Origin of the Kalinga Axe

[Nonoy Tan]

Vandoo,

I find your observations to be very important.

I suspect that there may have been a proliferation of certain myths regarding the use of the Kalinga shield and the significance of its form. It is possible that some of these may have come from accounts of soldiers or government officials during the American colonial rule - who probably have never even personally seen the natives use the shield in such close combat at described. Sometimes, I doubt the source of their information. I could be wrong though.

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by Nonoy Tan

I suspect that there may have been a proliferation of certain myths regarding the use of the Kalinga shield and the significance of its form. It is possible that some of these may have come from accounts of soldiers or government officials during the American colonial rule - who probably have never even personally seen the natives use the shield in such close combat at described. Sometimes, I doubt the source of their information. I could be wrong though.

Nonoy,

Indeed we should approach things critically (in the positive sense of the word).

Fortunately some things can easily be established empirically (i.e., by experience or by observation).

For instance on the alleged three-finger grip on the shield's handle, one can simply try it out himself. And we can examine old photos -- in the attached 1930 pic for instance, we can clearly see the Bontok warrior's thumb and pinky resting outside the handle.

On certain beliefs like the use of the shield for tripping the feet and pinning the head, that can be more tricky to confirm. The possibilities are, in increasing degrees:

[1] it is not true at all;

[2] it was designed for such, but fell into disuse, and that's why some of the Cordillera shields didn't have those prongs anymore;

[3] it's a tribal thing -- some groups use it for tripping-and-pinning, while others don't; and

[4] the trip-and-pin use is prevalent.

Hey, I love finding out what really is going on

[migueldiaz]

More head axe pics, from Ramon Zaragoza's Tribal Splendor (1995):

[VANDOO]

IN THE PICTURES SHOWING THE HEAD AX BEING CARRIED THRUST THRU A CORD AROUND THE WAIST . I NOTE THAT SOME HAVE THE HEAD FACEING IN A DOWNWARD DIRECTION (ITS BELOW THE WAIST BAND) IN OTHERS THE HEAD IS ABOVE THE WAIST BAND. THIS WOULD BE OK WHEN AT LEASURE BUT WOULD NOT WORK WELL IF ONE WAS RUNNING OR JUMPING AROUND. IT COULD EITHER FALL OUT OR INJURE YOU WITH ITS EDGE OR SPIKE.
THE MIDDLE PICTURE IN THE LAST SERIES PROBABLY SHOWS ACCURATELY HOW ONE WOULD CARRY SPEAR, SHIELD AND AX WHEN TRAVELING FAST OR PREPARING FOR ACTION. IN LUZON PERHAPS IF THE AX WAS A PRIMARY WEAPON THE AX AND SHIELD WOULD BE IN THE SAME HAND INITIALLY AND WHEN THE SPEAR WAS THROWN OR STUCK IN A FOE THE AX COULD BE CHANGED OVER TO THE FREE HAND FOR THE FINAL STRIKES.

THERE ARE A FEW POSTS ON THESE AX'S IN THE OLD FORUM ARCHIVES SEARCH FOR PHILIPPINE AXES POSTED BY VANDOO 12/22/2003 THERE IS SOME INFO AND SOME PICTURES ARE STILL THERE ALSO.
HERE IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF MY AXS FROM THAT POST. IT WAS IDENTIFIED FOR ME AS AN AX USED BY THE YAPAYAO PEOPLE OF APAYAO AND PARTS OF LLOCOS NORTE, TWO PROVENCES IN NORTH LUZON. IT IS REFERRED TO THERE AS AN "ALIWA" AND WAS SAID IN THIS CASE TO BE A BINAROY TYPE.

[migueldiaz]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

... THERE ARE A FEW POSTS ON THESE AX'S IN THE OLD FORUM ARCHIVES SEARCH FOR PHILIPPINE AXES POSTED BY VANDOO 12/22/2003 THERE IS SOME INFO AND SOME PICTURES ARE STILL THERE ALSO.

Hello Vandoo,

I looked for that thread. But I got 'lost' and ended up browsing this thread instead: Favorite Blade/Weapon ... in which I liked what Lew said: "the best sword is AK-47 closely followed by Heckler& Koch MP-5. Yeah I like to see you carve a Thanksgiving turkey with one of those! (smile)".

Maybe it's time to do another poll?

Eventually I found the thread on the axes: Philippine Axes.

Thanks!

[Nonoy Tan]

Indeed, the weapons had their smaller-sized counterparts for young boys - axes, bolos, shields, bows and arrows, etc. Sometimes, "female" (for use by women only) counterparts are also available. Isneg women had the female version of the axe.

Nonoy

[Jim McDougall]

I just wanted to note here, along with Rick's earlier comment, this thread is absolutely fantastic! From the initiation of the thread, focused on a single weapon, the 'kalinga' axe of the Philippines, and throughout are posts developing the history and use of the tool/weapons, beautifully illustrated, cited references and outstanding discussion and observations.

This is 'textbook' perfect gentlemen!!! Exactly the way we should study these weapons. Until I saw this thread, I really knew nothing of these axes, though I'd seen examples thumbing through Stone. After reading through this thread,I feel like I have experienced a true course on them as a subject, and now have a good understanding of them. Also, this thread will stand as a most current resource for others who might be researching these now or in the future.
Well done gentlemen!!!! and thank you!!!

