Sewar (Sejwa, Sivas, Siwah, Siwai, Siwar, or Siwaz) refers to a dagger of Indonesian origin, typically carried in a belt and used mainly in Sumatra, Indonesia. The blade is also referred to as Sewah by the Gayo people, Seiva by the Minangkabau people, Siva by the Alas people, and Siwaih by the Acehnese people.
The sewar is a short-bladed dagger used in traditional Indonesian close-quarter fighting styles.[1] The weapon has a slightly curved single or double-edged blade. From the handle's base, the blade either narrows or widens at the tip, depending on the style. The double-edged sewar has a back edge that runs from the tip of the blade to the base of the hilt. Typically, the blade is either flat ground, without a mid-line ridge, or hollow ground. Sometimes it has a slightly hollow grind and a reinforced (integral) back, or comes with several slightly hollow sections.
Unlike other traditional combat weapons, the sewar's handle lacks a finger guard. Usually a ferrule made of brass is mounted at the base of the handle to better secure the handle and the blade. For ceremonial versions, a ferrule clamp is extremely ornate (Tampo). Its design can be rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or triangular (Glupa). Traditionally the handle is made of wood and often decorated with carvings or metal ornaments. Various versions of the handle are crafted differently, in styles such as the Hulu Boh Glimo or the Akar Bahar.
The sheaths are usually made of wood, with oval-shaped cross-sections, and are decorated with carvings. Expensive versions are often decorated with precious metals or embedded with gems. The sheath consists of two pieces of wood held together with rattan or silver and gold bindings. On one side of the sheath's "throat", where the protrusion of the daggers are visible, more expensive examples are covered with plique-à-jour mountings worked in precious metal and filled with enamel. The Sewar is regarded as outstanding for slashing.[2]
The sewar is similar to the rencong and the Tumbok Lada, but its blade is longer, heavier and rests in a distinctly different sheath.[3] The sewar has functional, ornamental and cultural similarities to the kris, found on the Indonesian island of Java, with variants indigenous to Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and the southern Philippines.
Cultureedit
Tari Sewahedit
The Tari Sewah (meaning "Sewah Dance") is a traditional Minangkabau dance performed by two or three dancers wielding the Sewar. If there are two dancers, only one carries the Sewar. With three dancers, two carry the dagger to portray offensive dance movements towards the unarmed dancer. The Sewar is never used by dancers who hold personal grudges against the unarmed dancer. This traditional dance is one of the Tarian Pancak, a category of traditional dance influenced by some styles of traditional Indonesian martial arts, Pencak Silat.[4]
^Centre for Strategic and International Studies (1977). The Indonesian Quarterly, Volume 5, Issues 1-3. Yayasan Proklamasi, Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
^Draeger, Donn F. (1992). Weapons & Fighting Arts of Indonesia. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN978-0-8048-1716-5.
^Zonneveld, Albert G. van (2001). Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago. C. Zwartenkot Art Books. ISBN978-90-5450-004-9.
^Maryono, O'ong; Keary, Lisa; Sciortino, Rosalia (2002). Pencak Silat in the Indonesian Archipelago. Yayasan Galang. ISBN978-979-9341-60-0.
Further readingedit
Stone, George Cameron (13 March 2013). A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: in All Countries and in All Times. Courier Corporation. p. 34. ISBN978-0-486-13129-0.
Adolf Bastian (1996), Indonesia: or, The Islands of the Malay Archipelago, Volume 5, Graham Brash, p. 34, ISBN978-981-218-059-9
April 13, 2024
sewar, sejwa, sivas, siwah, siwai, siwar, siwaz, refers, dagger, indonesian, origin, typically, carried, belt, used, mainly, sumatra, indonesia, blade, also, referred, sewah, gayo, people, seiva, minangkabau, people, siva, alas, people, siwaih, acehnese, peopl. Sewar Sejwa Sivas Siwah Siwai Siwar or Siwaz refers to a dagger of Indonesian origin typically carried in a belt and used mainly in Sumatra Indonesia The blade is also referred to as Sewah by the Gayo people Seiva by the Minangkabau people Siva by the Alas people and Siwaih by the Acehnese people SewarA Sewar pre 1887 TypeDaggerPlace of originIndonesia Aceh Service historyUsed byAcehnese Gayo Alas MinangkabauSpecificationsLength12 29 cm 4 7 11 4 in Blade typeSingle edge sometimes double edgedHilt typeWood horn ivory Bahar rootsScabbard sheathWood horn ivory Contents 1 Description 2 Culture 2 1 Tari Sewah 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingDescription editThe sewar is a short bladed dagger used in traditional Indonesian close quarter fighting styles 1 The weapon has a slightly curved single or double edged blade From the handle s base the blade either narrows or widens at the tip depending on the style The double edged sewar has a back edge that runs from the tip of the blade to the base of the hilt Typically the blade is either flat ground without a mid line ridge or hollow ground Sometimes it has a slightly hollow grind and a reinforced integral back or comes with several slightly hollow sections Unlike other traditional combat weapons the sewar s handle lacks a finger guard Usually a ferrule made of brass is mounted at the base of the handle to better secure the handle and the blade For ceremonial versions a ferrule clamp is extremely ornate Tampo Its design can be rectangular hexagonal octagonal or triangular Glupa Traditionally the handle is made of wood and often decorated with carvings or metal ornaments Various versions of the handle are crafted differently in styles such as the Hulu Boh Glimo or the Akar Bahar The sheaths are usually made of wood with oval shaped cross sections and are decorated with carvings Expensive versions are often decorated with precious metals or embedded with gems The sheath consists of two pieces of wood held together with rattan or silver and gold bindings On one side of the sheath s throat where the protrusion of the daggers are visible more expensive examples are covered with plique a jour mountings worked in precious metal and filled with enamel The Sewar is regarded as outstanding for slashing 2 The sewar is similar to the rencong and the Tumbok Lada but its blade is longer heavier and rests in a distinctly different sheath 3 The sewar has functional ornamental and cultural similarities to the kris found on the Indonesian island of Java with variants indigenous to Malaysia Singapore Brunei Thailand and the southern Philippines Culture editTari Sewah edit The Tari Sewah meaning Sewah Dance is a traditional Minangkabau dance performed by two or three dancers wielding the Sewar If there are two dancers only one carries the Sewar With three dancers two carry the dagger to portray offensive dance movements towards the unarmed dancer The Sewar is never used by dancers who hold personal grudges against the unarmed dancer This traditional dance is one of the Tarian Pancak a category of traditional dance influenced by some styles of traditional Indonesian martial arts Pencak Silat 4 See also edit nbsp Indonesia portal nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sewar Pisuwe RencongReferences edit Centre for Strategic and International Studies 1977 The Indonesian Quarterly Volume 5 Issues 1 3 Yayasan Proklamasi Centre for Strategic and International Studies Draeger Donn F 1992 Weapons amp Fighting Arts of Indonesia Tuttle Publishing ISBN 978 0 8048 1716 5 Zonneveld Albert G van 2001 Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago C Zwartenkot Art Books ISBN 978 90 5450 004 9 Maryono O ong Keary Lisa Sciortino Rosalia 2002 Pencak Silat in the Indonesian Archipelago Yayasan Galang ISBN 978 979 9341 60 0 Further reading editStone George Cameron 13 March 2013 A Glossary of the Construction Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times Courier Corporation p 34 ISBN 978 0 486 13129 0 Adolf Bastian 1996 Indonesia or The Islands of the Malay Archipelago Volume 5 Graham Brash p 34 ISBN 978 981 218 059 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sewar amp oldid 1214865531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
