Preliminary Classification of Indigenous Taiwanese Knives

Introduction The Indigenous Taiwanese Peoples are the first inhabitants of Taiwan in recorded history. Inextricably tied to Austronesian peoples, their surviving culture is of great importance to the world. Due to geographical barriers in Taiwan and the thousands of years of relative isolation, various distinct cultures inhabit Taiwan, all speaking different languages, with at least … Continue reading Preliminary Classification of Indigenous Taiwanese Knives →

What I know about East Asian Metallurgy/Swordsmithing and why the Katana is good but not necessarily supreme

Disclaimer: Author is neither an expert in metallurgy nor Japanese swords. This is just a result of the author trying to educate himself. Bronze Age China The Bronze Age seems to be first apparent in China during Xia and Shang(approx 1,500-1,000BC) dynasties and possibly earlier(around 3,000 BC in western China). Archaeological work has revealed that … Continue reading What I know about East Asian Metallurgy/Swordsmithing and why the Katana is good but not necessarily supreme →

The Great Wall of China: In Need of a Great Clarification

With talks of the American Border wall ebbing and flowing through the popular consciousness, I'd like clear the name of the another border wall that had been dragged through the mud in the process. The Great Wall of China is often touted to be among the new seven wonders. As a result, factoids are often … Continue reading The Great Wall of China: In Need of a Great Clarification →