Huiyen Lallong

Last updated

Huiyen Lallong
Also known as
  • Huiyen Lalong
  • Huiyen Lallon
  • Huiyen Lalon
  • Huiyen Lanlon
  • Huiyen Langlon
  • Huiyen Langlong
  • Huyen Lallong
  • Huyen Lalong
  • Huyen Lallon
  • Huyen Lalon
  • Huyen Lanlon
  • Huyen Langlon
  • Huyen Langlong
Country of origin Flag of India.svg India
Creator Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (according to Meitei tradition)
Olympic sportNo
Thang-ta Thang-ta,Manipur.jpg
Thang-ta

Huiyen Lallong is a traditional Meitei martial art form. It is one of the Indian martial arts, originating from Manipur. [1] In the Meitei language, Huiyen means war while Lallong or Lanlong can mean net, knowledge or art. Huiyen Langlon consists of two main subforms: Thang-Ta (armed combat) and Sarit Sarak (unarmed fighting). The primary weapons of Huiyen Lallong are the Thang (sword) and Ta (spear). The spear can be used in its non-missile form while up close, or thrown from afar. Other weapons include the shield and the axe. Unarmed combat incorporates hand strikes, kicks, and grappling ( Mukna ). Because of Manipur's cultural similarity and geographical proximity with Myanmar, huyen langlon is closely related to Burmese bando and banshay.

Contents

The Thang-Ta aspect of huyen langlon can be practiced in three ways: ritual, demonstration, and combat. The first way is related to tantric practices and is entirely ritualistic in nature. The second way consists of a spectacular performance involving sword and spear dances. These routines can be converted into actual fighting practices. The third way is the true combat application.

Thang-Ta shares a connection with certain war-dances, often blurring the line between dance and combat forms, such as Thang-hairol (sword dance) and Khousarol (spear dance). Many ritualistic dances in Manipur were traditionally performed by martial artists such as the spear dance for funerals or the sacred Thenkou dance. The sword movements in dance are meant to either symbolize protection or to ward off evil spirits. [2] As a result, it is part of the Manipuri classical dance. [3] [4] [5]

History

All that can be gleaned of huyen langlon's ancient history comes from hymns and legends. Folklore links the creation of huyen langlon and its related dances with the native animist gods. Manipur was a valley protected from neighbouring Hindu, Burmese and Chinese kingdoms by hills. The valley people were divided into seven related clans, known as yek, salai, or pana. These were the Mangang, Luwang, Khuman, Angom, Moirang, Khaba-Nganba and Sarang Leishangthem. [6] Before their integration into a single unified Meitei community, these clans each ruled separate principalities over which they fought amongst each other.

The earliest written record of huyen langlon come from the Puya or written records handed down to posterity by the forefathers of the Meiteis [7] [ circular reference ], which record the history of the Manipur royalty in archaic Meitei script. The Chainarol-Puya details the ethics of duelling. The fights took place under strict rules of conduct and to violate them was shameful and sinful. When a fighter is challenged, the day for the bout is fixed to allow for time to prepare the weapons. Allowing the opponent the first chance to fire an arrow or hurl a spear was considered particularly courageous. The duel itself was not necessarily to the death and usually ended once first blood has been drawn. However, the victor was expected to behead the loser. Either before the duel or before the beheading, the fighters would share the meals and wine prepared by their wives. If it had been so requested beforehand, the loser's body may be cremated. Heads were taken as trophies, as was custom among the headhunters of northeast India. Taboos existed such as not killing an opponent who runs, begs or cries out of fear, or anyone who pleads for protection.

Until this point, most of the fighters were commoners who also served as warriors. Loiyamba Shinyen (1074-1122 AD) introduced an armed force or lallup, while King Punshiba (1404-1432 AD) created a permanent military department known as Shingchep Meira Haijouroi, paving the way for the conqueror kings of the 15th century. The warrior queen Linthoingambi successfully defeated raiding Tangkhul tribesmen while the king was absent. Her husband Meidingu Ningthou Khomba took advantage of his highly trained warriors and expanded the kingdom's territory. Their son Meidingu Senbi Kiyamba, an expert with the spear, eventually went on to conquer the Shan kingdom of Kyang.

