Dao

Dao
 
Assamese Dao with scabbard, 19th-century
Jenis Sword
Negara asal India, Assam and Nagaland
Sejarah pemakaian
Digunakan oleh Naga people
Spesifikasi
Berat 2.665 gram (94,0 oz)
Panjang 45 sentimeter ([convert: unit tak dikenal])-65 sentimeter ([convert: unit tak dikenal])
Lebar 51 sentimeter ([convert: unit tak dikenal])

Tipe pedang Single edge
Tipe gagang wood, cane
Jenis sarung wood, cane
Tipe kepala steel

Dao is the national sword of the Naga people of Assam and Nagaland, India. The sword, with its wooden hilt, and unique square form is used for digging as well as for killing.[1]

Dao adalah senjata nasional dari orang Naga di Assam dan Nagaland di India. Dao memiliki fungsi yang beragam, mulai dari untuk berburu atau untuk memggali.

Form

Golok dao ditemukan di Assam dan Nagaland di timur laut India dimana orang-orang Naga tinggal. Dao memliki bentuk yang tebal dan berat, dengan panjabg bervariasi atara 45 hingga 65 centimeter. Bentuk dao unik karena ujungnya pedangnya melebar diujung dan mengecil di pangkal, sehingga bentuknya seperti kotak. Bentuk ini juga ditemukandi pedang dha, yang kemungkinan merupakan evolusi dari bentuk dha melalui kebudayaan Kachin di Burma.

Pedang dao berbentuk hampir lurus dengan lengkungan yang sangat tipis yang hanya dapat terlihat jika diobservasi lebih teliti. Pedang dao memiliki pinggir seperti dipahat. Bentuk uniknya adalah pedangnya menipis di pangkal dan melebar di ujung.

Pegangan dari dao terbuat dari kayu dan memiliki bentuk yang sangat sederhana, tanpa pelindung atau pangkal yang membesar. Akar bambu dianggap sebagai bahan baku paling baik untuk sebuah dao. Pegangan dao dililit dengan semacam anyaman untuk meyediakan pegangan yang kuat. Terkadang tutup perunggu ditempatkan dipangkal pegangan dao. Beberapa pegangan dao terbuat dari gading.

The dao broadsword can be found in the northeastern region of Assam and Nagaland in India where the Naga people lives. The dao has a thick and heavy form, with length varies between 45 sentimeter ([convert: unit tak dikenal]) to 65 sentimeter ([convert: unit tak dikenal]). The unique design of this long backsword is that instead of a point, the tip of the sword is a bevel, creating an appearance of a squarish shape. This form is also found in the Burmese dha whose form is derived from the dao. The form of the dao was first adopted by the Kachin people who live along the Assam-Burma border and to the east, in the most mountainous regions of Upper Burma. From here the form would evolve to the more elongated dha.[2]

The blade of the Dao is almost straight, with a very minimal curve that can only be discerned upon close examination. The blade is heavy and chisel-edged. It has a unique form that it is narrowest at the hilt and the gradually broaden to the endpoint.[3]

The wooden hilt has a very simple shape, without a guard or without a distinguished pommel. Bamboo root is considered to be the best material for the hilt. The grip of the handle is sometimes wrapped with basketry. Sometimes the hilt is decorated with a bronze cap at the bottom.[2] The hilt may also be made of ivory, and occasionally can be well-carved.[3]

Dao is usually carried in an open-sided wooden scabbard which is fastened to a rattan belt hoop.[3] The scabbard is centrally hollowed out on one face.[2]

Multi-function

Dao mungkin merupakan satu-satu ya alat yang dipakai oleh orang Naga. Dao digunakan untuk bermacam-macam hal misalnya untuk membangun rumah, untuk menebang pohon, untuk menggali, untuk membuat anyaman, dwn untuk membuat perabot kayu. Dao juga digunakan sebagai senjata.

The dao is almost the only tool that was used by the Naga people. It is used for many purposes e.g. for building houses, to clear the forest, to dig the earth, to make the women's weaving tools, and to create any kind of wooden objects. The dao is also used as a weapon.[3]

References

Cited works

Templat:Swords by region