Barong Classification

[Spunjer]

i've compiled this a while back, but just didn't have the time to post it. my main resources are cato's book and an old thread from the old website. the answer on that old thread was given by none other than our fellow forumite, zelbone. i emailed him a copy of this compilation, and he informed me that these are general guidelines , and not to be taken as gospel. to everyone else; you are more than welcome to chime in. as a matter of fact, i would like to encourage everyone to help out if there's anything else that's been left out. i am hoping that this will serve as referrence for future collectors and something that veteran collectors can go back from time to time. once again, please bear in mind that this is a general guideline. as we all know, we are barely scratching the surface on moro weapons, and i'm hoping that this would help out just a little. without further ado, here is my thesis on the magnificent barong...

BARONG




TYPES



*YAKAN

*TAUSUG

*SAMAL





YAKAN CHARACTERISTICS:

HILT

*CREST RISES TO A HEIGHT OF SEVERAL INCHES AND IS WITHOUT THE CURVES THAT ARE FOUND ON OTHER BARONG KAKATUAS

*THE STRAIGHT PLUME IS BEVELED AND RATHER THICK AT THE UPPERMOST POINT, CREATING A DRAMATIC REGAL EFFECT

*IDENTICAL TO PIRAS

*MOST LIKELY INCORPORATED WITH CARABAO HORN

*INSTEAD OF TYPICAL 3 IN. PUNTO (SLEEVE) YAKAN BARONG SLEEVES ARE APPROX. ONE AND A QUARTER INCHES, AGAIN SIMILAR TO PIRAS

*KAKATUA BEAKS ARE NORMALLY UNADORNED, PLAINER, MORE SUBTLE, BEAK-LIKE TERMINAL




FOR REFERRENCE, SEE CATO'S PLATE 21




TAUSUG CHARACTERISTICS:

HILT

*KAKATUA PLUME ALMOST ALWAYS EXTEND OUT AN ANGLE AWAY FROM THE POINT OF THE BLADE; USUALLY AT A 45 DEG. ANGLE WITH THE BUTT
*HEAVILY CARVED AND DECORATED IN THE STANDARD UKKIL DESIGN
*POMMEL BUTTS ARE USUALLY A 45 DEG. OR LESS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE PLANE OF THE BLADE SIMILAR TO YAKAN GEOMETRY
*KAKATUA BEAKS ARE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO YAKAN'S, WHERE IT'S NORMALLY UNADORNED, PLAINER, MORE SUBTLE, BEAK-LIKE TERMINAL



FOR REFERRENCES, SEE CATO'S PLATE 19, FAR LEFT, AND PLATE 20, LEFT



SCABBARD

*DOESN'T NORMALLY TAPERS DOWN DRASTICALLY AT THE TERMINAL END
*TERMINAL END ARE USUALLY WIDER WITH A LARGER FLORALLY CARVED UKKIL DESIGN
*THE SAMPIL, OR MOUTH PART OF THE SCABBARD TENDS TO HAVE WING-LIKE APPENDAGES ON BOTH THE SPINE SIDE AND THE EDGE SIDE OF THE MOUTH (DATU CLASS TAGUB)



FOR REFERRENCES, SEE CATO'S PLATE 23 AND 24; PLATE 26, CENTER



SAMAL CHARACTERISTICS:


HILT

*KAKATUA PLUME TEND TO CURL FIRST, THEN UBRUPTLY EXTENDS OUT
*APPENDAGES (KAKATUA PLUME) ARE USUALLY SMALLER COMPARED TO THE TAUSUG'S
*SAMAL ARE QUITE FOND OF BRAIDED SILVER WIRE WHERE THE WOODEN KAKATUA MEET THE SILVER FERRULE (PUNTO)
*BUTT-END IS ALMOST ALWAYS PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE BLADE, GIVING THE PLUME THE TENDENCY TO CURL IN FIRST THEN EXTENDS OUT
*KAKATUA BEAK USUALLY HAVE A SMALL RECTANGULAR CARVED APPENDAGE AT THE END
*BEAK IS MORE ORNATED THAN THE TAUSUG'S (EXCEPT ON SUPERLATIVE JUNGGAYAN PIECES IN WHICH THE TAUSUGS ARE ELABORATELY CARVED AS WELL)



FOR REFERRENCES, SEE CATO'S PLATE 19, FAR RIGHT; PLATE 20, RIGHT





SCABBARD

*TERMINAL END OF THE SCABBARD TAPERS DOWN WITH THE SHAPE OF THE BLADE AND THEN ENDS WITH A SMALL CARVED TERMINAL PROJECTION
*AS FOR THE SAMPIL, USUALLY HAVE ONE ROUNDED SHOULDER ON THE SPINE SIDE OF THE SCABBARD AND A WING-LIKE APPENDAGE ON THE EDGE SIDE
*BOTH SIDES ARE CARVED WITH UKKIL DESIGN



