Mandau is one of the original traditional weapons of Indonesia originating from the Dayak culture of Kalimantan. The mandau comes from the word “man-da-u”, the name of the people who came to the island of Borneo, namely from the ancient Chinese tribe “Namman” or the Southern Barbarians. Well, Man Da U is the name of the person who first made a weapon similar to the shape of a saber blade / machete like today.
The saber is made of stone that is made sharp. However, its popularity outperforms other types of knives. The original Mandau is made of mountain rock that contains iron. Just like the keris in Java, Mandau are not made by just anyone. Mandau made by a blacksmith who is also able to “fill” the Mandau with ancestral spirits so that it can add strength to those who have it.
With that material, the Mandau made will be very hard and strong. However, when formed or the manufacturing process remains soft.
However, as development progresses, nowadays more mandau’s are produced with iron. Only the original and old Mandau’s still use the mantikei material.
Details of the shape of the Mandau also have a function.For example, the decoration on the body of the Mandau to repel wild animals. The holes in the blade also have another special meaning.
Overall, the Mandau is a symbol of brotherhood, a symbol of chivalry, a symbol of guard, responsibility and maturity. For the Dayak tribe, the existence of Mandau is irreplaceable by others. This thing must exist and is important.
According to Michael Coomans, in his book entitled Manusia Daya (1987), the Dayak people live in traditional beliefs. For the Dayak people, mystical events become objects in a belief. Therefore, mystical things become real and objective things.
Mandau is a cultural object or traditional weapon that was born cannot be separated from this magical assumption. More than just a weapon, the Dayak people believe in the saber dwelling the spirits of their ancestors.
Anatomically, the Mandau consists of two parts: a blade and a sheath (called a kumpang). The original Mandau is made of mountain rock that contains iron. Just like the keris in Java, sabers are not made by just anyone. Mandau made by a blacksmith who is also able to “fill” the saber with ancestral spirits so that it can add strength to those who have it.
The blade of the saber is shaped like a tingang which is considered by the Dayak people as a sacred bird. Although the saber blade is uniform in the shape of a tingang bird, each saber has a different carving.
Meanwhile, the kumpang is made of wood covered with deer antlers. Kumpang is usually decorated with various carvings. This carving is said to be believed to be able to repel wild animals that try to approach. At the base of the kumpang, there is a rattan knit that functions as a hook at the waist. Meanwhile, on the side, there is a small pocket that is usually filled with a carving knife or other traditional weapon that is smaller than a saber.
Many traditional elders of the Dayak tribe call the mandau a threshold. In form, Mandau and threshold are indeed similar. But on closer inspection, there is a very big difference. Ambang can be regarded as an imitation of a Mandau . Unlike the Mandau , the threshold is made of ordinary iron. The threshold also does not contain gold in the carvings and does not “contain” like a Mandau .
The price of a Mandau and a threshold is much different. If the threshold can be purchased at a price of IDR 300,000, the price of a Dayak Mandau can reach tens of millions of rupiah. In addition to being unique in shape and containing gold, people who have Mandau’s are believed to also have penyang.
Penyang is a science passed down by the ancestors in war. It is said that the person who holds the Mandau will be equipped with full knowledge, so that he becomes powerful and strong against any weapon.
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