Parang Nabur

VVV · 26th November 2008, 03:32 PM

Yours is a very nice, and quite rare, variation of the Beladah Belabang (aka "Parang Nabur" nowadays among collectors outside the culture).
It was used by the coastal Malays of Southeast Borneo, usually found around the Banjarmasin and Negara area.
Sometimes they also show up as regalia in other Malay areas.
They don't have anything to do with either Sea-dayak or any other kind of dayak-tribe.
The square is quite common on Malay weapons from south Borneo.
Yours is related to the Islamic magic square, wafq, where the numeric value of the arabic letters in all directions are the same.
This value represents a "hidden" name. Like the most common one is the Buduh (3 x 3) also known as Adam's seal.
The 4 x 4 is Plato's seal etc...
There is a lot of symbolism within the squares and by itself it also has baraka, "the Force".

Michael

26th November 2008, 03:32 PM	#2
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Yours is a very nice, and quite rare, variation of the Beladah Belabang (aka "Parang Nabur" nowadays among collectors outside the culture). It was used by the coastal Malays of Southeast Borneo, usually found around the Banjarmasin and Negara area. Sometimes they also show up as regalia in other Malay areas. They don't have anything to do with either Sea-dayak or any other kind of dayak-tribe. The square is quite common on Malay weapons from south Borneo. Yours is related to the Islamic magic square, wafq, where the numeric value of the arabic letters in all directions are the same. This value represents a "hidden" name. Like the most common one is the Buduh (3 x 3) also known as Adam's seal. The 4 x 4 is Plato's seal etc... There is a lot of symbolism within the squares and by itself it also has baraka, "the Force". Michael