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The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
From 1861 to 1890 the Munich publishing firm of Braun and Schneider published plates of historic and contemporary costume in their magazine Munchener Bilderbogen.<br/><br/> These plates were eventually collected in book form and published at the turn of the century in Germany and England.
Samarkand (Uzbek: Samarqand, from Sogdian: 'Stone Fort' or 'Rock Town') is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarqand Province. The city is most noted for its central position on the Silk Road between China and the West, and for being an Islamic centre for scholarly study.<br/><br/> In the 14th century it became the capital of the empire of Timur (Tamerlane) and is the site of his mausoleum (the Gur-e Amir). The Bibi-Khanym Mosque remains one of the city's most notable landmarks. The Registan was the ancient center of the city.
The Gurkhas are soldiers from Nepal. The name may be traced to the medieval Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath who has a historic shrine in Gorkha, Nepal.<br/><br/> Gurkhas are closely associated with the khukuri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife and have a well known reputation for their fearless military prowess. The former Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, once stated that 'If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha'.
The Gurkhas are soldiers from Nepal. The name may be traced to the medieval Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath who has a historic shrine in Gorkha, Nepal.<br/><br/> Gurkhas are closely associated with the khukuri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife and have a well known reputation for their fearless military prowess. The former Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, once stated that 'If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha'.
The Kurds are an ethnic Iranian group in the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a contiguous area spanning adjacent parts of modern-day Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, a geo-cultural region often referred to as 'Kurdistan'. The Kurds have ethnically diverse origins. They are culturally and linguistically closely related to the Iranian peoples and, as a result, are often themselves classified as an Iranian people. The Kurdish languages form a subgroup of the Northwestern Iranian languages.<br/><br/> The Kurds number about 40 million, the majority living in West Asia, including significant Kurdish diaspora communities in the cities of western Turkey outside of Kurdistan. A recent Kurdish diaspora has developed in Western countries, primarily in Germany. The Kurds are in the majority in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan and in the autonomous region of Syrian Kurdistan and are a significant minority group in the neighboring countries Turkey and Iran, where Kurdish nationalist movements continue to pursue autonomy.
The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger or sword most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade (luk), but many have straight blades as well. The numbers of luks is always odd numbered, ranged from three to thirteen waves, however there is also luks that reach 29. Kris can be divided into three parts: bilah (blade), hulu (hilt), and warangka (sheath). These parts of kris are the object of art, often carved in meticulous details and made from various materials; metal, precious rare types of wood to gold or ivory. A kris' aesthetic value covers the dhapur (the form and design of the blade, with around 150 variants), the pamor (the pattern of metal alloy decoration on the blade, with around 60 variants), and tangguh referring to the age and origin of a kris.<br/><br/> Both a weapon and spiritual object, kris are often considered to have an essence or presence, often considered to possess magical powers, with some blades possessing good luck and others possessing bad. Krises are used for display, as talismans with magical powers, weapons, sanctified heirloom (pusaka), auxiliary equipment for court soldiers, as an accessory for ceremonial dress, an indicator of social status, a symbol of heroism, etc. Legendary krisses that possess supernatural power and extraordinary ability were mentioned in traditional folktales, such as the krisses of Mpu Gandring, Taming Sari, and Setan Kober.<br/><br/> It is believed that the earliest kris prototype can be traced to Dong Son bronze culture in Vietnam circa 300 BC that spread to other parts of Southeast Asia. Another theory is that the kris was based on daggers from India. Some of the most famous renderings of a kris appear on the bas-reliefs of Borobudur (825 CE) and Prambanan temple (850 CE). However from Raffles' (1817) study of the Candi Sukuh that the kris recognized today came into existence around 1361 CE in the kingdom of Majapahit, East Java.
Herāt (Pashto / Persian: هرات‎) is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. The city is linked with Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif via highway 1 or the ring road that stretches around the country. It is also linked to the city of Mashad in Iran through the border town of Islam Qala.<br/><br/> Situated in a fertile area, Herāt dates back to the Avestan times and was traditionally known for its wine. The city has a number of historic sites, including the Herat Citadel and the Mosallah Complex. During the Middle Ages Herāt became one of the important cities of Khorasan, as it was known as the Pearl of Khorasan. In 1717, the city was captured by the Pashtuns and remained under Pashtun control until the Hotaki dynasty was defeated by the Afsharids in 1736.<br/><br/> After Nadir Shah's death, Herat became part of the Durrani Empire in 1747. It saw some actions during the 19th century Anglo-Afghan wars. Much of the city has been spared from destructions that occurred in other cities of Afghanistan during the post-1979 Russian and American wars.
In earlier times, Karghilik (Yecheng), a small oasis town was a starting point for trade caravans leaving the main Silk Road and heading south to Ladakh and Kashmir by way of the difficult 5,575m Karakoram Pass. Today this route is decisively closed, as the Karakoram Pass lies in an area disputed by China and India, as well as close to the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield where India confronts Pakistan.
In earlier times, Karghilik (Yecheng), a small oasis town was a starting point for trade caravans leaving the main Silk Road and heading south to Ladakh and Kashmir by way of the difficult 5,575m Karakoram Pass. Today this route is decisively closed, as the Karakoram Pass lies in an area disputed by China and India, as well as close to the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield where India confronts Pakistan.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.
