The Dayak or Dyak or Dayuh are one of the native groups of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic groups, located principally in the central and southern interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory, and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily identifiable. The Dayak were animist in belief; however, since the 19th century there has been mass conversion to Christianity as well as Islam due to the spreading of Abrahamic religions.
A golok is a cutting tool, similar to a machete, that comes in many variations and is found throughout the Malay archipelago. It is used as an agricultural tool as well as a weapon. The word golok is used in Indonesia and Malaysia. Both in Malaysia and in Indonesia, the term is usually interchangeable with the longer and broader parang. In the Sundanese region of West Java it is known as bedog. In the Philippines, the term gulok, refers to different dagger weapons including the kris.
The parang is a type of knife used across the Malay archipelago.
Mandau is the traditional weapon of the Dayak people of Borneo. It is also known as Parang Ilang among the Bidayuh, Iban and Penan people, Malat by the Kayan people or Baieng by the Kenyah people or Bandau by Lun Bawang or Pelepet/Felepet by Lundayeh. Mandau is mostly ceremonial. However, a less elaborate version called Ambang is used as an everyday practical tool.
The klewang or kelewang is a category of traditional single-edged sword that can be found throughout the Malay archipelago region in Indonesia and Malaysia. Usually it is shorter than a pedang (sword) but longer than a golok (machete). There are straight bladed types, but most are curved.
Niabor is a curved sword from Borneo, a characteristic weapon of the Sea-Dayaks.
Jimpul is a traditional weapon of the Sea Dayak and Kenyah people from Borneo. It is often thought that the Parang Jimpul may be considered as a hybrid between the Mandau and Langgai Tinggang. The Parang Jimpul is an intermediary form between the Mandau and the Langgai Tinggang dating from c. 1870-c. 1885.
The Pandat is the war sword of the Dayak people of northwest Borneo and is never used as a tool. On October 18, 2016, this weapon was featured in season 3 episode 9 of the American bladesmithing competition series Forged in Fire.
Parang Nabur is a sword that originates from Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Most of these swords were made during the Banjarmasin Sultanate period in the 19th century.
Wedung is a traditional large knife of the Javanese people and the Balinese people originating from Indonesia.
A parang chandong is a traditional chopper used by the Dayak people (Ibanese) of the Baram River in Borneo.
Pisau raut is a whittling knife that is commonly as a tool to prepare the rattan and other fine carving found throughout the entire Malay archipelago. It is well known as an accompanying knife placed in the same sheath with the mandau, a traditional weapon of the Dayak people.
The Amanremu is a sword from North Sumatra, Indonesia.
The Kelantanese klewang or Kelantanese kelewang is a style of klewang originating from Kelantan, Malaysia but is also popular in other northern Malaysia Peninsula states such as Kedah and Perlis.
A kudi or kudhi is a bladed tool from Banyumas, Indonesia.
This page includes non-fiction books, articles and documents about Sarawak. Such bibliographies have been compiled since the British period, as well as in other publications. Specialised bibliographies of ethnic groups in Sarawak have been published by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. The Sarawak State Library maintains its own bibliography.
The Buko, also called Buku or Parang Buko is a cleaver (parang) that originates from Borneo. This parang is used by the native Bidayuh people. While the Buko is also used by the Malays chiefly for carpentering purposes.
The Ladieng is a sword from Sumatra, Indonesia. It is also commonly known as Parang Lading in Malaysia.
The Tangkin is a traditional parang (knife) of the Iban people from Sarawak, Malaysia and West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