FOR REFERRENCE, SEE CATO'S PLATE 20, RIGHT










BARONG CLASS


*FIRST CLASS / DATU / CEREMONIAL
*MIDDLE CLASS / COMMONER
*LOW CLASS / FIGHTING



FIRST CLASS / DATU / CEREMONIAL CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:


HILT/POMMEL

*KNOWN AS JUNGGAYAN DUE TO THE EXTENDED CREST AND BILL ON THE KAKATUA POMMEL
*JUNGGAYAN POMMELS RANGE FROM FIVE AND A HALF TO EIGHT INCHES IN LENGTH
*KAKATUA PLUME ASCENDS IN A GRADUAL CURVE UNTIL IT REACHES THE TERMINUS, WHERE IT CURLS UPWARDS
*MOST HAVE ONE OR MORE THIN, CARABAO HORN SPACERS AT THE JUNCTION OF THE HILT AND THE POMMEL
*FOR PUNTO, NORMALLY INCORPORATES ONE FULL SLEEVE
*CYLINDRICAL PANELS (PUNTO) ON THE UPPER HILT, JUST ABOVE THE FERRULE, USUALLY COVERED WITH SMALL, SEMI CIRCULAR OR DIAGONAL UKKIL DESIGNS, AND WERE EXECUTED IN BRASS, SILVER, AND RARELY, GOLD
*INTERSPERSED WITH THE PANEL ARE BANDS OF PLAITED SILVER WIRE
CROWN MATERIALS:

1) KAMAGONG WOOD = USUALLY INLAID WITH GEOMETRICALLY SHAPED PIECES OF BONE
OR IVORY THAT WERE FITTED ON THE SIDES OF THE POMMEL AREA AND/OR THE BUTT OF THE
WEAPON. THIS TYPE ARE POPULAR WITH THE MOROS FROM *THE SOUTHERN MOST ISLANDS OF
THE SULU ARCHIPELAGO*

2) SILVER = IN REALITY ARE IN SHEET FORM OVERLAID UPON A PRE CARVED WOODEN
CORE

3) CARABAO HORN = OCCASIONALLY USED AND NORMALLY MATED WITH BUNTI

4) IVORY = VERY POPULAR WITH ARISTOCRATS AND SULTANS



FOR REFERRENCE, SEE CATO'S PLATE 17, AND PLATE 19, MIDDLE, MOST LIKELY FAR
LEFT AND FAR RIGHT; PLATE 20, 22, 23, 24, AND 25







MIDDLE CLASS / COMMONER CHARACTERISTICS:

HILT/POMMEL

*MORE ELABORATE THAN THE VERY SIMPLE DESIGNS FOUND ON FIGHTING BARONG

*FREQUENTLY TOPPED WITH INTRICATELY-CARVED RENDERINGS OF THE KAKATUA'S PLUMMAGE AND BEAK

*PUNTOS ARE DECORATED SIMPLY, WITH LINE THAT CIRCUMSCRIBE THE FERRULE AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM

*MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, RATHER THAN ONE FULL SLEEVE, IT INCORPORATES THREE OR FOUR SILVER BANDS THAT ALTERNATE WITH BANDS OF BRAIDED JUTE



FOR REFERRENCES, SEE CATO'S PLATE 18, RIGHT; PLATE 19, SECOND FROM FAR RIGHT; PLATE 27, LEFT



LOW CLASS / FIGHTING CHARACTERISTICS:

HILT/POMMEL

*PUNTOS GENERALLY CONSIST OF A NARROW RING, LESS THAN AN INCH WIDE (OF SILVER, BRASS, OR CARABAO HORN) AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POMMEL

*PLACED ABOVE THE ABBREVIATED PUNTO IS A CLUSTER OF WOVEN JUTE BAND CALLED LANGDAY

*FOR POMMEL DESIGNS, COMBAT BARONGS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY SHORT PROTRUSIONS WHICH ARE LITTLE MORE THAN MERE SUGGESTIONS OF THE CREST AND THE BEAK OF THE KAKATUA MOTIF

*NOT OFTEN SEEN ARE POMMELS STYLED AFTER A HORSE'S HOOF WHICH ARE CYLINDRICAL IN APPEARANCE, WITH A DOWN-TURNED END



FOR REFERRENCES, SEE CATO'S PLATE 19, SECOND FROM LEFT; PLATE 27, RIGHT

[Ann Feuerbach]

Thanks loads for this info. I have been researching a Barong for a friend of mine and have been coming up dry. Somehow her father got it from someone who "captured" the barong during fighting on Sulu Island on Jan 27th 1913. Now I just need to get the references.
Ann

[ariel]

Very useful introduction. Many thanks.
Now, if only somebody would do the same with these blasted Visayan weapons! Every time I read yet another casual remark about some fine point of a tenegre vs. sansibar (?), I get frustrated.
It is as if these buggers invented their own language and keep it sectret from us, mortals!
Come on, guys! We, the ignoramuses, need your help!
And please illustrate your points with pics.