Lithograph from 'Afghaunistan' by Lieutenant James Rattray (1841). The Kohistani is Mir Alam, formerly one of a band of noted robbers on the road to Turkestan, north-west of Begram. Rattray wrote: 'Coistaun has always been remarkable for the war-like character of its inhabitants, who average some forty thousand families famous for the efficiency and excellence of their Pyadas (foot-soldiery). As light infantry they are unrivalled, and from their numbers and determined courage, are of considerable importance in the event of any revolution in which they may take part'.<br/><br/> The robber chief Hassan secretly and daringly accosted the British envoy William McNaghten and offered to bring him Dost Mohammmed's head in return for a large amount of money. Although this offer was hastily turned down, Hassan and his men were later enrolled among the infantry escort of Rattray's brother. Giving up their precarious livelihood, they became most efficient soldiers.<br/><br/> Mir Alam carries a 'juzzail', a type of large heavy rifle. Afghan snipers were expert marksmen and their juzzails fired roughened bullets, long iron nails or even pebbles over a range of some 250 metres. The Afghans could fling the large rifles across their shoulders as if they were feathers and spring nimbly from rock to rock. They loved to decorate their rifles: Rattray writes of finding one adorned with human teeth.
Semar is a character in Javanese mythology who frequently appears in wayang shadow plays. He is one of the punokawan (clowns), but is in fact divine and very wise. He is the dhanyang (guardian spirit) of Java, and is regarded by some as the most sacred figure of the kotak (wayang set). He is said to be the god Sang Hyang Ismaya in human form.
Hand-coloured illustration from a Japanese miscellany on traditional trades, crafts and customs in mid-18th century Japan, dated Meiwa Era (1764-1772) Year 6 (c. 1770 CE).
A hand-drawn, hand-coloured watercolour from the late 19th century by an unknown Burmese artist.<br/><br/> The name of the ethnic group featured appears near the top of the picture in Shan script (left), Burmese script (Centre) and Khun script (right). Khun script was formerly used in Kengtung / Kyaingtong in eastern Shan State and in Lan Na or Lanna, northern Thailand.
Hand-coloured illustration from a Japanese miscellany on traditional trades, crafts and customs in mid-18th century Japan, dated Meiwa Era (1764-1772) Year 6 (c. 1770 CE).
Siyah Kalem or 'Black Pen' is the name given to the 15th century school of painting attributed to Mehmed Siyah Kalem. Nothing is known of his life, but his work indicates that he was of Central Asian Turkic origin, and thoroughly familiar with camp and military life. The paintings appear in the 'Conqueror’s Albums', so named because two portraits of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror are present in one of them.<br/><br/> The albums are made up of miniatures taken from manuscripts of the 14th, 15th, and early 16th centuries, and one series of paintings is inscribed 'work of Master Muḥammad Siyah Kalem'. Something of the style and techniques of Chinese paintings is apparent in these, and an acquaintance with Buddhist art, particularly in the depictions of grotesque demonic figures.
The Sa Huỳnh culture (Vietnamese: Văn hóa Sa Huỳnh) was a culture in central and southern Vietnam that flourished between c. 1000 BCE and 200 CE. Archaeological sites from the culture have been discovered from the Mekong Delta to just south of the Tonkin region. The Sa Huynh people were most likely the predecessors of the Cham people, the founders of the kingdom of Champa.<br/><br/> The site at Sa Huynh was discovered in 1909. Sa Huynh sites were rich in locally-worked iron artefacts, typified by axes, swords, spearheads, knives and sickles. In contrast, bronze artefacts were dominant in the Dong Son culture sites found in northern Vietnam and elsewhere in mainland Southeast Asia.<br/><br/> The Sa Huynh culture cremated adults and buried them in jars covered with lids, a practice unique to the culture. Ritually broken offerings usually accompanied the jar burials. The culture is also typified by its unique ear ornaments featuring two-headed animals. The ornaments were commonly made from jade (nephrite), but also made from glass. Bead ornaments were also commonly found in Sa Huynh burials, most commonly made from glass.<br/><br/> The Sa Huynh culture showed evidence of an extensive trade network. Sa Huynh beads were made from glass, carnelian, agate, olivine, zircon, gold and garnet; most of these materials were not local to the region, and were most likely imported. Han Dynasty-styled bronze mirrors were also found in Sa Huynh sites. Conversely, Sa Huynh produced ear ornaments have been found in archaeological sites in Central Thailand, Taiwan (Orchid Island), and the Philippines (Palawan).
Đông Sơn was a prehistoric Bronze Age culture in Vietnam centered on the Red River Valley of northern Vietnam. At this time the first Vietnamese kingdoms of Văn Lang and Âu Lạc appeared. Its influence flourished in other neighbouring parts of Southeast Asia from about 500 BCE to 100 CE.
The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, but in the past, most had straight blades.<br/><br/> Established by the Institute for Southern Thai Studies in 1991, this unusually good museum, set in an attractive series of Thai sala-type buildings, features a library (mainly in Thai) on southern Thai culture, and a well-documented series of exhibits on southern culture including nang talung shadow puppets, musical instruments, textiles, basketry, household artifacts, fishing equipment, jewellery and weapons. There is also a suan yaa samunprai or natural herb and medicinal garden in the well-tended grounds
The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, but in the past, most had straight blades.<br/><br/> Established by the Institute for Southern Thai Studies in 1991, this unusually good museum, set in an attractive series of Thai sala-type buildings, features a library (mainly in Thai) on southern Thai culture, and a well-documented series of exhibits on southern culture including nang talung shadow puppets, musical instruments, textiles, basketry, household artifacts, fishing equipment, jewellery and weapons. There is also a suan yaa samunprai or natural herb and medicinal garden in the well-tended grounds