Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

BSMStar · 2nd June 2006, 07:25 PM

I think understand where Zelbone is coming from.

We have to keep in mind that we are talking about cultural and ethnic traditions and beliefs. This is a sensitive area. A sword is not just a sword… as it is thought of in a western mind set, just steel, wood and some interesting designs. There is more to it. There are values, traditions, beliefs and (dare I use the words) integral secrets that are inherent to these wonderful edged weapons… making the study of these objects a bit difficult and slow going (for us outsiders). Knowledge and trust has to be earned, it is time consuming and worth the effort. The unfortunate side effect is, you can not always share what you now know. To share is to break a trust, and to lose an invaluable resource. But more importantly, it means that you will lose a valued friend (truly, this is greatest lost of all).

I have seen these debates in the past, when we end up with generic names like Sundang. Sometimes it because the melding of hundreds of years, names for swords become a bit blurred (one group’s Sundang is another groups Tenegre). Honestly, you can not just give it one label and be 100% correct all of the time. On the other hand, sometimes the question “how do you know that it is…” can cross in to the cultural and ethnic sensitive areas. It is like being caught between the rock and the hard spot. For me, I always try to honor other people’s cultural and ethnic traditions and beliefs. I may not always understand them, but I do my best to honor them. I believe I do understand where Zelbone is coming from, and for me, I respect his position.

2nd June 2006, 07:25 PM	#29
BSMStar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO USA Posts: 312	I think understand where Zelbone is coming from. We have to keep in mind that we are talking about cultural and ethnic traditions and beliefs. This is a sensitive area. A sword is not just a sword… as it is thought of in a western mind set, just steel, wood and some interesting designs. There is more to it. There are values, traditions, beliefs and (dare I use the words) integral secrets that are inherent to these wonderful edged weapons… making the study of these objects a bit difficult and slow going (for us outsiders). Knowledge and trust has to be earned, it is time consuming and worth the effort. The unfortunate side effect is, you can not always share what you now know. To share is to break a trust, and to lose an invaluable resource. But more importantly, it means that you will lose a valued friend (truly, this is greatest lost of all). I have seen these debates in the past, when we end up with generic names like Sundang. Sometimes it because the melding of hundreds of years, names for swords become a bit blurred (one group’s Sundang is another groups Tenegre). Honestly, you can not just give it one label and be 100% correct all of the time. On the other hand, sometimes the question “how do you know that it is…” can cross in to the cultural and ethnic sensitive areas. It is like being caught between the rock and the hard spot. For me, I always try to honor other people’s cultural and ethnic traditions and beliefs. I may not always understand them, but I do my best to honor them. I believe I do understand where Zelbone is coming from, and for me, I respect his position.