Taiaha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Taiaha (pronounced [taiaha]) is a traditional weapon of the Māori of New Zealand. Usually between 5 to 6 feet in length, it is a wooden close quarters weapon used for short sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts. Its several parts are named as follow:
Arero (tongue) - this is used for stabbing the opponent and parrying
Upoko (head) - the base from which the tongue protrudes
Ate (liver) - the flattened end which is also used for striking and parrying
Mau rakau is the martial art that teaches the use of the taiaha and other Māori weapons in combat. As with other martial arts styles, students of the taiaha spends years mastering the skills of timing, balance and co-ordination necessary to wield the weapon effectively.
Contents |
[edit] Modern usage
The taiaha is widely known due to its use in the wero[1]— the traditional Māori challenge. Tradition says that when a visiting party approached a Māori pā (fortified homestead/village) they would be challenged by a warrior with a taiaha to see if they were friend or foe. A wero is commonly given to heads of state and visiting dignitaries welcomed to New Zealand.
Among modern Māori the taiaha is one of many cultural items which are used to introduce youngsters in school to some of the traditional ways. Contests and competitions take place with schools fielding teams not for fights or matches but as "dance" or ritual.
The New Zealand Army now incorporates the image of a taiaha into its official badge.
[edit] Popular culture
The taiaha was also featured in two video games for the PlayStation 2, The Mark of Kri and its sequel Rise of the Kasai as a weapon for the games' hero, Rau. In The Mark of Kri, the taiaha is plunged into the ground; however, in Māori culture, this is an offense as it is considered to be stabbing the earth mother.
As a symbol of traditional Māori ways, the taiaha was featured in the award-winning 2002 film, Whale Rider - and more briefly in the film Once Were Warriors.
In the TV series, Deadliest Warrior, the Taiaha is one of the Māori Warrior's weapons. It was tested against the Shaolin Monk's Staff. It impressed the experts as it could break cow spines (which is three times thicker than a human spine) and it was given the edge. It accounted for 151 kills for the Māori Warrior's 308 kills in 1000 battles.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Taiaha in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongrewa
- Photographs featuring taiaha from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
[edit] See also
Other Māori weapons:
