Sinhala / Sri Lankan Swords?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Gustav

Dear Prasanna, thank you for these posts. At least something substantial and relevant here.

Salaams Gustav, If I can simply illustrate how far we have advanced on this thread our understanding of the developed main thrust of this topic "The Kastane " and incidentally the broader view regarding other Sri Lankan weapons as well as the fine addition by Prasanne on the likely origins of the sword seen on the Sri Lankan National Flag etc;

We are perhaps close to identifying the Japanese item with what could well be a Falchion/Storta blade ... which forms a great little side avenue for research and which has taken many hours of deliberate and exacting research. The avenue includes potential links to oriental weapons and influence through Portuguese involvement in Sri Lankan designs from the outset in 1505. The journey by Hasekura Tsunenaga has been an amazing episode where parallel research opened my eyes in addition to the Sri Lankan/Chinese relations with the Ming dynasty etc. Getting a clear picture of Hasekura's involvement has been confounded by incomplete data and conflicting reports but I believe we are much better informed than before and despite the idiosyncrasies of 400 years of clouded detail understandably lost in time.

Much of the involvement by the three invaders Portuguese, Dutch and British has been unfurled and their effects on the key weapon in the Sri Lankan blades arsenal; The Kastane. We have observed the link with the Royal Workshops, the development of the weapon as a Court Sword and badge of office and rank. The ancient historical link and influence of design by Buddhist/Hindu pre-history has been given great attention.

Over all great strides have been made in our understanding; Therefor I have to ask of your remark above...Is that the best you can do?

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Therefor I have to ask of your remark above...Is that the best you can do?

Let's not go down this path, please.

[ariel]

Dear Prasanna,
In your post #254 you showed an old and presumably Sri Lankan patissa.
Quite some time ago I posted 2 of my patissas:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6012

Do you think they might be Sri Lankan as well? Will you hazard a guess re. their age?

They are made out of bloomery steel, the earliest and the most primitive way of obtaining enough material to hammer into a blade.

[Prasanna Weerakkody]

Fernando- still a bit puzzled by the Calachurro. The term “Kala Kiringne” is still in use for a type of knuckle duster. but even the word “Kala Kirichchiya” is not in proper use as to my knowledge. been discussing this with some Angam folk as well, but nothing significant is extant that clearly indicate this arm.

My personal assumption though is that it probably refers to the short wide bladed sword depicted as in the Gladiator at “Ambekke devale” illustration above. though no artifacts of these swords are found this sword is the most prolifically illustrated sword of the period. I am including an image from a frieze in Ridi-vihara depicting gladiators fighting with these swords.

Ariel, interesting to see those swords. The similar styled Sri Lankan swords are dated roughly between 5th -12th centuries in both Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa kingdoms. I would not be sure of a particular name given to them though; there are references to patissa in certain sources I am not sure if it refers to this. There is one curious difference though in construction; the Sinhala swords are assembled as hilt and guard sections inserted to a rod extension of the blade and held together with a screw on end piece similar to the X -ray radiograph image shown. your hilts seem to be cast separately and fitted to the blade with pins. (??)

Prasanna

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Prasanna Weerakkody

...I am including an image from a frieze in Ridi-vihara depicting gladiators fighting with these swords...

Amazing!
See how a Portuguese has depicted the Chingalas* in the XVI century ... pass his naíve trace and artist's freedom.
(Watercolours belonging to the Casanatense Codice, from which i have both a basic and a de luxe reproduction ... both full of support articles and chronicles).

* or Chingalás; how the Portuguese called the Sinhalese in those days.


.

[Prasanna Weerakkody]

Fernando,
great to have this image- actually it seems quite accurate, the Hair and mustache styles, ornaments etc. match the style of the Sinhalese (Chingalas) at the time. so the weapons should also be faithfully reproduced. the swords match the local illustrations as well. Fantastic image find. Thanks again for sharing.

Prasanna

[fernando]

Glad to be useful