In seventeenth-century Siam (now Thailand), although most wars were fought against neighbouring Burma, one of the most prominent sources of military inspiration was Japan. In fact, japanese influence remained for centuries in the Siamese army. Even a perfunctory walk through the weapons gallery in the excellent Bangkok National Museum reveals that, among swords, the majority resemble either Chinese or Japanese types, while there are comparatively few that follow earlier Siamese or, for that matter, Buurmese styles (known as daab and dha, respectively)…
Publications of Michael Fredholm
