Straight Parang Nabur or?

VVV · 26th January 2006, 06:24 PM

Albert,

I can't see any inventory no in the description (unless it corresponds to the picture no)?
But these three swords were all collected in "Banjar" (Banjarmasin?)
by Christian, W.G.A.C.
Unfortunately no dates or further description except what material they are made of.

Michael

VVV · 26th January 2006, 06:36 PM

Mark,

Do you have any picture example to illustrate the resemblence to the version of vajra you had in mind?
There are some old Hindu statues left in N Sarawak but I haven't read about any major Buddhist influences in Borneo?
Except Chinese visitors and settlers of course.

Michael

Albert · 29th January 2006, 09:15 PM

I found four swords of this type in the Juynboll catalogue of the Leiden musem. Inventory numbers 761-40, 41, 154, 158. All these swords are collected before 1890.
The catalogue does not give much information. The swords are described, but "a picture (as posted on this forum) says more than a thousand words".
As names are given: pedang jenawi, pedang jenawi besar (big) and pedang jenawi kecil (small). The provenance is Negara, south-east Borneo. One of the swords has brass Arabic digits incrusted into the blade.

VVV · 29th January 2006, 09:28 PM

Thanks Albert for the interesting info!!!

Michael

VVV · 20th August 2007, 12:16 PM

I managed to find one for my collection (Thanks Stefan!).
This must be a Pedang Jenawi Besar, based on it's size (Jenawi is straight and Besar is big).
It's both huge and heavy. The blade is supposed to be inspired by Arabic swords but this one reminds me more of old European swords?
"Banjarmasin red and black" colours on the hilt.

Michael

ariel · 20th August 2007, 03:10 PM

I would suggest that "Jenawi" is just another transliteration of the word used to define straight Moroccan swords: Jenawi, genoui etc, etc
It all means "Genoese" and referred to straight blades ( European, mostly) vs. curved "Oriental" ones.
I guess this word might have been brought to SE Asia by the Arab traders and just stayed there.

VVV · 20th August 2007, 03:58 PM

Ariel,

That sounds probable as south of Borneo had a lot of visits from Arab traders and this sword was used by the Muslim Malays, not the Dayaks.

Michael

20th August 2007, 12:16 PM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	I managed to find one for my collection (Thanks Stefan!). This must be a Pedang Jenawi Besar, based on it's size (Jenawi is straight and Besar is big). It's both huge and heavy. The blade is supposed to be inspired by Arabic swords but this one reminds me more of old European swords? "Banjarmasin red and black" colours on the hilt. Michael Attached Images

26th January 2006, 06:24 PM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Albert, I can't see any inventory no in the description (unless it corresponds to the picture no)? But these three swords were all collected in "Banjar" (Banjarmasin?) by Christian, W.G.A.C. Unfortunately no dates or further description except what material they are made of. Michael

26th January 2006, 06:36 PM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Mark, Do you have any picture example to illustrate the resemblence to the version of vajra you had in mind? There are some old Hindu statues left in N Sarawak but I haven't read about any major Buddhist influences in Borneo? Except Chinese visitors and settlers of course. Michael

29th January 2006, 09:15 PM	#3
Albert Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 200	I found four swords of this type in the Juynboll catalogue of the Leiden musem. Inventory numbers 761-40, 41, 154, 158. All these swords are collected before 1890. The catalogue does not give much information. The swords are described, but "a picture (as posted on this forum) says more than a thousand words". As names are given: pedang jenawi, pedang jenawi besar (big) and pedang jenawi kecil (small). The provenance is Negara, south-east Borneo. One of the swords has brass Arabic digits incrusted into the blade.

29th January 2006, 09:28 PM	#4
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Albert for the interesting info!!! Michael

20th August 2007, 03:10 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I would suggest that "Jenawi" is just another transliteration of the word used to define straight Moroccan swords: Jenawi, genoui etc, etc It all means "Genoese" and referred to straight blades ( European, mostly) vs. curved "Oriental" ones. I guess this word might have been brought to SE Asia by the Arab traders and just stayed there.

20th August 2007, 03:58 PM	#7
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Ariel, That sounds probable as south of Borneo had a lot of visits from Arab traders and this sword was used by the Muslim Malays, not the Dayaks. Michael