The Sinhalese Kastane: Its Development, Decoration and Symbolism

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 7th October 2017, 01:49 AM

Please note that There are 11 pages of Buddhist Tibbettan Purba religious objects at z.pinterest.com/pin/360076932690957766/ contains about 11 pages of Purba and is worth reading for its content.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 21st October 2017, 05:28 PM

Following on from thread and above I illustrate here the evidence of cross regional influence from Buddhist sword architecture from ceremonial religious themes onto The Sri Lankan Kastane; The Quillons. This is the second statue of Buddha and similar to the figure at #191 previously. Secondary influence can be seen in Phurba and Vajra examples previously.

This clue first came to my attention from a Met Museum annual publication and here from an excellent picture from the web. It illustrated the application of an apparent quillons structure ~ however it has to be borne in mind that this type of quillon and indeed the sword form were not battle mode weapons... neither, in fact, was the Sri Lankan Kastane to which it was design related. The important lesson here is that this design as with much of the Kastane reflected from neighboring regions including Tibet, India and as far afield as Japan in the religious sense and that far from being a European design this was essentially Home Grown and from regional influence.

The Met write up includes the date of this statue. Viz; 12thC.

From https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/44842 Quote"Fudō Myōō (Achala-vidyārāja), 12th century. Japan. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975 (1975.268.163) | Fudō Myōō uses his sword to cut through ignorance and his lasso to reign in those who would block the path to enlightenment. #sword''Unquote.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 1st November 2017, 09:50 AM

Viewing Kastane hilts through different eyes brings a differing perspective on an interesting subject. Since the historical meaning is shrouded in history and the zoomorphic licence to create a variety of Iconic creatures is very much up to the specialist artisan working in the Royal Workshops many features on the hilt are changed to meet the multi faceted nature of the sword..and bearing in mind its non battle application and its respected place as a badge of office and rank in society.
Below are some examples of the different styles.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 4th November 2017, 08:20 PM

One particular aspect of the Kastane design has been very difficult to picture since it is not on all variants and is difficult to see unless the sword is turned through 90 degrees; I refer to what is known as a humano-crocodile face on the knuckleguard illustrated on this sold item below although it is termed a fanged demon~

I refer to another on Forum Library at

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...1&postcount=48

Jim McDougall · 4th November 2017, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Viewing Kastane hilts through different eyes brings a differing perspective on an interesting subject. Since the historical meaning is shrouded in history and the zoomorphic licence to create a variety of Iconic creatures is very much up to the specialist artisan working in the Royal Workshops many features on the hilt are changed to meet the multi faceted nature of the sword..and bearing in mind its non battle application and its respected place as a badge of office and rank in society.
Below are some examples of the different styles.

Fascinating range of zoomorphics, and as you note, fashioned in accord with clientele demands and skills of the artisans. The character of these depicted creatures is indeed reflective of certain symbolisms distinctive to the person wearing the sword in court or parade settings.

The one being held by the gloved individual(post #196 upper left photo) is one that was found, if I recall, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and there was a great discussion of how in the world a Sinhalese sword ended up there around the turn of the century c.1800. There were some entries in I believe a trade ledger of the company there which described a number of 'dragon swords'. As we have seen with the Hasekura example in Japan which seems to have filtered through trade in the Philippines, it has been suggested Spanish trade may have been involved.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 5th November 2017, 11:47 AM

Salaams Jim, The Vancouver situation is very interesting although I have no idea how it turned up there..
Although the Papal act gave the Indian Ocean to Portugal and South America to the Spanish (for exploration etc), I know that Spanish ships were also in the region..and discovered the shorter route rather than having to haul via Acupulco to The Filipines etc. How the Sendai item arrived in the Filipines is a mystery and who put the blade and hilt together? ...or in fact if it is original is a further puzzle.

The difficulty attached to the Sendai Museum is what blade is shown there? It has a Makara on the blade which could be either Chinese or Indian..Technically it could even be Sri Lankan. It is a problem as previously discussed and the blade itself is very heavy by comparison to a normal Kastane...and more like the stone carving, ...however, it is extremely difficult to compare a carved item with an actual blade...and whereas the other potential assist via the Leeds museum is a painting with a sheathed Kastane (On The Popham armour)...is thus equally hard to compare.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 17th November 2017, 02:39 AM

Dutch involvement in the Dutch East Indies has spawned an unlikely transfer of design. The pommel design of the Sri Lankan Kastane appears on the Dogs Head Royal Navy Cutlass; The 1720 Dog head. See the European Forum #1 at~!

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23367

and below ~

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 22nd November 2017, 01:08 PM

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 22nd November 2017, 01:10 PM

Linking two sites here on Library see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...340#post224340

~since clearly the two weapons the Castane and the Piha Kaetta were probably made at the same time and in the same workshops...illustrated by the similar finish to the end of the scabbards in either case... being a Parrots head form.

Kastana

The national sword of Ceylon. Typically a short curved single-edged watered blade, double-edged at the point. The hilt comprises a knuckle-guard and down-turned quillons, each terminating in a dragon's head with large in-set eyes. The dragon's head is usually decorated throughout with gold or silver panels and the pommel with tongue is formed from a piece of wood or red coral. The dragon's mane trails down the grip and is decorated with silver and gilt repousse floral designs. The entire hilt is often made of silver or gold and even inlaid with jewels. The blade close to the hilt is decorated with floral or thatched designs. The scabbard is made from wood and is covered with embossed and chased silver worked with flowers with leafy borders and richly ornamental.
The swords were intended to serve as badges of rank. Rev. James Cordiner in 1807 wrote that everyone in office wears a sword with a silver hilt and scabbard. These swords were made in the Royal workshops known as the "Rankadu Pattala" or "golden sword workshop" and the quality of the piece always depended on the rank of the wearer.

