Dohong | |
---|---|
Type | Dagger, short sword |
Place of origin | Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia) |
Service history | |
Used by | Dayak people (Ngaju people) |
Specifications | |
Length | approximately 45 cm (18 in) |
Blade type | Single edge |
Hilt type | Wood, horse or goat hair |
Scabbard/sheath | Wood |
The Dohong (also Duhong or Duhung) is a dagger or short war sword from Borneo. The name is used figuratively to imply bravery. In other parts of Borneo, it is simply referred to as Mandau. [1] The Dohong is considered an ancient Dayak sword that was used long before the Mandau was introduced. [2] It is believed to be the oldest weapon of the Dayak people. [3] According to folklore, the first people who owns the Dohong are the forefathers of Dayak people, namely Raja Sangen, Raja Sangiang, and Raja Bunu. [4]
There are two types of Dohong. One version serves as a combat weapon, and the other as a ceremonial weapon:- [5]
The Dohong has a double-edged, leaf- or wedge-shaped blade. The blade widens from the hilt to the end-tip. The tip is pointed. The blade usually has a central ridge and looks similar to a spearhead. [6] There are different versions that differ in shape, hilt and decoration. There are blades that represent a figure with arms and legs. The hilt, without guard, is often decorated with feathers and is made of wood or antler. [7] The scabbards are made of wood and made of two halves. They are held together with rattan straps. The surfaces are decorated with carvings, often depicting a face. [5]
In contrast to the normal Dohong, the handle and the blade are made differently. The blade is worked out into a figurative representation, as is the hilt. The scabbard is made of wood and is carved with a depiction of a face. The ceremonial dohong is used in mourning ceremonies and worn by women when warriors return from headhunting to the village. Amulets made of shark teeth or bear claws are often attached to the belts that holds the Dohong. [5]
Central Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia. It is one of five provinces in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. It is bordered by West Kalimantan to the west, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan to the east, Java Sea to the south and is separated narrowly from North Kalimantan and Malaysia by East Kalimantan's Mahakam Ulu Regency. Its provincial capital is Palangka Raya and in 2010 its population was over 2.2 million, while the 2020 Census showed a total of almost 2.67 million; the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 2,741,075.
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A Rudus is a sword or cutlass associated with the Malay culture of Sumatra. Together with the pemandap, the rudus is among the largest swords of Malay people. Rudus is also a symbol of certain Malay state in the Island, e.g. the Province of Bengkulu in Sumatra, Indonesia.
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