Parang chandong

A parang chandong (also spelled parang candong, parang candung, duku candong, or duku candung) is a traditional chopper used by the Dayak people (Ibanese) of the Baram River in Borneo.^[1]

Key Information

Parang chandong
An Iban-made parang chandong, used by a serviceman during the Malayan Emergency (1948–1957) as seen in the National Army Museum, UK
Type	Parang
Place of origin	Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia)
Service history
Used by	Dayak people (Ibanese)
Specifications
Length	40–50 cm (16–20 in)
Blade type	Sheepsfoot point blade with a single convex edge
Hilt type	Wood
Scabbard/sheath	Wood
Show more

The parang candung is also the primary weapon of Sari Panji, a character in the Rajé Ngalam tale of Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.^[2]

Recently in the west, the parang chandong was popularized by Raymond Mears and is therefore sometimes referred to as a Ray Mears parang.

This parang is also not to be confused with the candung in Lampung language, which refers to another type of golok in Lampung, Indonesia.

The blade's edge is convex. The back is concave and curves towards the edge at the point. The centre of gravity lies near to the tip. The wooden scabbard's two parts are held together by means of rattan strips. The scabbard may be finely decorated, for instance with open-work carvings of floral motifs.^[3]

A duku (means parang in Iban language) chandong from Baram River, mid 1970s-1980s.

1. ^ Augustine Anggat Ganjing, Jonathan Singki (1991). Asas Ukiran Iban: Suatu Pengenalan. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. ISBN 983-62-1398-8.
2. ^ Chairil Effendy (2001). Teks Rajé Ngalam: Telaah Struktur Dan Resepsi. Pusat Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan Nasional. ISBN 979-685-197-0.
3. ^ Albert G Van Zonneveld (2002). Traditional Weapons of the Indonesian Archipelago. Koninklyk Instituut Voor Taal Land. ISBN 90-5450-004-2.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parang Chandong.