21st October 2017, 05:28 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	12th century. Japanese Buddhist Ceremonial Sword. Quillons Influence. Following on from thread and above I illustrate here the evidence of cross regional influence from Buddhist sword architecture from ceremonial religious themes onto The Sri Lankan Kastane; The Quillons. This is the second statue of Buddha and similar to the figure at #191 previously. Secondary influence can be seen in Phurba and Vajra examples previously. This clue first came to my attention from a Met Museum annual publication and here from an excellent picture from the web. It illustrated the application of an apparent quillons structure ~ however it has to be borne in mind that this type of quillon and indeed the sword form were not battle mode weapons... neither, in fact, was the Sri Lankan Kastane to which it was design related. The important lesson here is that this design as with much of the Kastane reflected from neighboring regions including Tibet, India and as far afield as Japan in the religious sense and that far from being a European design this was essentially Home Grown and from regional influence. The Met write up includes the date of this statue. Viz; 12thC. From https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/44842 Quote"Fudō Myōō (Achala-vidyārāja), 12th century. Japan. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975 (1975.268.163) \| Fudō Myōō uses his sword to cut through ignorance and his lasso to reign in those who would block the path to enlightenment. #sword''Unquote. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 21st October 2017 at 05:59 PM.

1st November 2017, 09:50 AM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Viewing Kastane hilts through different eyes brings a differing perspective on an interesting subject. Since the historical meaning is shrouded in history and the zoomorphic licence to create a variety of Iconic creatures is very much up to the specialist artisan working in the Royal Workshops many features on the hilt are changed to meet the multi faceted nature of the sword..and bearing in mind its non battle application and its respected place as a badge of office and rank in society. Below are some examples of the different styles. Attached Images

4th November 2017, 08:20 PM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	One particular aspect of the Kastane design has been very difficult to picture since it is not on all variants and is difficult to see unless the sword is turned through 90 degrees; I refer to what is known as a humano-crocodile face on the knuckleguard illustrated on this sold item below although it is termed a fanged demon~ I refer to another on Forum Library at http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...1&postcount=48 Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 5th November 2017 at 12:33 PM.

17th November 2017, 02:39 AM	#7
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Dutch involvement in the Dutch East Indies has spawned an unlikely transfer of design. The pommel design of the Sri Lankan Kastane appears on the Dogs Head Royal Navy Cutlass; The 1720 Dog head. See the European Forum #1 at~! http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23367 and below ~ Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 17th November 2017 at 03:05 AM.

7th October 2017, 01:49 AM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Please note that There are 11 pages of Buddhist Tibbettan Purba religious objects at z.pinterest.com/pin/360076932690957766/ contains about 11 pages of Purba and is worth reading for its content.

5th November 2017, 11:47 AM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams Jim, The Vancouver situation is very interesting although I have no idea how it turned up there.. Although the Papal act gave the Indian Ocean to Portugal and South America to the Spanish (for exploration etc), I know that Spanish ships were also in the region..and discovered the shorter route rather than having to haul via Acupulco to The Filipines etc. How the Sendai item arrived in the Filipines is a mystery and who put the blade and hilt together? ...or in fact if it is original is a further puzzle. The difficulty attached to the Sendai Museum is what blade is shown there? It has a Makara on the blade which could be either Chinese or Indian..Technically it could even be Sri Lankan. It is a problem as previously discussed and the blade itself is very heavy by comparison to a normal Kastane...and more like the stone carving, ...however, it is extremely difficult to compare a carved item with an actual blade...and whereas the other potential assist via the Leeds museum is a painting with a sheathed Kastane (On The Popham armour)...is thus equally hard to compare.

22nd November 2017, 01:08 PM	#8
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408

22nd November 2017, 01:10 PM	#9
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Linking two sites here on Library see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...340#post224340 ~since clearly the two weapons the Castane and the Piha Kaetta were probably made at the same time and in the same workshops...illustrated by the similar finish to the end of the scabbards in either case... being a Parrots head form. Kastana The national sword of Ceylon. Typically a short curved single-edged watered blade, double-edged at the point. The hilt comprises a knuckle-guard and down-turned quillons, each terminating in a dragon's head with large in-set eyes. The dragon's head is usually decorated throughout with gold or silver panels and the pommel with tongue is formed from a piece of wood or red coral. The dragon's mane trails down the grip and is decorated with silver and gilt repousse floral designs. The entire hilt is often made of silver or gold and even inlaid with jewels. The blade close to the hilt is decorated with floral or thatched designs. The scabbard is made from wood and is covered with embossed and chased silver worked with flowers with leafy borders and richly ornamental. The swords were intended to serve as badges of rank. Rev. James Cordiner in 1807 wrote that everyone in office wears a sword with a silver hilt and scabbard. These swords were made in the Royal workshops known as the "Rankadu Pattala" or "golden sword workshop" and the quality of the piece always depended on the rank of the wearer.