Chinese dha (daidao) for comment

josh stout · 6th July 2007, 03:38 PM

That is an intriguing mishmash of styles. The carnelians on the scabbard remind me very strongly of Tibetan work. I am fascinated with influences at the border regions of China. Mostly I have looked at Chinese/Tibetan stylistic attributes, but this last dha seems to go around the corner as it were from Sichuan to Yunnan and down to Burma.

The daidao I posted does seem to have a stronger Chinese influence in its blade than others I have seen from Yunnan province. I am looking forward to seeing how it is constructed. It is almost certainly laminated, but I think with a less pronounced pattern than one would find in Tibetan or Yi blades. The pattern may be difficult to see without some work. How would the blade be attached to the handle? Is the tang peened over at the end?

While I am thinking about border influences, does anyone know anything about the Yi from Yunnan? Would they use a dha/daidao or stay with the zhebeidao as found in Sichuan? I have a decent idea now what to expect from the Northern Yi, but I have never seen anything from their southern cousins. There is supposedly a strong Burmese influence.
Josh

Ian · 6th July 2007, 07:18 PM

Josh:

You raise some interesting quesions about Sino-border styles, and the likeness to Tibetan decorative style is apparent in the example I posted.

The sword dha favored by the Kachin was found throughout the range they previously occupied in the 18th and 19th C, which extended as far west as Assam. Such westward migration would have brought them into fairly close proximity to Tibet, so a direct connection may be possible. That particular sword has some age to it, and is probably a 19th C. example.

Ian.

6th July 2007, 03:38 PM	#1
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	That is an intriguing mishmash of styles. The carnelians on the scabbard remind me very strongly of Tibetan work. I am fascinated with influences at the border regions of China. Mostly I have looked at Chinese/Tibetan stylistic attributes, but this last dha seems to go around the corner as it were from Sichuan to Yunnan and down to Burma. The daidao I posted does seem to have a stronger Chinese influence in its blade than others I have seen from Yunnan province. I am looking forward to seeing how it is constructed. It is almost certainly laminated, but I think with a less pronounced pattern than one would find in Tibetan or Yi blades. The pattern may be difficult to see without some work. How would the blade be attached to the handle? Is the tang peened over at the end? While I am thinking about border influences, does anyone know anything about the Yi from Yunnan? Would they use a dha/daidao or stay with the zhebeidao as found in Sichuan? I have a decent idea now what to expect from the Northern Yi, but I have never seen anything from their southern cousins. There is supposedly a strong Burmese influence. Josh

6th July 2007, 07:18 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,470	Josh: You raise some interesting quesions about Sino-border styles, and the likeness to Tibetan decorative style is apparent in the example I posted. The sword dha favored by the Kachin was found throughout the range they previously occupied in the 18th and 19th C, which extended as far west as Assam. Such westward migration would have brought them into fairly close proximity to Tibet, so a direct connection may be possible. That particular sword has some age to it, and is probably a 19th C. example. Ian.