Language: Malay / Kayan
Source: Hugh Low, 1848

Description

Parang ilang was the most widely used name for what we today know as the mandau; the headhunter's sword of Borneo that is strongly associated with the Dayak people.1

Parang literally means sword. Ilang is described in Kayan as: "the special shape of the Kayan sword, curved cutting edge, slightly convexed blade, and hollow ground". 2

The term Parang Ilang was mostly used among the Bidayuh, Iban (Sea Dayak) and Penan.

Duku was also used by the Iban. Duku apang was synonymous to parang ilang, the decorated Kayan sword.3
Malat by the Kayan. (Malat aru ilang for the long sword.) 4
Baieng by the Kenyah.
Bandau by Lun Bawang
Pelepet/Felepet by Lundayeh.

For the main article, see: Mandau.

Parang ilang

A fine parang ilang, or mandau.
Listed at Mandarin Mansion in 2020.

 

Notes
1. The first mention of parang ilang I am aware of is by Hugh Low; Sarawak; its inhabitants and productions: Being notes during a residence in that country with H. H. the Rajah Brooke. London, Richard Bentley, 1858. Pages 328-329. Also see Ivor Hugh Norman Evans; Among primitive peoples in Borneo; a description of the lives, habits & customs of the piratical head-hunters of North Borneo, with an account of interesting objects of prehistoric antiquity discovered in the island. Seeley, Service & Co Limited, London 1922. Page 292.
2. C. Hudson Southwell; Kayan English Dictionary. Sarawak Literary Society. Kuala Lumpur, 1990. Page 50.
3. Anthony Richards; An Iban-English Dictionary. Clarendon Press. Oxford. 1981. Page 15.
4. C. Hudson Southwell; Kayan English Dictionary.

Do you have anything for sale?

I might be interested in buying it.

Contact me

Carved with typically Dayak aso "dog dragon" motifs.

€800,-

A curious slashing weapon from northern Borneo.

€2800,-

An exceptionally large example with a desirable three fullered blade.

€1950,-

Of typical South Borneo workmanship, but formed like a mandau from Kutai.

€2000,-

The pierced silver mounts with parcel gilding and red velvet backing.

€775,-

Unusual example with hilts carved in lionesque heads.

€850,-