tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post2481023064878594812..comments2023-11-05T13:19:44.383+05:30Comments on Let us save Tanii / Apatani Culture : Apatani weapons of olden days - 4 : shieldssavetaniihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10234852036854983087noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-43994667991476095262011-01-28T23:17:25.175+05:302011-01-28T23:17:25.175+05:30Here, I would like to make some clarification that...Here, I would like to make some clarification that hairy/fibrous material used in the constructio of "Lecha" is not either of the Himalayan Black Bear skin or the Sloth Bear Skin. Hair formations/topographies of Himalayan Black Bear and Sloth Bear are totally different and distinct. It is my opinion and experiences from my association with wildlife during my professional life.Millo Tagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11484481471123499009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-10601980029045131952008-08-08T17:10:00.000+05:302008-08-08T17:10:00.000+05:30Hi buruVery gud insight into our defensive methoad...Hi buru<BR/><BR/>Very gud insight into our defensive methoad. Frankly speaking I hardly have knowledge about all these things.yyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03366936606735715450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-30966293127314715342008-08-08T17:03:00.000+05:302008-08-08T17:03:00.000+05:30@ Buru,Thanks, this is quite informative.@ Buru,<BR/>Thanks, this is quite informative.PBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05561536939371465247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-83876662275002329582008-08-07T11:30:00.000+05:302008-08-07T11:30:00.000+05:30'"The question is still open." closed ;)I have se...'<BR/>"The question is still open."<BR/><BR/> closed ;)<BR/><BR/>I have seen 'Lecha'used by Nyishis, Tagins and Galos--its the same. There is no bearskin used--since its prime purpose is waterproofing and war protection just a bonus animal skins are not used.All use the fibres of a mountain palm--some day I may post a picture.<BR/><BR/>Also the shields of all Tanis are very similar-- though the Eastern Tanis( eg Padams/Minyongs) also use cane-lattice shields in contradistiction to Western Tanis.<BR/><BR/> Shields reflect the offensive weapons and tactics of the society.<BR/>Tani groups extensively used, in addition to swords, arrows and to a lesser aspect spears.Hence the Tani shields are all broad and rectangular to shield from arrows.My parents tell me that the good warrior used to time the arrival of the enemys arrow from the twang of the bowstring and deflect it away with a slight twist rather than block it head on. Blocking had the risk of being pierced, esp by metal arrowheads, and apparently half-a-dozen arrows hanging on to your shield would tire out even strong warriors by their sheer weight at an odd angle!<BR/> Nagas almost exclusively used spears in place of arrows, so their shields are long and narrow.<BR/> Plainsmen used mostly curved short swords and bowmen were rare--so their shield were small and rounded--for parrying blows than for blocking missiles.(the Ahom kings used Nyishi mercenary bowmen with great success--against even Moguls and Manipuris)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-27122119181478109182008-07-10T13:13:00.000+05:302008-07-10T13:13:00.000+05:30Thanks,PB & KannoThanks,PB & KannoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-10465851450935183492008-07-09T19:04:00.000+05:302008-07-09T19:04:00.000+05:30Thanks for this confirmation. "How little we know ...Thanks for this confirmation. "How little we know about ourselves!" Well, maybe altogether we can fill the void ;)PBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05561536939371465247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-20706203993705313372008-07-08T20:55:00.000+05:302008-07-08T20:55:00.000+05:30The coating used in lecha is indeed fibers of some...The coating used in lecha is indeed fibers of some tree - it is not animal origin. I too discovered this some days back. How little we know about ourselves!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10959531979229133911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-85509798842298022008-07-07T13:22:00.000+05:302008-07-07T13:22:00.000+05:30Yes PB,Here I might be wrong. It was my own opinio...Yes PB,Here I might be wrong. It was my own opinion.The body parts of rare and ferocious animals were considered symbol of manhood and courage,hence was used in ceremonial war dresses.When these animals/birds like tigers,leopards,eagles,bears etc. became rare or extinct, they might have started to use these alternatives? I am not very sure,please let me know the facts.Waiting.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-57306580224835951152008-07-07T12:23:00.000+05:302008-07-07T12:23:00.000+05:30Hi Popisarmi,Thanks for this insightful comment. I...Hi Popisarmi,<BR/>Thanks for this insightful comment. I was also puzzled by the resemblance between siitin (shield) and siitin (bear). As for the coating used in lecha, however, I'm still wondering. In one previous post (Tanii Aju-1, section Art & artifacts) Buru has suggested that it is made of the fiber of some giant fern called "Tama amu" (amu = body hair = fiber on the trunk of this tree ?). The question is still open.PBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05561536939371465247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7300052489950996309.post-51505633946238577772008-07-06T20:06:00.000+05:302008-07-06T20:06:00.000+05:30Hi pb, A great work again! I think siitin, a de...Hi pb,<BR/> A great work again! I think siitin, a defensive as well as ceremonial shield originally used to be made from one or more layers of bear skin/hide.The name 'siitin' itself might have come from the name bear as Apatani name for animal bear is siitin.The skin of the bear was considered the thickest and the strongest by the taniis. When bear became extinct from apatani country, they started using multiple layers of mithun/buffalo hides.<BR/> Bear skin along with its long hairs are also used in LECHA used as traditional war dress and in ceremonies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com