Taiwan aborigines: a ceremonial Rukai knife

yuanzhumin · 13th June 2011, 11:32 AM

I promised earlier to post more pictures of the knife I bought through the Imperial Auctions sales on March the 19th. Here they are. I couldn’t do it earlier because it took some times for the knife to arrive and then even more time (more than one month) for it to go through the custom clearance.
This is a very nice Rukai tribal knife from Taiwan (total length 74 cm; handle 15.5 x 4cm; blade 54x4cm; sheath 58 x 5,8cm). Beginning of 20th century, may be before.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_aborigines
Belonging to a tribal leader or an outstanding warrior, this kind of knife is not for daily working or common hunting. It is a ceremonial knife as we can see by the patterns on it and also by its uncommon size (it’s the second longest one I ever seen among Rukai/Paiwan knives). This one was used for rituals and mostly head hunting rituals.
Its handle is inlayed with silver and bronze pins plus mother of pearl buttons. On the top part, there is a stylized human head (the vertical parallel longer bronze pins on the upper part of the handle are symbolizing the hairs). Further down, sun patterns are seen on top of 4 joined faces patterns, themselves on top of two snakes joined by the head. The joined human heads together with the two joined snake heads symbolizes the start of a head hunting party.
On the wooden sheath-- colored in red because it brings protection, there is another double snakes pattern, 4 more human heads. That is a repetition of the just described pattern. Further down, two more snakes are facing opposite directions (I don’t know the meaning of this symbol). On the lower part of the sheath, we see flower patterns carved in the wood with ‘zigzag’ snake skin patterns, and more flower patterns carved on a bronze leaf.
On the other/open side of the sheath, two bronze bracelets with Chinese motives are followed by a long leaf of bronze carved with snakes and human heads. Two iron staples are closing the open side, making up for the body of a snake whose head is figured on the tip of the scabbard.

yuanzhumin · 13th June 2011, 11:35 AM

Last pictures

Nonoy Tan · 13th June 2011, 12:30 PM

What is it called in the vernacular?

Sajen · 13th June 2011, 01:13 PM

Thank you for posting this beautiful knife and the detailed explanation!

Regards,

Detlef

yuanzhumin · 13th June 2011, 01:24 PM

If my sources are correct, it should be called 'rinadrug'

Rick · 14th June 2011, 02:21 AM

The blade is of laminated construction, Nicolas ?

Absolutely lovely and rare .

KuKulzA28 · 14th June 2011, 06:35 AM

Lovely... I've heard that the Paiwan sword is called a takit - is that true?

Atlantia · 14th June 2011, 10:15 AM

Hi Yuanzhumin

What a magnificent item! Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations
Gene

yuanzhumin · 14th June 2011, 10:15 AM

Rick,
Yes, it seems to be. It is much more sophisticated than the usual Paiwanic blades. This one must be the result of a barter with a Chinese Han settler or a Japanese traveller. May be, it was also 'taken' away from someone outside of the tribe, at the same time with his head. We'll never know.

Kukulza,
The Paiwanic group is composed of three distinct groups: the Paiwan, the Puyuma and the Rukai. These 3 groups, despite some cultural similarities, are quite different. Languages are different, and even among the Rukai, it happens that in the same valley, 3 Rukai villages have 3 different dialects.
For what concerns the name, I checked my source, and as you wrote, 'tjakit' means a sword in the Paiwan language. The 'sisavavuavua tjakit' is the name for the common sword when the ceremonial sword is called 'sitjeqalaqala tjakit'.
In Rukai language, the Rukai sword should be called 'rinadrug'

Sorry I won't be able to tell you more

Nonoy Tan · 22nd June 2011, 11:27 AM

I would like to add another excellent reference, with hundreds of images, including the sun motif and weaponry.

Woodcarving of the Paiwan Group of Taiwan by Chen Chi-Lu (1961)

Texts are in Chinese.

migueldiaz · 22nd June 2011, 03:11 PM

Nicolas, many thanks!