Meidingu Pamheiba (1709-1748 AD) is regarded as one of Manipur's greatest kings. He upgraded the lallup system, making it the duty of every male above 16 to serve the state for 10 in 40 days. Therefore each person served the state some 90 days in a year, with martial arts as part of their training. Thus Manipur had no true standing army and relied on its individual warriors for protection. Pamheiba's development of the military paid off. His warriors fought Tripura and the Burmese kingdom of Awa, expanding Meitei rule as far as Cachar. Conflict with the Burmese continued through the 18th and 19th centuries, culminating in the Chahi-Taret Khuntakpa or Seven Years Devastation. As muskets were not widely available, swords and spears remained the primary weapons of both the Burmese and Meitei armies.

From 1891 to 1947 British colonists prohibited martial arts, the possession of weapons, duels to the death, and other violent customs among India's indigenous populations. The ban was somewhat difficult to enforce due to the region's isolation. The neighbouring Naga people in particular have practiced headhunting in living memory. Nevertheless, modernization and adoption of Christianity killed off much of the native culture, particularly after the second World War. The meditative practices of huyen langlon were nearly lost before India achieved independence. Today it is the most popular of Meitei martial arts, [8] practiced by men and women. It is most often seen through demonstrations in cultural programs. [8]

In recent years huyen langlon has been promoted as a sport all over India and as a self-defence tactical subject. Competitions are held yearly at school, district, state and national level. The promotion of huyen langlon as a sport helped in the cause of its promotion and spread from Manipur to the whole of India, particularly Jammu and Kashmir. Manipur and Jammu & Kashmir are the strongest contenders at the national level. In 2009 Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma, a leading exponent and teacher of huyen langlon, received the high Padma Shri award from the Indian Government for his contributions to the preservation and advancement of the art. [9] [10]

The biggest training school is the Huyen Langlon Thang-Ta Academy which holds demonstrations at cultural shows.

Training

As in all Indian martial arts, training begins with stepping patterns and then basic sword strikes. The main sword stance is the lion posture, in which the body leans forward with one leg stretched back and the other bent forward. The feet are about shoulder-width apart and form a 45-degree angle. This stance emphasises phidup or a coil, enabling a springing action. At higher levels, exponents slice pieces of watermelons on a person's body without causing any injury. This is eventually done blindfolded.

Spear technique is considered more difficult and is taught after the sword. The spear emphasizes phanba, an opening out of the body with two forms: nongphan to simulate the expanse of the sky and leiphal emulating the expanse of the ground. Generally speaking, the spear demands more of the lower body while the sword uses more of the upper body. Bare-handed techniques (sarit sarak or sharit sharak) are only taught when a student has gained competence in armed fighting. The physical side of thang-ta is eventually supplemented with breathing exercises (ningsha kanglon), traditional medicine (layeng kanglon), meditation (hirikonba), and the sacred dances (thengouron).

Sparring matches are conducted in a 30-foot circular arena. There are two methods of sparring: phunaba ama and phunaba anishuba. In phunaba ama, competitors wield a two-foot leather-encased cheibi (cudgel) paired with a leather chungoi (shield) measuring one feet in diameter. One match consists of two three-minute rounds with one minute of rest in between. One central referee, six scorers, one time keeper and either one or two chief judges are assigned for one match. The other form of sparring, phunaba anishuba, is identical with the exception that kicks are allowed and there are no shields. These forms of sparring in which cudgels or cheibi simulate swords are referred to as cheibi chainaba (clash of cheibi).

