Very long dha

Mark · 21st November 2007, 04:51 PM

Coincedentally, this photo just came up on e-bay. I had to wait until I'd completed the purchase, but here it is. It is captioned "Burmese Warriors at the Review of Native Chiefs Retinues." They can be identified as Shan by their dress (floppy hats and wide pants). Notice the size of the dha some of these guys are carrying. I haven't heard the term Rahkine before. A chief would be called a Sawbaw (also transliterated in various other ways). Perhaps a Rahkine is a retainer, or a specialized army unit.

PUFF · 22nd November 2007, 01:06 AM

Rakhine refers to ethnic group or ethnic state on the south-west of Burma.
Collectors in my area often catagorize Dha from Burman side by their ethnic groups (other than Shan and Kachin).

Many thank for the photo

Mark · 22nd November 2007, 12:51 PM

I thought is sounded like "Rakhan" (Arracan). I wasn't sure if Rakhin was the same. As I said, though, I am sure these guys are Shan (unless they are dressed like them for some reason). Maybe they work for an Arracanese chief? Here is another Shan warrior.

.

Emanuel · 23rd November 2007, 12:34 AM

Wow Mark, nice pictures. I like the Shan garb, and those dha seem huge! It must take considerable dexterity to unsheath them.

wilked aka Khun Deng · 23rd November 2007, 10:28 AM

Wow is right. those are GREAT pictures! I've never seen or heard of these before (but there on my shopping list now)

Looking at the pictures along with Mark's comment on the one-handed grip, it does look like it's been shortened. Beautiful fit at the hilt scabbard, not so great at the pommel.

As for unsheathing them well that's the nice thing about being CHIEF - you either 1.don't have to or 2. someone does it for you

Dan

PUFF · 24th November 2007, 11:41 AM

Many thanks for the picture... it's Shan (Tai) people who using a kind of very long sword.

However, those Tai warrior may not related to Rakhan (Arracan) chief. It 's not unusual to find one ethnic group 's decoration style on another group 's objects. Many Lanna weapon use Tai decoration style though

I 'm also interested by those guys on the back. The picture res. 's so low that I could not figure out if they are indian or european. Would you mind to show it in higher resolution ?

Ian · 26th November 2007, 06:36 PM

The question of unusually long dha forms also brings to mind the squared-off swords of Assam and neighboring regions. These resemble the Kachin style sword seen in NW Burma and widely copied in other areas, including Thailand.

The Assamese "dha sword" is carried in an open-faced scabbard and the blade is typically more than 30 inches in length.

In the picture below: the top sword (1) is an Assamese "sword dha" (blade length 32 in.); (2) appears to be a transition between the Assamese and Kachin "sword dha" (blade length 26 in.); (3) is an unusual Kachin style "sword dha" that has a lobed guard in the Chinese style (courtesy of Philip Tom; blade length 27.5 in.); and (4) is a curved Kachin style "sword dha" (blade length 25.5 in.).

Each of these is longer than the usual Kachin style "sword dha" with a blade length that averages about 20-22 inches.

And then there is this one from Artzi's site that is truly massive -- massive dha

Ian.

Mark · 26th November 2007, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PUFF

Many thanks for the picture... it's Shan (Tai) people who using a kind of very long sword.

However, those Tai warrior may not related to Rakhan (Arracan) chief. It 's not unusual to find one ethnic group 's decoration style on another group 's objects. Many Lanna weapon use Tai decoration style though

I 'm also interested by those guys on the back. The picture res. 's so low that I could not figure out if they are indian or european. Would you mind to show it in higher resolution ?

I am afraid that is the best that I can do. If you referring to the bearded gentlemen seen over the shoulders of the Tai warriors, those are "native" troops, I believe Sikh.

21st November 2007, 04:51 PM	#1
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	Coincedentally, this photo just came up on e-bay. I had to wait until I'd completed the purchase, but here it is. It is captioned "Burmese Warriors at the Review of Native Chiefs Retinues." They can be identified as Shan by their dress (floppy hats and wide pants). Notice the size of the dha some of these guys are carrying. I haven't heard the term Rahkine before. A chief would be called a Sawbaw (also transliterated in various other ways). Perhaps a Rahkine is a retainer, or a specialized army unit. Attached Images

26th November 2007, 06:36 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,453	Long dha The question of unusually long dha forms also brings to mind the squared-off swords of Assam and neighboring regions. These resemble the Kachin style sword seen in NW Burma and widely copied in other areas, including Thailand. The Assamese "dha sword" is carried in an open-faced scabbard and the blade is typically more than 30 inches in length. In the picture below: the top sword (1) is an Assamese "sword dha" (blade length 32 in.); (2) appears to be a transition between the Assamese and Kachin "sword dha" (blade length 26 in.); (3) is an unusual Kachin style "sword dha" that has a lobed guard in the Chinese style (courtesy of Philip Tom; blade length 27.5 in.); and (4) is a curved Kachin style "sword dha" (blade length 25.5 in.). Each of these is longer than the usual Kachin style "sword dha" with a blade length that averages about 20-22 inches. And then there is this one from Artzi's site that is truly massive -- massive dha Ian.

22nd November 2007, 01:06 AM	#2
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Rakhine refers to ethnic group or ethnic state on the south-west of Burma. Collectors in my area often catagorize Dha from Burman side by their ethnic groups (other than Shan and Kachin). Many thank for the photo

22nd November 2007, 12:51 PM	#3
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	I thought is sounded like "Rakhan" (Arracan). I wasn't sure if Rakhin was the same. As I said, though, I am sure these guys are Shan (unless they are dressed like them for some reason). Maybe they work for an Arracanese chief? Here is another Shan warrior. .

23rd November 2007, 12:34 AM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Wow Mark, nice pictures. I like the Shan garb, and those dha seem huge! It must take considerable dexterity to unsheath them.

23rd November 2007, 10:28 AM	#5
wilked aka Khun Deng Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oahu, Hawaii Posts: 166	Wow is right. those are GREAT pictures! I've never seen or heard of these before (but there on my shopping list now) Looking at the pictures along with Mark's comment on the one-handed grip, it does look like it's been shortened. Beautiful fit at the hilt scabbard, not so great at the pommel. As for unsheathing them well that's the nice thing about being CHIEF - you either 1.don't have to or 2. someone does it for you Dan

24th November 2007, 11:41 AM	#6
PUFF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 30 miles north of Bangkok, 20 miles south of Ayuthaya, Thailand Posts: 224	Many thanks for the picture... it's Shan (Tai) people who using a kind of very long sword. However, those Tai warrior may not related to Rakhan (Arracan) chief. It 's not unusual to find one ethnic group 's decoration style on another group 's objects. Many Lanna weapon use Tai decoration style though I 'm also interested by those guys on the back. The picture res. 's so low that I could not figure out if they are indian or european. Would you mind to show it in higher resolution ?