Small Silver Dha

Battara · 28th February 2011, 11:06 PM

This is for the dha freaks........er.........the dahfia.

I got this dha which is small but to scale and perfect in detail and construction. No laminated blade. One friend thinks it could have been made for a woman. One of the pictures shows that it is about 12.5 inches (also in cm). What could you kind folks tell me about it?

Thanks in advance.

Nathaniel · 1st March 2011, 05:24 AM

Hello Jose. Nice looking little dha-hmyaung you have there

This type of silver sword is a decorative type for ceremonials and festivals. You often see the men carrying the full length version during festival dances or along with specially occasions as a part of their traditional costume. The sword being a symbol for the male in Kachin society, maybe this little version was more likely for a Kachin boy?? This is not to say that Kachin women do not handle knives, but more utility/cooking knives...but maybe since the Kachin are known as fighters the women also carry a small knife as well? I know a Hmong friend who slept with a knife under her pillow because her grandmother had blessed it to protect her from bad dreams/ spirits!

Here are a few festival pictures I've found:

Nathaniel · 1st March 2011, 05:26 AM

Also here is a picture of a Shan Man with a very small knife on his waist:

And here is a picture of a small narrow dha-hmyaung I have:

Battara · 2nd March 2011, 02:37 AM

Thank you Nathaniel. Very informative.

So this might not be a ceremonial dha dagger for a man?

Nathaniel · 2nd March 2011, 02:52 AM

or maybe a boy

aiontay · 2nd March 2011, 05:03 AM

I bought a couple of knives like that up in Lashio. The Kachins said they were boy's blades.

The larger n thu (swords) in the pictures these days are "wedding" swords. At the marriage ceremony, the wife get a ring and the woman give the man a n htu and a n hpye (shoulder bag) like those in the pictures. However, shoulder bags are carried and used by everyone, both men and women. I've got at least four of them myself.

28th February 2011, 11:06 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Small Silver Dha This is for the dha freaks........er.........the dahfia. I got this dha which is small but to scale and perfect in detail and construction. No laminated blade. One friend thinks it could have been made for a woman. One of the pictures shows that it is about 12.5 inches (also in cm). What could you kind folks tell me about it? Thanks in advance. Attached Images

1st March 2011, 05:24 AM	#2
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Hello Jose. Nice looking little dha-hmyaung you have there This type of silver sword is a decorative type for ceremonials and festivals. You often see the men carrying the full length version during festival dances or along with specially occasions as a part of their traditional costume. The sword being a symbol for the male in Kachin society, maybe this little version was more likely for a Kachin boy?? This is not to say that Kachin women do not handle knives, but more utility/cooking knives...but maybe since the Kachin are known as fighters the women also carry a small knife as well? I know a Hmong friend who slept with a knife under her pillow because her grandmother had blessed it to protect her from bad dreams/ spirits! Here are a few festival pictures I've found: Last edited by Nathaniel; 1st March 2011 at 05:34 AM.

1st March 2011, 05:26 AM	#3
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Also here is a picture of a Shan Man with a very small knife on his waist: And here is a picture of a small narrow dha-hmyaung I have:

2nd March 2011, 02:37 AM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,345	Thank you Nathaniel. Very informative. So this might not be a ceremonial dha dagger for a man?

2nd March 2011, 02:52 AM	#5
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	or maybe a boy

2nd March 2011, 05:03 AM	#6
aiontay Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 88	I bought a couple of knives like that up in Lashio. The Kachins said they were boy's blades. The larger n thu (swords) in the pictures these days are "wedding" swords. At the marriage ceremony, the wife get a ring and the woman give the man a n htu and a n hpye (shoulder bag) like those in the pictures. However, shoulder bags are carried and used by everyone, both men and women. I've got at least four of them myself.