The Sinhalese Kastane: Its Development, Decoration and Symbolism

[Prasanna Weerakkody]

Fernando, We know that the Sinhala texts use the term Kasthana as early as mid 1500's; yet as you say no reference to Kasthana in Portuguese texts. may be this is evidence that indicate that the origin of the name Kasthana did not have a Portuguese root and Portuguese used a different term to describe it.

The use of Calachurro hilts as an example of the excellence of casting skill would not only indicate that the Calachurro hilts were metal but was in some way a challenging task to cast. - Like a Kasthana hilt ???

Hope one day would get to see the excellent material available to you- which sadly is rare down here.

Ibrahiim, the publication date for the source of the image is given as 1605 which may preclude later revisions. but a point to be noted is that the original image does not seem to have the side rings indicated in the later copies; and may resemble the more ancient type of Sinhala swords (similar to the ones shown in the Ivory casket.)

regards Prasanna

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Prasanna Weerakkody

Ibrahiim, the publication date for the source of the image is given as 1605 which may preclude later revisions. but a point to be noted is that the original image does not seem to have the side rings indicated in the later copies; and may resemble the more ancient type of Sinhala swords (similar to the ones shown in the Ivory casket.)

regards Prasanna

Salaams Prasanna ..I would like to posit the following sub theory in respect of the Kasthane; I present my theory in several sections viz;

1.This is a home grown weapon. The king himself (King Rajasinghhe 1 reigned 1581 to 1593) ordered his workshops to design it...based upon a "golock style" of broad jungle blade with the respected hilt of zoomorphic form (the hilt more or less already existed in the region for example on the Pihae Kheata and on Javanese weapons) and initially with a crossguard more or less exactly as in the stone mural. (perhaps without scabbard, no handguard, no quillons) The date taken or suggested is near the start of his reign..about 1581..It is noted that he chose to assist him someone who could have influenced perhaps the nature of that weapon... from Southern India?

2. Quite soon after this the Vajra quillons were added though it seems clear they were not placed to block another sword but perhaps as balance/weight to the hilt or for decorative / religious purposes only. Further decoration included a handguard. The example is at the Sendai museum in Japan, thus, since it was purchased by Hasekura in about 1620 it may have been built around 1600?

3. The weapon then morphed in several ways and became a rank indicator worn by Sri Lankan troop leaders...as already described. The blades became narrower and more of a court sword item... Some weapons found their way to Europe and as displayed in the artwork on the Popham Armour in the Leeds Armoury...Some were straight others curved. The Kastane became the Mudalyers Sword worn by Sri Lankan leaders against the invader... and some would say it became the insignia of power.

4. Both Dutch and English Mudalyers (perhaps better considered as civil servants) wore the weapon and since it was tied to rank; The higher the official the more ornate the sword. During the Dutch period vast amounts of blades were imported by the VOC thus blade making in Sri Lanka greatly reduced...However Kastane continued to be worn right up to the end of the English period and beyond...and awarded to Mudalyers in the same way but in the EIC.

5. Reverse flow occured in influence onto other regional weapons including European dogheads plus early derivatives like the West African variant shown earlier.

It is interesting to note that perhaps the only European thing about the first Kastane was ..absolutely nothing ! It wasnt until the adoption of the handguard that any parallel can be drawn as to likeness to a European sword.

It is thus described above as initially a straight broad bladed battle sword and having changed with time into a court sword and badge of rank etc.
The Sri Lankan Kasthane.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Prasanna Weerakkody

Fernando, We know that the Sinhala texts use the term Kasthana as early as mid 1500's; yet as you say no reference to Kasthana in Portuguese texts. may be this is evidence that indicate that the origin of the name Kasthana did not have a Portuguese root and Portuguese used a different term to describe it.
The use of Calachurro hilts as an example of the excellence of casting skill would not only indicate that the Calachurro hilts were metal but was in some way a challenging task to cast. - Like a Kasthana hilt ??? ...

It is easy to support that the term Kasthana is not Portuguese; they were long gone by then. Besides, the word has no Portuguese characteristics, with its "K" letter and "th" spell. On the other hand we must remember that Calachurro is quoted by chroniclers as a name given by the locals, Lascarins for the case. We admit the usual corruption of the term to make it soundable in portuguese, which indeed so happens, but the term root is Sinhalese, whatever its local spell was. We may go into the fantasy of the name Calachurro being later changed to Kasthana due to its elevation from a field weapond to symbolic status, also influenced by dialect differences.
But then, i am potentialy talking nonsense.

Originally Posted by Prasanna Weerakkody

... Hope one day would get to see the excellent material available to you- which sadly is rare down here. ...

Well, you can have in any case the paper i have quoted, written in portuguese; who knows some day you manage to submit it to translation. In the meantime you may enjoy period drawings of Adam's peak, the Buddha footprint and multiple plants of Pagodas and fortifications; even the area where the Vedas lived.
As the PDF was too heavy and beyond forum allowance, i took the libverty to send it to your email address. I hope it gets there.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Interesting bit of bed head carving showing zoomorphic characters ... and below that the King inspecting Mudalyers/leaders late in the English period.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by fernando

... We may go into the fantasy of the name Calachurro being later changed to Kasthana ... But then, i am potentialy talking nonsense...

Obviously i am talking nonsense. You just reminded us a couple posts ago that the term Kasthana appears in texts since the mid 1550's.
But considering the coexistance of both swords, each one with its purpose ...
Have a (new) look at the sword used at Gannoruwa Battle by King Rajasinghe II, back in 1638. Practicaly no decorations, no 'false quillons', a reasonably wide and sharp edged blade ...
Its total length is 62.02 cm.
João Ribeiro mentions that the calachurro was two and half palms long (55 cms.); he might wish to exclude that it wasn't six whole palms (66 cms.).
May we admit that by 1638 the Kasthana was already and only a rank adornment.
King Rajasinghe would then need a more operational sword to go to war.
Could this be a Calachurro ?

.

[derek]

Here are a few pics of the two I have owned. The more complete hilt example is still in my possession

[Kurt]

Here are two from my collection.
Kurt

[derek]

Very nice!

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

I was studying the sunburst design in Sri Lankan work ... I refer to the sworls or sunburst activity in the lionesque maine or serpents gills (depending how you view it) at the throat of zoomorphic beast forming the hilt...See below.