If I may have a follow-up question, did the aboriginal Taiwanese believe in an Underworld where the snake or serpent was the chief deity, and in an Upperworld where the sun god was preeminent? Thanks again.

Nonoy, thanks too!

varta · 22nd June 2011, 05:28 PM

Sorry Nicolas, I don't know very much about Saisiat knives. They are possibly similar to Atayal knives. I don't remember having seen any in the published collections.
You are very generous; my collection is much smaller than yours. And blades are not at all my speciality. Meanwhile, to be polite, I will show you my two Rukai knives.

napoleon · 22nd June 2011, 11:12 PM

never seen anything like it thanks for posting it

KuKulzA28 · 23rd June 2011, 01:56 AM

varta, that's a beautiful blade. Glad to see more of Taiwan's traditional martial culture showing up on international forums.

yuanzhumin · 23rd June 2011, 02:43 AM

Hello Migueldiaz,

I wouldn’t say Taiwanese aborigines have gods. It’s more a world of spirits interacting with the livings, with spirits being able to make good or bad deeds. The snake is more seen like the original ancestor among the 3 Paiwan groups (Paiwan proper, Rukai and Puyuma).

Hi Varta,

The second Rukai knife is beautiful, mostly the open side of the scabbard with its carved bronze leaf. Congrats! Could you tell us its dimensions? definitely a ceremonial knife, and as such should be longer than the average.

Varta, any Paiwan knife to share on the other thread I just started?

Best

Nicolas

migueldiaz · 23rd June 2011, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuanzhumin

I wouldn’t say Taiwanese aborigines have gods. It’s more a world of spirits interacting with the livings, with spirits being able to make good or bad deeds. The snake is more seen like the original ancestor among the 3 Paiwan groups (Paiwan proper, Rukai and Puyuma).

Thank you! It's very similar then to our peoples' ancient beliefs (which similarity is not surprising of course). Regards.

Nathaniel · 23rd June 2011, 04:59 AM

Beautiful! Thank you all for posting pictures of these beautiful native blades!

varta · 23rd June 2011, 08:27 AM

The first Rukai knife is much older. The tip was burnt (was his owner drunk?) maybe it was a period of time when a knife had no value anymore and it was thrown away... The bronze sheet on the other has been taken away (recycling?)
The decoration shows interesting patterns; it has the red-crimson colour so caracteristic of ancient time.
So this knife has a touching story... when the second one has a "classic" Rukai style probably from the first quarter of the XXth century.

Let me show a small knife to prepare betel nuts. (about 12cm long)

13th June 2011, 11:32 AM	#1
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Taiwan aborigines: a ceremonial Rukai knife I promised earlier to post more pictures of the knife I bought through the Imperial Auctions sales on March the 19th. Here they are. I couldn’t do it earlier because it took some times for the knife to arrive and then even more time (more than one month) for it to go through the custom clearance. This is a very nice Rukai tribal knife from Taiwan (total length 74 cm; handle 15.5 x 4cm; blade 54x4cm; sheath 58 x 5,8cm). Beginning of 20th century, may be before. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_aborigines Belonging to a tribal leader or an outstanding warrior, this kind of knife is not for daily working or common hunting. It is a ceremonial knife as we can see by the patterns on it and also by its uncommon size (it’s the second longest one I ever seen among Rukai/Paiwan knives). This one was used for rituals and mostly head hunting rituals. Its handle is inlayed with silver and bronze pins plus mother of pearl buttons. On the top part, there is a stylized human head (the vertical parallel longer bronze pins on the upper part of the handle are symbolizing the hairs). Further down, sun patterns are seen on top of 4 joined faces patterns, themselves on top of two snakes joined by the head. The joined human heads together with the two joined snake heads symbolizes the start of a head hunting party. On the wooden sheath-- colored in red because it brings protection, there is another double snakes pattern, 4 more human heads. That is a repetition of the just described pattern. Further down, two more snakes are facing opposite directions (I don’t know the meaning of this symbol). On the lower part of the sheath, we see flower patterns carved in the wood with ‘zigzag’ snake skin patterns, and more flower patterns carved on a bronze leaf. On the other/open side of the sheath, two bronze bracelets with Chinese motives are followed by a long leaf of bronze carved with snakes and human heads. Two iron staples are closing the open side, making up for the body of a snake whose head is figured on the tip of the scabbard. Attached Images