[Spunjer]

ann,

this might help you out a bit. the date you've provided falls within this time frame. it could've have been captured during one of the skirmishes that led up to the battle of bud bagsak in sulu. here's an excerpt:

"From January-June, the whole Moro ward of Lati (located at the eastern most tip of Sulu Mainland) with a population of between 6,000 to 10,000, fortified themselves in a cotta in Mt. Bagsak. On June 11, 1913 Gen. John Pershing ordered the attack with the assistance of Charlie Schuck who reported that it was easy to attack The Moro Fort. General Pershing and his American military attacked the Fort at Bud Bagsak. The Muslim led by their Nakil Amil bravely defended their Fort, first with guns and bullets and knives and bolos.

The four-day battle was personally led by U.S. Brigadier General John "Black Jack" J. Pershing of the 8th Infantry and Philippine Scouts against Moro resistance fighters armed mostly with kris, barongs, spears and few guns. In many other battles in the Morolands, the U.S. Army Colt 0.45 caliber pistol was tested and perfected as an effective "man stopper" against the brave Moro fighters.

During the battle Pershing came up to the front line and: "Stood so close to the trench, directing operations, that his life was endangered by flying barongs and spears which were being continually hurled from the Moro stronghold." At this point in the battle, Pershing sent American officers into the front lines to lead the attack. But, after four days, the Fort at Bud Bagsak, along with every warrior fell. General Pershing in a letter to his wife, he wrote: "THE FIGHTING WAS THE FIERCEST I HAVE EVER SEEN." The Moros fought like Devils. They justified the observation Pershing had made of them: "They are absolutely fearless, and once committed to combat they count death as a mere incident."

hope this helps...


ariel,

good luck with the visayan weapons...

[Battara]

Not bad, Spunger. Have one question, on Samal pommel angles, I thought that the angle was not prependicular to the blade but more of a 90 degree angle almost in line in angle to the blade.

[Spunjer]

jose,

i stand corrected. you're right, that'd make more sense...

[zelbone]

Spunger, you forgot to mention that these "general guidelines" basically applies to the earlier barungs (pre-1930's) and not to barungs from WWII or later. The more contemporary barongs from WWII and later are almost too similar to distinguish between the different Sulu tribes.

[Spunjer]

...these "general guidelines" basically applies to the earlier barungs (pre-1930's) and not to barungs from WWII or later. The more contemporary barongs from WWII and later are almost too similar to distinguish between the different Sulu tribes.

thanks zel. forgot to add that very important piece of info...

[Ann Feuerbach]

Thanks Spunjer for the additional info. I think the scabbard says the guy was in the 8th Cavalry. Interesting bit of history.

[Federico]

Ok, I hate to be a naysayer here, but particularly the classification between Samal and Tausug barong, just does not hold up when you start to study period pics. Bob Cato lists both styles as variations of barong, but doesnt draw a tribal distinction. Part of the reason for this, is if you do a large survey of period pictures, you will find many period pics in which you will have a group of Tausug wearing both styles of barong, or a group of Samal, etc.... Of note are plates 70 and 71 of D. Encinas book "Moros as seen in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago", featuring the Sultan of Sulu and his retainers (all Tausug). Also, one will see the "Tausug Crest" (according to this classification scheme) often on barong that have a "Samal" (again according to this scheme) scabbard and vice versa. Now if this was rare occurances, they could be seen as exceptions (possible swaps in scabbards, taste of owner, etc...), but the frequency is quite high. I did not see Banati listed as a pommel material, and at least in my experience this is the most common even amongst Jungayan, and then there generally are no spacers, so that would be in contradiction to the classification of Jungayan as mostly having spacers. I have also seen a high incidence of solid puntos on both middle and fighting barong, so I would be hesitant to say most have interspersed puntos. Finally there are a few of variations left out, such the no metal punto barong with only jute wrap, horn ferrule variations, horse hoof pommels, ball pommels, naga pommels, etc....

[Spunjer]

federico,
glad you could chime in. you forgot to mention the boto shaped pommels so, since you appear to be the primary authority on moro weapons, would it be safe to suggest that we should just forget about the classification? with your vast knowledge on this matter, how do you suggest i approach this? i'm really just trying to create a very elementary, general guideline. ultimately, what i'm trying to do is, i'm just trying to learn more about what measely collection i have, and at the least would like to know where it specifically came from. as i've stated, i've used cato's book and this specific thread as my referrence:
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000562.html

please fred, don't leave us hanging like this. whenever you get the time, it would be great if you can add pictures and stuff, maybe elaborate even more, then this thread would definitely be archive material...

ron