A group of men and women performed a sword dance ( fonlai ngao ) at the opening ceremony of an eco-tourism festival held in Vangvieng on January 30, demonstrating the martial art used by their ancestors to defend their country in the time of the Lane Xang Kingdom in the 14th century.
Tough-skinned men perform a sword dance at the opening ceremony of an eco-tourism festival held in Vangvieng on January 30, demonstrating the fonlai ngao martial art used by their ancestors to defend their country in the time of the Lane Xang Kingdom in the 14th century.
Deputy Director of the Tourism Department of Vientiane province, Mr Boualy Mylattana, said men and women skilled in this type of martial art could now only be found in the province's Thoulakhom district.
The martial art form originated with soldiers who defended the country in times of war hundreds of years ago. The moves can be traced back to actual fighting moves used in battle. During New Year celebrations, the soldiers would show off their fighting skills. Over time, this became a type of dance, with several variations.
During the performance at the eco-tourism festival, many in the audience had to close their eyes as they found it difficult to watch. Some people were shocked when female and male performers used long sharp swords to cut down a banana tree and then pressed the blades to their legs and tongues.
The fonlai ngao performers danced with swords in each hand while a banana tree was used to test how sharp the swords were. They used the swords to slash and hit each other but said they had a special ability to avoid being hurt by the sharpened swords, especially when their necks and tongues were cut.
According to the head of the Sword Dancing Troupe, Mr Bounthien Muangpak, over the years this form of dancing has become a village tradition and today it is well-known among Lao people from north to south.
Many who watch the show believe the members of the troupe are special and gifted people. In recent years the group has been invited to perform in Thailand and the Republic of Korea .
Mr Bounthien, 76, told Vientiane Times in 2007 he was sure he had inherited his power from his uncle, Mr Ang, who was formerly head of the sub-district of Pakkayoung . He said his uncle's powers were stronger than his own.
“My uncle lived until the age of 120,” he said. He also recounted the history of the sword dance, which he said dated back over 100 years to the time when a group of Chinese “Taipeng” bandits wreaked havoc throughout Laos .
“The Lao people fought against the bandits' invasion, and we devised the sword dance to frighten them,” he said. He recalled that many of the bandits were terrified by what they saw, and did not dare get closer to the village, saving it from destruction.
Another performer, Mr Kong, said he developed his special powers through his father as a young man, after he had finished his military service.
He said the most important thing is that sword dancers must be very careful what they eat, lest they lose their special powers. They are not allowed to eat snake or dog, and must promise not to use their power to harm others.
There are 12 members in the troupe, most of whom are Mr Kong's relatives. He said many others had declined to learn these skills because they were afraid of accidentally eating the banned food.
While he would like his children to continue the tradition, he said he would also give them the choice of continuing once they grew older.
By Times Reports (Latest Update February 14 , 2009)
