Balarao

Dagger

Balarao
Top: A balarao from the Mandaya people (c. 1926); Bottom: A Mandaya balarao in its sheath in the National Museum of Anthropology
Type	Dagger
Place of origin	Philippines
Specifications
Length	12 in (30 cm)
Width	4 in (10 cm)

Blade type	Double-edged
Hilt type	ivory, metal (gold, silver), hardwood, carabao horn
Scabbard/sheath	hardwood, carabao horn, metal (gold, silver)

Balarao (also spelled balaraw, bararao, and bararaw), also known as "winged dagger", is a Filipino dagger used throughout the pre-colonial Philippines. It is unusually shaped, with a double-edged leaf-like blade and a finger-fitting grip consisting of two horn-like projections at the pommel and no guards. The tang also protrudes at the back. The dagger is a status symbol among nobility and warriors and is usually finely-worked with precious metals, ivory, and horn.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The dagger was described as early as the 1600s by Antonio de Morga, where he details its use by Visayans in headhunting raids. It disappeared throughout most of its range during the Spanish colonial period, though it survived to modern times among the Mandaya people, where it is known as the bayadau or badao (a name also used for gunong daggers).^[1]^[2]^[3]

The dagger, as bararao, has also been described as being used by the Sambal people for headhunting in the Boxer Codex (ca. 1590s).^[4]

Gallery

Detail from the Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas (1734), showing a "Bisaya" with a balarao in the right

References

^ ^a ^b "Mandaya Winged Dagger". National Museum of the Philippines. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
^ ^a ^b Lawrence, Marc (2009). "Filipino Weapons from A to Z" (PDF). Filipino Martial Arts Digest. Stephen K. Dowd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-24. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
^ ^a ^b De Morga, Antonio (2009). The Philippine Islands, Moluccas, Siam, Cambodia, Japan, and China. Applewood Books. p. 272. ISBN 9781429091398.
^ Turley, Jeffrey Scott (2015). Souza, George Bryan; Turley, Jeffrey Scott (eds.). The Boxer Codex Transcription and Translation of an Illustrated Late Sixteenth-Century Spanish Manuscript Concerning the Geography, History and Ethnography of the Pacific, South-east and East Asia. Brill. pp. 328–329. ISBN 9789004301542.

Filipino weapons

Edged weapons

Impact weapons

Shields

Kalasag
Taming

Flexible

Pole or spear weapons

Projectile

Firearms

Associated martial arts

Sword types and classifications by region and historical era

Europe

Prehistory	Bronze Age sword Khopesh
Ancient period	Iron Age sword Harpe Gladius Xiphos Kopis/Falcata Makhaira Spatha Sica Rhomphaia Falx
Post-classical period	Migration Period sword Viking sword Arming sword Longsword Claymore Falchion
Early modern period	Zweihänder Spada da lato Katzbalger Cinquedea Estoc Espada ropera Swiss degen Colhona
Late modern period	Rapier Sabre Cutlass Basket-hilted sword Small sword Hunting sword Pistol sword Shashka Spadroon Sword bayonet

China

Ancient	Jian Dao
Medieval	Hook sword Zhanmadao
Ming – Qing	Liuyedao Wodao Changdao Yanmaodao
Modern	Dadao Miaodao

Korea

Bronze Age – Gojoseon	Liaoning bronze dagger
Iron Age – Three Kingdom Era	Hwandudaedo
Goryeo and Joseon era	Bonguk geom Wungeom Four Tiger Sword

Japan

Yayoi – Nara periods	Chokutō Tsurugi
Heian – Kamakura periods	Tachi Ōdachi Kodachi Nagamaki Tantō
Muromachi – Edo periods	Wakizashi Katana
Meiji period and beyond	Guntō Iaitō Ninjatō Shikomizue

India

Ancient	Khanda Urumi Aruval
Medieval and modern	Firangi Kastane Talwar Pulwar Kayamkulam vaal Pata

Western and
Central Asia

Prehistory	Bronze Age sword Khopesh
Ancient period	Iron Age sword Acinaces Parthian Long Sword Xiphos Kopis/Falcata Sasanian Sword
Post-classical period	Arab sword Scimitar Shamshir Kilij Turko-Mongol Sabre Yatagan Mameluke sword
Early modern period	Qama Kindjal

Indonesia

Early period	Mandau Niabor Parang Balato Gari Surik
Late period	Keris bahari Klewang Sundang Langgai Tinggang Parang Nabur Sikin Panjang

Philippines

Classical	Balasiong Bangkung Banyal Barong Batangas Bicuco Binagong (Binangon) Bolo Dahong palay Garab Gayang Ginunting Gulok Kampilan Kalis Karambit Lahot Laring Panabas Parang Pirah Pinuti Sanduko Sansibar Sundang Susuwat Talibon Utak Wasay
Spanish colonization	Balisword Espada y daga Hagibis Tenegre

Mainland
Southeast Asia

Classic stage	Dha
Post-Classic stage	Krabi–krabong
Cambodia	Preah Khan Reach
Thailand	Phra Saeng Khan Chai Si

Mesoamerica

Pre-Columbian era	Macuahuitl Macana

Africa

Ancient Egypt	Khopesh Acinaces
Mainland	Ida Kaskara Nimcha Flyssa Shotel Billao Takoba

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Category:Knives / Daggers