Three Paiwan kives for comment

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

THIS SNAKE LIKE CARVING IS OFTEN ENCOUNTERED ON THEIR SWORDS BUT IF THERE IS A LEGEND, NAME OR STORY I AM NOT AWARE OF IT. BEING A ZOOLOGY MAJOR IT HAS ALWAYS REMINDED ME OF A PLANARIAN FLATWORM. WE HAD SOME FUN WITH THEM SPLIT ONES HEAD AND IT GROWS TWO HEADS VERY IMPRESSIVE REGENERATIVE POWERS. A PICTURE OF THE CRITTER WITH 2 EYESPOTS.

Barry, I only can write what I have read in the above given threads from Yuanzhumin and others. This is the "hundred pace snake" ( Deinagkistrodon acutus), "named like this because once you have been beaten you only can walk one hundred paces before fallen down, dead" *Yuanzhumin*. This is the anchestor of their nobility. Knives which have the snake on the scabbard are only allowed to be worn by nobility men.

Regards,
Detlef