Sinhala / Sri Lankan Swords?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by fernando

Olá Ibrahiim,
Evidence of the origin of the term caste and the assumption that there aren't any recorded kastanes before Portuguese arrival is one thing ... and the appearing of the sword and its given name as a result of Portuguese influence, is another.
... A missing link that you now well call hypothesis... a fresh one.
But then, entering the field of hypotheses, why not give a chance to that of the down curved quillons being a remnant of Portuguese swords characteristics ? Not to speak of that of the term Kastane deriving from Katana, the Japanese sword that appeared in the XIV century and which name was incorporated in the Portuguese language in the XVI century, after their arrival in Japan. We know that, once the term became (also) portuguese, was widely used in other continents and applied in a general sense to various types of edged weapons. Why then not possible that this was the way the Kastane got its name ... either given by Portuguese or even Cingalese ?

Salaams fernando ~ I agree entirely with your first paragraph and suggest that it is vital to the new hypothesis..Your paragraph 2 is also astute...I am indeed saying that the influence is from the Jinetta turned down quillon style but supplanted rather by the Buddhist emblems Nagas or minor Deities and a style taken directly from #115; The Tibettan connection.

The point about Japanese influence is one I have thought of only on passing..It's perhaps a bit of a stretch...and probably falls into the general area of "whats in a word"? Its a bit thin but at the same time thoroughly interesting; Kastane, Kattara, Katana, Kattar? Conversely I must say that the Jinnetta link now becomes stronger and that Portuguese-Sri Lankan cooperation in weapons manufacture may hold the key. When I mentioned Mediterranean influence I meant Portuguese as below...


The Castane, named so by the Portuguese, was introduced designed and built with Portuguese collaboration in Royal workshops in Sri Lanka in the late 1500/early1600s... and variously afterwards for many centuries. The Portuguese part of the design may have introduced the basic hilt shape and cutlass fashion popular in Portuguese/Spanish Jinetta forms whilst the main theme came from the Sri Lankan design taken from Buddhist structures in history encompassing Makara, supporting Deities and Buddhist ritual-item related Quillons (as at #115).

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.