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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China
Posts: 180
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Hello,
I have a question about Asian tribal spears. I have noticed that nearly ALL the spears made by the Taiwanese aboriginal tribes have an iron nail-shaped point socketed at the bottom end of the shaft, opposite to the head : -Is this a very distinctive element of the Formosan spears or is this something that we can also widely see in the Philippines indigenous spears or among any other asian indigenous tribes spears ? I have checked around among the other Asian ethnic groups, but most of the time only the heads are pictured or drawn. When the whole shaft is, I didn't notice any nail-shaped point socketed at the bottom end. I know about the Taiwanese weapons, but not that much about the other ethnic groups in the Asia-Pacific area. What's your opinion ? You can see on my website two examples of Taiwanese Rukai spears with this iron nail-shaped extremity (www.formosatribal.com - click on Catalogue in the headlines, then go to Rukai). Thanks Nicolas |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,781
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Naga spears often have a spike end.
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China
Posts: 180
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Thanks Tim
I checked on the Internet for Naga spears and found the photo I attached after. I looked also for Philippines spears and found an illustration coming from a link from this forum. Here is the link : www.vikingsword.com/rila/k06.jpg I can find photos of spears heads but not many photos of the other end of the spears, in order to check if a spike is common or not in the Philippines spears, for example. Does someone has an answer or photos to show me ? Another question : What's the purpose of this spike/nail-shaped point ? I've been told it is made to help stick the spear in the ground and protect the holder against a charging wild pig. Nicolas |
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#4 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
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Or not; you have a counterweight; and if it does break you have another sharp end to use.
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#5 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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From older research at the turn of the 20th century Philippine Igorot tribal spears had the pointed end so that it would be easier for mountain climbing and when resting they would plant the spear in the ground with that spiked end down. Most Moro spears were actually lances and did not have this feature.
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,781
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Naga spears with spikes from "The Nagas" Julian Jacobs. I did have one but in a moment of foolishness I let it go
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#7 | |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
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![]() Quote:
![]() The cast one would make a nasty little club. ![]() |
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