13th June 2011, 11:35 AM	#2
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Last pictures Attached Images

22nd June 2011, 05:28 PM	#12
varta Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Berlin-Paris Posts: 37	Saisiat knives Sorry Nicolas, I don't know very much about Saisiat knives. They are possibly similar to Atayal knives. I don't remember having seen any in the published collections. You are very generous; my collection is much smaller than yours. And blades are not at all my speciality. Meanwhile, to be polite, I will show you my two Rukai knives. Attached Images

22nd June 2011, 11:12 PM	#13
napoleon Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 88	great knife never seen anything like it thanks for posting it

23rd June 2011, 02:43 AM	#15
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Hello Migueldiaz, I wouldn’t say Taiwanese aborigines have gods. It’s more a world of spirits interacting with the livings, with spirits being able to make good or bad deeds. The snake is more seen like the original ancestor among the 3 Paiwan groups (Paiwan proper, Rukai and Puyuma). Hi Varta, The second Rukai knife is beautiful, mostly the open side of the scabbard with its carved bronze leaf. Congrats! Could you tell us its dimensions? definitely a ceremonial knife, and as such should be longer than the average. Varta, any Paiwan knife to share on the other thread I just started? Best Nicolas Last edited by yuanzhumin; 23rd June 2011 at 02:59 AM.

13th June 2011, 12:30 PM	#3
Nonoy Tan Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 293	What is it called in the vernacular?

13th June 2011, 01:13 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,769	Thank you for posting this beautiful knife and the detailed explanation! Regards, Detlef

13th June 2011, 01:24 PM	#5
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	If my sources are correct, it should be called 'rinadrug'

14th June 2011, 02:21 AM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,291	The blade is of laminated construction, Nicolas ? Absolutely lovely and rare .

14th June 2011, 06:35 AM	#7
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Lovely... I've heard that the Paiwan sword is called a takit - is that true?

14th June 2011, 10:15 AM	#8
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Yuanzhumin What a magnificent item! Thanks for sharing. Congratulations Gene

22nd June 2011, 11:27 AM	#10
Nonoy Tan Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 293	I would like to add another excellent reference, with hundreds of images, including the sun motif and weaponry. Woodcarving of the Paiwan Group of Taiwan by Chen Chi-Lu (1961) Texts are in Chinese.

22nd June 2011, 03:11 PM	#11
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Nicolas, many thanks! If I may have a follow-up question, did the aboriginal Taiwanese believe in an Underworld where the snake or serpent was the chief deity, and in an Upperworld where the sun god was preeminent? Thanks again. Nonoy, thanks too!

23rd June 2011, 01:56 AM	#14
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	varta, that's a beautiful blade. Glad to see more of Taiwan's traditional martial culture showing up on international forums.

23rd June 2011, 04:59 AM	#17
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Beautiful! Thank you all for posting pictures of these beautiful native blades!

23rd June 2011, 08:27 AM	#18
varta Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Berlin-Paris Posts: 37	The first Rukai knife is much older. The tip was burnt (was his owner drunk?) maybe it was a period of time when a knife had no value anymore and it was thrown away... The bronze sheet on the other has been taken away (recycling?) The decoration shows interesting patterns; it has the red-crimson colour so caracteristic of ancient time. So this knife has a touching story... when the second one has a "classic" Rukai style probably from the first quarter of the XXth century. Let me show a small knife to prepare betel nuts. (about 12cm long) Attached Images