Seedqi/Ayatal/Truku Knife

[I.N.F.K]

So today I had a few hours to kill and I decided to watch a movie on Netflix Instant. To be more specific I watched "Warriors Of The Rainbows: Seediq Bale" which is excellent movie (if you don't mind subtitles) based on true events I'll put a trailer for it below.

[video=youtube;3L_PNQgQ49w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L_PNQgQ49w[/video]


I personally have a interest in tribes around the world, and this movie sparked my interest into the aborigine tribes of Taiwan. Fascinating history, most people think that Taiwan is only occupied by Chinese immigrants, but that's not the case. Anyways no need for a history lesson, back to the main point. In this movie they featured a machete in which every warrior carried, and now I want one. However don't we all won't a knife featured in a movie only to be disappointed, but this may not be the case.



I believe this blade may actually may be of good quality. Probably because this knife was actually a functional tool before the movie itself. Now from what I can tell the only place that makes these knives are in Taiwan by a single blacksmith at a place called the Tonglan Blacksmith Shop and there is no contact info or website.

I got the pic of the knife from here: http://www.functionalselfdefense.org/blog/atayal-truku-knife/

and they have a site to give a bit more background here: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2010/gsh6341/work003_02.htm

Just thought I bring it up

 

[untamed]

Thanks for sharing.

Once in a while, get these threads about endemic/ethnic designs from travels to different parts and it's always fascinating.

 

[I.N.F.K]

Thanks for sharing.

Once in a while, get these threads about endemic/ethnic designs from travels to different parts and it's always fascinating.

It seems that a lot of tribal and oriental designs go unnoticed due to how obscure they are, but many of them had other meanings and uses other than utility and war

 

[untamed]

^ True. A strong ceremonial and mystical element also pervades in them thru most cultures (and that's worth waaaaay to much of an academic discussion for my lazy ass to get into right now :wink.

The last thread I remember similar to this one was in the Western part of mainland China and the knives their had a strong Central Asian (the "Stan" countries) influence.

Knife Tourism Report

 

[I.N.F.K]

The knives shown in that thread are gorgeous and it seems that the owners have a strong connection with their knives. Which isn't seen in that many cultures anymore

I think African tribes have the most unusual knives I've seen. There knives seem to lean more towards the meaning of each knife.

Here's a site with some nice well-pictured examples: http://www.ezakwantu.com/Gallery African Weapons - Central African Weapons.htm

 

[RemyKaze]

Here's a similar user blade for ya.

 

[untamed]

. . .

I think African tribes have the most unusual knives I've seen. There knives seem to lean more towards the meaning of each knife.

. . . [/url]

LOL! Have you seen the "hunga munga" aka "kpinga" from the various Southern tribes? Seems like the inventor came-up with that design trying to mix together a knife/tomahawk/scythe while under the influence of some narcotic jungle juice when a tree branch fell on his head (like Newton's apple )!

Apparently it worked because it had a fearsome rep though.

This last one though seems to be the most popular representation (like the Musso/"Iron Mistress" pattern for the bowies)

 

[untamed]

Here's a similar user blade for ya.
View attachment 374743

Yep, good catch!

 

[Haze]

I am huge fan of the Taiwanese mountain knife and have many of them in all sizes. They are made by many different smiths all over Taiwan, quality knives are of course harder to find. The best knives I have found so far come from Da-si in the north of Taiwan.

The aboriginal history of Taiwan is amazing, there are even small pyramids and farly large monoliths here. That old history is a history that for some reason is not really embraced though. Reading more than just rudimentary documentations of tribes and brief histories is actually not easy. I have learned of many surprises in my time here though and this is a subject I have enjoyed and will continue to study for a long while.

Feel free to shoot me a line if I can ever be of any use to you. :thumbup:

 

[I.N.F.K]

LOL! Have you seen the "hunga munga" aka "kpinga" from the various Southern tribes? Seems like the inventor came-up with that design trying to mix together a knife/tomahawk/scythe while under the influence of some narcotic jungle juice when a tree branch fell on his head (like Newton's apple )!

Apparently it worked because it had a fearsome rep though...


...This last one though seems to be the most popular representation (like the Musso/"Iron Mistress" pattern for the bowies)

If I recall correct, doesn't the lower blade sticking out right above the handle represent the warriors stature

I am huge fan of the Taiwanese mountain knife and have many of them in all sizes. They are made by many different smiths all over Taiwan, quality knives are of course harder to find. The best knives I have found so far come from Da-si in the north of Taiwan.

The aboriginal history of Taiwan is amazing, there are even small pyramids and farly large monoliths here. That old history is a history that for some reason is not really embraced though. Reading more than just rudimentary documentations of tribes and brief histories is actually not easy. I have learned of many surprises in my time here though and this is a subject I have enjoyed and will continue to study for a long while.

Feel free to shoot me a line if I can ever be of any use to you. :thumbup:

Thanks for the info and I will