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Originally Posted by Andrew
I'm dying to have these swords translated! I have also read (can't recall where, specifically) that the "stories" are Buddhist. The panels at the forte may be much more interesting.
I'll post pix of the knife you sold me for comparison, as the story that appears there is different than any I've personally seen. It actually depicts a forge.
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A forge? I bet I know what that one is. Remember that monograph on the iron & steel industry in turn-of-the-century Burma that I sent you a while back? There is a story in there of the Burmese "father of smithing" (sort of a Vulcan-like figure -- the Roman god, not Spock!). He was big and strong and married a princess, but the king got jealous and had him killed. The author says that it is a common theme on story dha, but I have never seen one I was sure showed it. I will look up the specifics when I get home tonight.
The stories are scenes from Buddhist Jattaka (stories of the life of Gautama Buddha, and I think of his previous lives as well), as well as stories from Burmese folklore (like the swordsmith one). I am pursuing leads for translation in Burma. Slowly, unfortunately.