Sword

Paiwan, Taiwan
19th c

This Paiwan sword and its scabbard are exceptional examples of both fine craftsmanship and rich cultural symbolism. The handle, intricately polychromed, is adorned with numerous abstract totemic faces. Their eyes are inlaid with bronze, and antique bronze tacks encircle the handle—some now missing due to age and ritual use—contributing to its aged, dignified character.

Equally remarkable, the scabbard is decorated with a cascading row of stylized human figures, carved in relief and enhanced with red pigment. A very old label, possibly from the 19th century, remains affixed to the uppermost figure—evidence of early collection or documentation, likely during Taiwan’s Qing Dynasty or early colonial periods.

Historically, swords such as this were prestigious heirlooms among the Paiwan people, an Indigenous Austronesian group from southern Taiwan. These ceremonial weapons were not typically used in warfare but were instead symbols of status, lineage, and ancestral authority. Ownership was often restricted to nobility or chieftains, and the swords would be prominently displayed during important rituals or passed down through generations.

The abstract faces carved into the handle are thought to represent ancestral spirits, protective guardians, or deified forebears, reinforcing the sword’s role as a conduit between the living and the spirit world. The row of figures on the scabbard likely symbolizes genealogical continuity or the collective strength of the ancestral line, visually narrating a lineage of power and protection.

This sword is not only a masterful work of art, but also a powerful object of cultural identity and ancestral veneration—embodying the deep spiritual and social values of the Paiwan people.