Tibetan Sword

Swords were the most important hand weapons in Tibet from at least the 7th century until the early 20th century. They represent an old style of sword that was common in a wide area, including China, but was replaced by curved swords in China from the end of the Song Dynasty. Only remote areas such as Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim and the regions of Yunnan and Sichuan retained straight single-edged swords until recently. This sword has a single-edged blade, some are double-edged, but that is very rare. Besides their intended use, they could also be clear indicators of value and status based on the quality or quantity of decoration. For the Tibetans, such as the Khampa Tribe in East Tibet, a sword is so important that it is still used in their traditional clothing. The sword also has a rich symbolic meaning in Tibetan Buddhism, especially as the Sword of Wisdom, which represents the ability to break through spiritual ignorance.

Many cultures have developed ways of making swords from different types of steel to obtain a sword blade of the desired hardness and durability in the right places. What sets the Tibetans apart is that their blacksmiths worked at high altitudes where oxygen was scarce and fuel was limited, making it difficult to heat large forges to high temperatures.

As a result, ways were found to weld the layers together using as little heat as possible, by stacking the layers instead of folding them. This results in a characteristic "hairpin", named after the hairpin shape of its various layers.

It was formed by combining harder and softer iron, called "male iron" and "female iron" in traditional Tibetan texts, which were folded, nested and forged into a single piece using a blade-making technique called pattern welding. The handles are usually made of silver engraved with coral or turquoise, or in some rare cases of iron damasked with gold and silver carefully hammered and pierced.

 

1. Dpa'dam (Pa Tam)

Dpa'dam sword

Dpa'dam is the long sword of the Tibetan cultural region. Alternatively, it can be spelled pa tam, under which it appears in the Qing Multilingual Dictionary of 1766. The Chinese equivalent given here is yāodāo or "belt sword" and in Manchu loho.

A very good example of a Dpa'dam, a common side arm of a Tibetan warrior. The long single blade is well made using the traditional hairpin forging method of bent bars of hard "male iron" (pho lcags) and softer "female iron" (mo lcags) bent into a hairpin and woven into the blade. In this way it combines seven parts, forming up to 13 layers from the spine to the edge.

 

2. Yiong (Yigong) Sword

one-edge Yiong sword 

The Yiong sword dates back almost 400 years and is known for its unique materials and craftsmanship. The blade of the Yiong sword is forged from three iron ores in the local mountains. The handle and container are made of wood from the ancient forests of Yiong. Yiong swords vary in length, but all have long, narrow blades and are light, sharp and stainless.

double-edge Yiong sword

Today, the Yiong sword is still a rarity. One swordsmith can only make a few swords a month. In Yiong, sword heirs are in charge and work together to make swords. In this way, the skill of iron and fire is passed on to later generations.

 

3. Ke-tri Sword

one-edge Ke-tri sword

Tibetan sword Ke-tri. These extremely rare battle swords were still used by Tibetan warriors at the turn of the 20th century. The heavy single-edged blade, 25 to 30 inches long, is forged from laminated steel folded into a hairpin at the tip. The handle is fixed with perforated steels and the handle is covered with silver wire. Attached to the bottom of the handle is a large round white metal roundel in classic Tibetan style, decorated with a red coral stone. 

double-edge Ke-tri sword

Pommel is also set with a smaller coral stone. The wooden box is covered in black leather and framed by a U-shaped steel frame with long perforated white metal panels at the top and bottom. The sword comes with its original strap with white metal buttons, braided leather tip and steel buckle. Total length in case 32-37 inches.

 

4. Tibetan Vajra Sword

Tibetan Vajra sword

In general, a sword is a long-bladed weapon (when cut), often used as a symbol of honor or power. But in Vajrayana Buddhism, the sword has a special meaning and significance. It is a symbol of the enlightenment of the world, because "as a sword cuts a knot, so the intellect penetrates the deepest recesses of Buddhist thought".

Sometimes it bursts into flames, like this one. This sword became symbol in Manjushri (Wisdom Bodhisattva), which was in his right hand. Manjushri's sword is called Pradjnakhadga. It is believed to destroy the darkness of ignorance with its rays of light. Symbolically, the sword represents justice, righteousness, justice, love and creativity.

Manjushri sword

This double-edged sword of wisdom has a flame on its tip. The lower part represents the blade of a sword coming from the mouth of a makara (crocodile). In the lower part of the handle is the five-pronged half Vajra. These five peaks symbolize the five elements of purity: earth, water, fire, air and ether.

Tibetan Vajra Sword was also used as a ritual object in the Fire Rage ceremony in Tibet/China. A fire ceremony is an offering dedicated to a particular deity, usually performed after a religious retreat. This ceremony aims to expel evil spirits. It is held on the 29th or 30th of the month at noon or midnight at the slaughterhouse in the southern part of the region. This ceremony should only be performed by a Lama with high spiritual understanding and very strong concentration.

The ceremony must be of no benefit to the person who performs it, who must be motivated by compassion, which arises from the belief that if a harmful being lives longer, it will continue to harm itself and others. The Lama representing it faces south and wears dark blue or black clothes. The bound sand mandala is triangular in shape. The practicing Lama first visualizes rays rising from his heart and becoming a Vajra lasso that binds the hands and feet of the evil being or spirit to be conquered and destroyed. The lasso then becomes a chain with padlocks at the ends. The Vajra hook then catches the evil being and brings it to the fire ceremony. With other tools, one of which is the Vajra Sword, the lame creature can be scared into changing its bad behavior. For example, it can be hit with a hammer, cut with a knife and sword, and cut with an ax. A Lama can also threaten to burn an evil creature. Because the evil being knows how powerful the mala is, they usually ask not to be harmed and promise to change. According to this method Padmasambhava is said to have defeated evil spirits in Tibet and converted them to the service of Buddhism.

It is called the Vajra Sword because there is indeed a Vajra in sword pommel.