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Kenjutsu</i> Japanese styles of swordsmanship

Kenjutsu (剣術) is an umbrella term for all (ko-budō) schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration. Some modern styles of kendo and iaido that were established in the 20th century also included modern forms of kenjutsu in their curriculum. Kenjutsu, which originated with the samurai class of feudal Japan, means "methods, techniques, and the art of the Japanese sword". This is opposed to kendo, which means "the way of the sword" and uses a bamboo sword (shinai) and protective armour (bōgu).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krabi–krabong</span> Weapon-based martial art from Thailand

Krabi-Krabong is a weapon-based martial art from Thailand. It is closely related to other Southeast Asian fighting styles such as Pencak Silat Indonesia, Burmese banshay and Cambodian kbach kun boran. The royal bodyguard corps of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej were said to be highly trained in krabi-krabong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silambam</span> Indian martial art

Silambam is an Indian martial art originating in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. This style is mentioned in Tamil Sangam literature. The World Silambam Association is the official international body of Silambam.

<i>Bōjutsu</i> Japanese martial art of staff fighting using a bō

Bōjutsu is the martial art of stick fighting using a bō, which is the Japanese word for staff. Staffs have been in use for thousands of years in Asian martial arts like Silambam. Some techniques involve slashing, swinging, and stabbing with the staff. Others involve using the staff as a vaulting pole or as a prop for hand-to-hand strikes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gatka</span> Martial art from the Punjab region

Gatka is a form of martial art associated primarily with the Sikhs of the Punjab and other related ethnic groups, such as Hindkowans. It is a style of stick-fighting, with wooden sticks intended to simulate swords. The Punjabi name, gatka, refers to the wooden stick used and this term might have originated as a diminutive of a Sanskrit word, gada, meaning "mace".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pung Cholom</span> A classical dance form of Meitei culture

The Pung cholom is a traditional Meitei dance form originated from Manipur, which is the soul of the Manipuri Sankirtana music and the Manipuri classical dance. The Pung cholom is a unique classical dance of Manipur. This dance may be performed by men or women and is usually a prelude to the Ras Lila. In this style, the dancers play the pung while they dance at the same time. Dancers need to be graceful and acrobatic at the same time. They use these acrobatic effects without breaking the rhythm or flow of music. The dance is marked by a gentle rhythm, which gradually builds up to a thunderous climax. Pung cholom borrows elements from the Manipuri martial arts, Thang Ta and Sarit Sarak and also from the traditional Maibi Jagoi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banshay</span>

Banshay is a weapon-based martial art from Myanmar focusing primarily on the sword, staff and spear. Influenced by both Indian and Chinese sources, it is closely related to similar Southeast Asian systems such as Thai krabi krabong, Cambodian kbach kun boran and Malay silat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stick-fighting</span> Type of martial arts using wooden sticks

Stick-fighting, stickfighting, or stick fighting, is a variety of martial arts which use simple long, slender, blunt, hand-held, generally wooden "sticks" for fighting, such as a gun staff, bō, jō, walking stick, baston, arnis sticks or similar weapons. Some techniques can also be used with a sturdy umbrella or even with a sword or dagger in its scabbard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipuri dance</span> Classical dance of India

Manipuri dance, also referred to as the Manipuri Raas Leela, is a jagoi and is one of the major Indian classical dance forms, originating from the state of Manipur. It is one of the greatest cultural achievements of the traditional Vaishnavism adhering Meitei people of Manipur. Owing to the Meitei civilization, the classical dance form, first formally developed by Meitei Hindu king Ching Thang Khomba of the Kingdom of Manipur, is considered to be the highest spiritual expression of the worship of Hindu deity Krishna. Owing to its huge influences on the diverse cultural heritages across the Indian subcontinent, it is recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi of the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India as one of the few primary classical dance forms of the Republic of India, and is honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Manipuri annually. It is referred to as the "national dance" during the Armenia-India joint issue of postage stamps, as a part of the Armenia-India international relations.

