Gorkha lore

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chris22

Joined
Oct 29, 1999
Messages
156
I think I may have read a few years ago about some warriors that never returned their knive to their scabbards without first drawing blood, their own if need be. I'm pretty sure the warriors that I read about were the Gorkhaharu. Do you guys have any information about this tradition or know if I am wrong?
 
A few years ago I read the same thing about the Gorkha's. (I don't recall where either.) Later a friend of mine met a Gorka in Indonesia and asked him about such a custom. The Gorkha told him that he had never heard of such a custom and that is was ridiculous since the weapon is used so often and for so many different things that they would all be anemic if they tried it. I don't know who makes this stuff up.
 
According to various credible sources, the oft repeated "drawing blood" myth is just that: a myth; it is not now, nor has it ever been, a Gorkha practice. The story became popular because it seems believable in view of the fighting heritage of the Gorkhas.

A good, inexpensive book about the Gorkhas is "The Gurkhas"by Byron Farwell.

[This message has been edited by Steven F (edited 10 November 1999).]
 
Most myths have some foundation. I have heard stories in Nepal stating that some of the ancient Gorkhas who used the khukuri as a weapon ONLY would, indeed, inflict a small cut on a finger and coax out a drop or two of blood if he drew the khukuri. But, remember, these are campfire stories and might have been told for my own amusement.

If Pala, a Gorkha vet, adherred to that myth he would have no fingers left!

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
I've read that the myth arises out of the belief that it was bad luck for a Gorkha to draw his khukuri out of anger without drawing blood before returning it to its sheath.
 
Myths have a basic in fact.Few do it anymore.I draw blood upon my first drawing of a kuhkukrie.But,I am wierd.I can spare a few drops from the Cho.It makes it mine.
 
Forumites.

I guess the story is just to remind people to be very toughtful and reasonable when unsheating Khukuris for duel - meaning that any differences should be 1st solved peacefully - out of ignorance to this ethic than the person who simply unsheath his Khukuri to solve little differences seems have to draw blood from his own body as a punishment and as a sign of regret for his unethical behaviour!

It is a taboo among oriental people to simply draw any weapon or even to show a violance gesture (such as repositioning a Keris from behind of waist to the frontal part) during any differences.

Peaceful effort is universally and highly praise in solving differences. Violance is not part of the alternative but action that has to be committed when there is no alternative at all.

[This message has been edited by mohd (edited 11 November 1999).]
 
This story reminds me of "Dune" by Frank Herbert, where a Fremen granny cut her fingertip by a knife explaining this story, not to resheath without shedding blood.

Sorry, no khukuris related.

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\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/
 
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