could there be a possible connection between burmese dha and japanese katana?

pallas · 10th July 2009, 08:16 PM

im the late 1500's-early 1600s up to 1621 when contact/trade between the outside world and japan was suspended there was a pretty substantial trade between japan and southeast asia, this trade included the sale of japanese weapons and the hiring of japanese mercenaries (as evidenced by jan peiterzoon coen's use of them against the natives of the banda islands to secure the nutmeg trade in 1619) did some of these traded katanas/no-dachi/wakizashi, ect make their way to burma and perhaps influence the evolution of the dha or was the dha doveloped completely independent of japanese influences?

ive also seen some vietnamese swords (cochin sabers?) that had heavy japanese influence.

Andrew · 12th July 2009, 02:57 PM

While some indivual examples demonstrate Japanes influence, the form originates elsewhere.

You might enjoy this article: http://www.arscives.com/historysteel...ea.article.htm

Rich · 12th July 2009, 06:21 PM

I suspect (?) the relationship goes the other way: both Burma dha and
Japanese katana influenced by Chinese swords.

Rich

Mark · 13th July 2009, 03:27 PM

There is undoubtedly some stylistic influence, particularly in some Vietnamese and Cambodian pieces that have a more uniform breadth of the blade (i.e., no "belly") and a small round guard, and there are some blades of a definite SEA style that appear to have been made using a classic Japanese differential hardening technique to create a distinct billowy hamon (see below). However, the basic blade form in all likelihood predates any significant Japanese influence, and what you see is just that, influence, not derivation. Chinese influence is very pronounced in Vietnamese "Chocin sabres."

There was an interesting historical event in Thailand, which, I think, shows the essential independence of the dha/daab as a style from the Japanese katana - Japanese-style swords had become so popular (I am without my notes at the moment, so the exact timeframe escapes me - I think it was 17th C) that the king issued an edict limiting their wearing unless they showed at least some Thai decorative features. He apparently felt that the traditional Thai daab was being threatened by the popularity of the katana.

Mark · 13th July 2009, 03:39 PM

Links to a few threads discussing Japanese influence on dha/daab:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=Japanese+daab (see post #14 in particular)
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=Japanese+daab
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002442.html

10th July 2009, 08:16 PM	#1
pallas Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 53	could there be a possible connection between burmese dha and japanese katana? im the late 1500's-early 1600s up to 1621 when contact/trade between the outside world and japan was suspended there was a pretty substantial trade between japan and southeast asia, this trade included the sale of japanese weapons and the hiring of japanese mercenaries (as evidenced by jan peiterzoon coen's use of them against the natives of the banda islands to secure the nutmeg trade in 1619) did some of these traded katanas/no-dachi/wakizashi, ect make their way to burma and perhaps influence the evolution of the dha or was the dha doveloped completely independent of japanese influences? ive also seen some vietnamese swords (cochin sabers?) that had heavy japanese influence.

12th July 2009, 02:57 PM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	While some indivual examples demonstrate Japanes influence, the form originates elsewhere. You might enjoy this article: http://www.arscives.com/historysteel...ea.article.htm

12th July 2009, 06:21 PM	#3
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I suspect (?) the relationship goes the other way: both Burma dha and Japanese katana influenced by Chinese swords. Rich

13th July 2009, 03:27 PM	#4
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	There is undoubtedly some stylistic influence, particularly in some Vietnamese and Cambodian pieces that have a more uniform breadth of the blade (i.e., no "belly") and a small round guard, and there are some blades of a definite SEA style that appear to have been made using a classic Japanese differential hardening technique to create a distinct billowy hamon (see below). However, the basic blade form in all likelihood predates any significant Japanese influence, and what you see is just that, influence, not derivation. Chinese influence is very pronounced in Vietnamese "Chocin sabres." There was an interesting historical event in Thailand, which, I think, shows the essential independence of the dha/daab as a style from the Japanese katana - Japanese-style swords had become so popular (I am without my notes at the moment, so the exact timeframe escapes me - I think it was 17th C) that the king issued an edict limiting their wearing unless they showed at least some Thai decorative features. He apparently felt that the traditional Thai daab was being threatened by the popularity of the katana.

13th July 2009, 03:39 PM	#5
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Links to a few threads discussing Japanese influence on dha/daab: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=Japanese+daab (see post #14 in particular) http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=Japanese+daab http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002442.html