Indian martial arts refers to the fighting systems of the Indian subcontinent. A variety of terms are used for the English phrases "Indian martial arts", deriving from ancient sources. While they may seem to imply specific disciplines, by Classical times they were used generically for all fighting systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jūkendō</span>

Jūkendō (銃剣道) is the Japanese martial art of bayonet fighting, and has been likened to kendo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ching-Thang Khomba</span> King of Manipur (r. 1759–62, 1763–98)

Ningthou Ching-Thang Khomba (1748–1799) was a Meitei monarch of the 18th century CE. He is known for having invented the Manipuri Raas Leela dance. His daughter Shija Lailoibi played the role of Radha at the first performance and became a popular figure in Manipur. He is also credited with spreading Vaishnavism in Manipur State and thereby creating a unified Manipur. Much of his history is mythologized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manipuri Vaishnavism</span> Regional variant of Vaishnavism tradition, India

Manipuri Vaishnavism, also known as Meitei Vaishnavism is a regional variant of Gaudiya Vaishnavism with a culture-forming role in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur.

Varma Kalai is an Indian traditional art of pressure points. It combines massage, alternative medicine, traditional yoga and martial arts in which the body's pressure points (varmam) are manipulated to heal or cause harm. The healing application called Vaidhiya Murai is part of Siddha medicine.

Gurumayum Gourakishor Sharma is a leading exponent and teacher of thang-ta.

Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra Singh was an Indian writer, lexicographer and historian, known as the author of Manipuri to Manipuri and English, the first modern general dictionary in Meitei language, which was published in 1964. He was a fellow of the Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imoinu Iratpa</span> Religious festival of Manipuri Goddess Imoinu

Imoinu Iratpa or Emoinu Iratpa or Wakching Taranithoini Pānba is a religious festival celebrated by the Meitei people. It is a festival of lights dedicated to the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Imoinu Ahongbi. The festival is celebrated on the twelfth lunar day of Wakching month of Meitei calendar. The festival is celebrated in Manipur, Assam and Tripura states in North Eastern India and observed by some in the neighboring Myanmar. The festival involves sacrifices and prayers to the goddess, followed by various other cultural events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arambai</span> Traditional Meitei dart-like weapon

Arambai, also known as Alapai tenton, is a dart weapon used by the Meitei cavalry soldiers of Kangleipak while mounted on Manipur Ponies. The cavalry armies use arambai as attacking or retreating weapon, and it is usually poisoned.

Puya Meithaba, or Lairik Meithaba, refers to the annual commemoration of a legendary 18th-century scripture burning in post-colonial Manipur by a neo-convert Vaishnavite King, or to the original libricide of Puyas itself. There is no historical evidence that the libricide happened. Nonetheless, the commemoration, organised by the Meitei National Front and others since 1979, has been a critical tool in the spread of Meitei nationalism and has mainstreamed a particular reconstruction of premodern Manipur, which has come to be uncritically reproduced even in academic publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classicism in Meitei culture</span> Art and cultural movement

The cultural heritages of Meitei civilization has classicism in diverse traditions of cinemas, dances, language, literature, music, theatre, etc.

References

  1. Thang Ta - the martial art dance Archived 22 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine , India-north-east.com
  2. "Thang Ta: Martial Art of Manipur".
  3. Chowdhurie, Tapati (13 May 2016). "Gem of a journey". The Hindu.
  4. https://www.esamskriti.com/essays/pdf/14-dec-manipuri-dance-a-journey.pdf Archived 26 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine [ bare URL PDF ]
  5. "Manipuri dance elbowed out by Bharat Natyam, Odissi, Kathak".
  6. "Finding on clans/Yek of Meitei/Meetei and Hao tribes". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  7. History of Manipur
  8. 1 2 http://themanipurpage.tripod.com/culture/thangta.html Archived 7 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine Manipur Page
  9. "Manipur martial art guru gets Padmashri", Assam Tribune, 28 January 2009, archived from the original on 28 September 2011, retrieved 24 July 2009, ... Gurumayum Gourakishore Sharma, who is well-known for his invaluable contribution in the field of thang-ta, the traditional martial art, has been conferred the prestigious Padmashri award ...
  10. "Guru G. Gourakishor, the master of Manipuri martial art form", AndhraNews.net, 24 April 2009, ... Guru G. Gourakishor Sharma was recently conferred the coveted Padamshree award for 2008-2009 to honour his lifetime contribution to Manipuri Martial Art, Thang-Ta ...