped bring order back into Thailand after the death of King Song Thom in 1628, very nice sword btw.

[Tim Simmons]

This is very attractive with pleasant repouse and chassing to the hilt, also a nice clean blade but what makes this piece 17th or 18th century? these items are not my main interest so it would be helpful if we could have some background information to oppinions made so far?

[wilked aka Khun Deng]

sirupate, that me be the event I was trying to reference (should go back and check my notes) but the the timeframe and the names jogged a memory fragment loose when you mentioned it.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

This is very attractive with pleasant repouse and chassing to the hilt, also a nice clean blade but what makes this piece 17th or 18th century? these items are not my main interest so it would be helpful if we could have some background information to oppinions made so far?

My admittedly only semi-educated guess is based in part on the time period when Japanese influence could have begun as an early limit (see previous posts), and that this is a fairly evolved form of the style, a true fusion rather than a remounted katana, which has a blade showing Chinese, rather than Japanese influence. One reference I have, Punjabhan, "Silverware in Thailand," has nice photos of several of these blades, all attributed to the Ayutthaya Period (1350-1767), giving 1767 as a late limit. The era of Japanese influence was in the last couple centuries of this period (call it 1600 onwards). Being conservative in dating swords, without more information about possible dating I'm saying its probably 18th C (i.e., 1700-ish to around 1767). It is of course possible that the style remained popular well into the Rattanakosin period, and in fact I have seen an example at the Smithsonian what is reliably dated to 1856 (a gift to President Pierce by King Mankut).

[Mark]

Originally Posted by sirupate

I wonder if one of the main influences for this style of sword in Siam/Thailand, didn't stem from when Yamada Nagamasa with 800 ronin helped bring order back into Thailand after the death of King Song Thom in 1628, very nice sword btw.

I think that is probably the era in which the influence started, or at least gained momentum. At that time Japan was Thailand's largest trading partner (see, e.g., Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, vol. 1, pt.2, pg. 7). However, King Prasat Thong expelled the Japanese in 1632, after which China became the dominant trading partner. I am sure the trade in Japanese blades continued after that, though, because that seems to be too narrow a window to account for the influence you see. Maybe Dan remembers which King it was who required Thai decoration on Japanese blades (I don't have that detail in my notes).

[Mark]

Originally Posted by wilked aka Khun Deng

It was there through and interview with a guard that I learned about the different royal ranks and who could what (enamel, copper, silver, gold, jewels) on their accouterments. Apparently there were court rules that governed all of this - never did find a copy.

Did you learn any specifics about the number of bands on the scabbard? As I recall that reflected rank as well. I could never find more than passing reference to it, though.