The Buko, also called Buku or Parang Buko is a cleaver (
parang) that originates from
Borneo
Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and eas ...
. This parang is used by the native
Bidayuh
Bidayuh is the collective name for several indigenous groups found in southern Sarawak, Malaysia and northern West Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo, which are broadly similar in language and culture (see also #Language issues, is ...
(Land Dayaks) people. While the Buko is also used by the Malays chiefly for carpentering purposes.
Description
The Buko has a curved, single-edged blade. The blade becomes wider from the hilt to the point and is bent sharply after about a fifth. The blade first becomes narrower after the hilt, but then becomes wider again after the bend. The tip is rounded. The handle is made of wood or horn and is decorated with decorative carvings on the pommel. A metal clamp is attached to the transition area from the handle to the blade, which serves to better attach the blade and handle. The Buko bears great resemblance to the
Parang Latok
Parang Latok (which is also known as Latok, Latok Buku or Parang Pathi) is a sword from Borneo in Sarawak, Malaysia; where it is regarded as the national weapon of the Sarawakian Malay people and the Bidayuhs (Land Dayak people), and as well as K ...
and the
Pandat.
See also
*
Parang Chandong
*
Jimpul
Jimpul (other names also include Jumbul, Mandau Pasir, Parang Djimpul, Parang Jimpul) is a traditional weapon of the Sea Dayak and Kenyah people from Borneo. It is often thought that the Parang Jimpul may be considered as a hybrid between the Mand ...
References
{{Malaysian Weapons
Blade weapons
Weapons of Indonesia
Weapons of Malaysia