All the best,
Jim

[migueldiaz]

More, from The Bontoc Igorot --



On the Bontoc battle-axe [left side in pic]:

"Baliwang [Cordillera] has four smithies ... Baliwang alone makes the genuine Bontoc battle-ax. It is a strong, serviceable blade of good temper, and is hafted to a short, strong, straight wooden handle which is strengthened by a ferrule of iron or braided bejuco. The ax has a slender point opposed to the bit or cutting edge of the blade ... The bit of the ax is at a small angle with the front and back edges of the blade, and is nearly a straight line. The axes are kept keen and sharp by whetstones collected and preserved solely for the purpose. Besao, near Sagada, quarries and barters a good grade of whetstone."

On the sleek Balbelasan battle-axe [right side in pic]:

"A slender, long-handled battle-ax now and then comes into the area in trade from the north. Balbelasan, of old Abra Province, but now in the northern part of extended Bontoc Province, is one of the pueblos which produce this beautiful ax. The blade is longer and very much slimmer than the Bontoc blade, but its marked distinguishing feature is the shape of the cutting edge. The blade is ground on two straight lines joined together by a short curved line, giving the edge the striking form of the beak of a rapacious bird. The slender, graceful handle, always fitted with a long iron ferrule, has a process on the under side near the middle. The handle is also usually fitted with a decorated metal ferrule at the tip and frequently is decorated for its full length with bands of brass or tin, or with sheets of either metal artistically incised.

"The Balbelasan ax is not used by the pueblos making it, or at least by many of them, but finds its field of usefulness east and northeast of Bontoc pueblo as far as the foothills of the mountains west of the Rio Grande de Cagayan. I was told by the Kalinga of this latter region that the people in the mountain close to the Cagayan in the vicinity of Cabagan Nuevo, Isabela Province, also use this ax."

On the variations in the use and non-use of the battle axe:

"In the southern and western part of the Bontoc area the battle-ax shares place with the bolo, the sole hand weapon of the Igorot of adjoining Lepanto, Benguet, and Nueva Vizcaya Provinces.

"The bolo within the Bontoc area comes from Sapao and from the Ilokano people of the west coast. The southern pueblo in the Bontoc area, Ambawan, uses the bolo of Sapao to the entire exclusion of the battle-ax. Tulubin, the next pueblo to Ambawan, and only an hour from it, uses almost solely the Baliwang battle-ax. Such pueblos as Titipan and Antedao, about three hours west of Bontoc, use both the ax and bolo, while the pueblos further west, as Agawa, Sagada, Balili, Alap, etc., use the bolo exclusively—frequently an Ilokano weapon."

On the Sapao bolo and the Moro barong:

"The Sapao bolo is, in appearance, superior to that of Ilokano manufacture. It is a broad blade swelling markedly toward the center, and is somewhat similar in shape to the barong of the Sulu Moro of the Sulu Archipelago. This weapon finds its chief field of use in the Quiangan and Banawi areas."

One of the pics below shows a Sapao smithy.

Note also in the pics below that it was the same "Malay forge" [also called the double-bellows forge, a 2,000-year old design?] that was used throughout the Philippines, whether it was in the highlands of the Cordillera in northern Luzon, or down south in the Moro areas of Mindanao.

Finally, the color pic below is from the Ayala Museum dioramas. It depicts what a foundry in ancient Phils. must have looked like, i.e., about 1,500 to 2,000 years ago.

[Tim Simmons]

More of the same, nice weapons here. Does anybody have one like in the large picture.

[Nonoy Tan]

Here it is, Tim, including a "Kalaw" headdress and axe from the Ilongots.
Sorry for the bad pics.

Nonoy

[Nonoy Tan]

Here is an old shield graphically illustrating the deadly "Kalinga" axe, as carved on its surface.

[Tim Simmons]

Thanks for that Nonoy. It is very interesting. From your picture the blade appears crudely made which is a surprise. That does not mean in real space it is not well made. It could be heavy, with good balanced and well shaped. I was just expecting something very exciting judging from the most attractive scabbard. It is more than likely that there is considerable varriation to the quality of shaping to these blades. I have these two pieces the pictures are poor and the flash wipes away any subtlety.

[Nonoy Tan]

Hi Tim

Yes, the Ilongot blades come in different forms and quality. There are those that are of such fineness especially those intended for use in ceremonies and "public display."

The axe I posted along with the Ilongot headdress, although originating (geographically) from Ilongot territory is actually a hybird in my opinion. The S-curved blade indicates an Isneg influence, while the brass plate at the bottom of the handle (not seen in the photo) clearly shows Ilongot work.

Your axe, in my opinion in Bontok. Nice ferrule.

The Ifugaw Hinalung appears in the photo to be a large one. Such size of Hinalung were made for chopping wood (as well as a defense weapon).

[Nonoy Tan]

HERE IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF MY AXS FROM THAT POST. IT WAS IDENTIFIED FOR ME AS AN AX USED BY THE YAPAYAO PEOPLE OF APAYAO AND PARTS OF LLOCOS NORTE, TWO PROVENCES IN NORTH LUZON. IT IS REFERRED TO THERE AS AN "ALIWA" AND WAS SAID IN THIS CASE TO BE A BINAROY TYPE.

Based on the literature by Morice Vanoverbergh, i.e. "Dress and Adornment in the Mountain Province of Luzon, Philippine Islands"; "The Isneg Farmer"; and "Isneg-English Vocabulary"...

There appears to be no such "Binaroy" axe among the Isneg of Apayao. Instead, the closest type of axe which resembles that posted by VANDOO in this thread is the "Aliwa," specifically the "Badan" type.

The first time I encountered the word "Binaroy" was at the Macau Exhibit - and assumed it to be accurate. However, after going through the above cited literature, I am now in doubt. I wonder where the term "Binaroy" comes from