Badik

Badik
A Badik, pre-1931.
Type	Knife, Dagger
Place of origin	Sulawesi, Indonesia
Service history
Used by	Bugis people, Makassarese people, Mandar people
Specifications
Length	20-30 cm
Blade type	Single edge, convex grind
Hilt type	Wood, horn, ivory
Scabbard/sheath	Wood, horn, ivory

Badik or Badek (also known as Bade, Badee, Badi Badi, Badík Badík, Badi) is a knife or dagger specifically developed by the Bugis and Makassarese people from Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Description

In general, the dagger consists of three parts, namely the handle and blade, as well as the sheath or scabbard. It comes in great variety and sizes. The Badik has a straight, curved, bulbous or wavy, single or double edge blade. The blade has a smooth or provided with hollow sections. The weapon either is pointed or rounded. Like the Keris, the shape of the blade is asymmetric and often decorated with pamor (pattern welding steel commonly known as Damascus steel). However, it differs from the Keris in that the Badik does not a have ganja (a buffer strip steel). Some versions from Sulawesi are decorated with inlaid gold figure on the blade, which is called jeko. The handle is made ??of wood, horn or ivory in a shape of a pistol grip at 45° to 90° degree angle or similar in a bent often decorated with carvings. The Badik is used as a stabbing and also a slashing weapon. They are worn on the right or left side. There are many versions made and used throughout the Indonesian archipelago.

The Badik is also not to be mistaken with Tumbuk Lada.

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Culture

Examples of pamor found in Badik blades.

The Bugis and Makassarese people view that every type of Badik possesses magical force (supernatural). These forces can affect the conditions, circumstances, and lives of the owner. Correspondingly, there is a belief that the Badik is also able to induce tranquillity, peace, well-being and prosperity or destitution, poverty and misery to those who have it in their possession. In addition, it is believed that the pamor also have an affect on the life of its owner.

Since hundreds of years ago, the Badik is used not only as weapons for self-defense and hunting, but also as an identity of an ethnic or cultural group. The Badik is not only famous in the Makassar area alone, but also in the region of the Bugis and Mandar people with different names and forms. Just like the Javanese's Keris, the influence of the Bugis and Makassarese's Badik has spread onto other islands like Java, Borneo, Sumatra and so on throughout the Indonesian archipelago, and as far as the Malay Peninsula creating a wide variety and styles of Badik according to each region and ethic group.

Both the Bugis and Makassarese people, even in this modern age carry the Badik concealed in their garments, and are quickly to bring it out into action. The Badik is worn on the right side, butt end of the handle pointing to the rear; it may also be positioned at their left side providing the butt end of the handle points to the rear. However, when the Badik is shifted from the right to the left side, or when worn at the left, handle reversed facing forward, it is signatory of impending combat.

Sitobo Lalang Lipa

In the culture of the Bugis and Makassarese people, the smallest form of conflict is settled by a way of duel. Similar to the culture of their neighbouring island from Madura where another style of dueling called carok is practiced, the Bugis and Makassarese people had their way of dueling called Sitobo Lalang Lipa which means "fighting in the sarong". Whoever had any misunderstanding and is unable to resolve it by way of discussion or peace, an agreement will be made in the sarong. One man enters the sarong and with respect, invites the other man into the sarong. When both of the men are in the sarong, an exchange of their Badik will be made between them. Both men will make an agreement that the duel will end up in either death or alive. And thereafter shall be no hereditary sins nor will there be any rights for other parties to question the dueling. The dueling in the sarong is meant to display true bravery and fairness. Within the cramped circle of the sarong, one's masculinity will be tested to see which of them have the extraordinary mentality.

Today the Sitobo Lalang Lipa dueling are no longer practiced. However it can be seen in cultural shows.

Further reading

• Donn F. Draeger, Weapons & Fighting Arts of Indonesia, Tuttle Publishing, 1972, page 9, 201, 202, ISBN 1-4629-0509-9
• Robert Cato, Moro swords, Verlag Graham Brash, 1996, page 34, ISBN 978-981-218-059-9