GT25's Historical Series: Shaolin Monk vs. Dayak Headhunter
Hello, and welcome to the Historical Series. In this series, we will take warriors from across the world and throughout history and mythology and analyze their weapons, armor, and x-factors to see who would win in a hypothetical battle. For this installment, we will compare two warriors who are opposites of the other with the Shaolin Monk and the Dayak Headhunter. In this installment, we will take the Shaolin Monk from the early 17th century and the Dayak Headhunter from the early 19th century. Since these two are rather unknown mostly due to popular culture, I will provide a brief summary of their history for the uninformed.
History of the Warriors
After the Buddhist monk Bátuó came to China in 464 CE, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei funded the construction of the Shaolin Monastery just over thirty years later. The Buddhist monks who would live there, referred to as Shaolin Monks, had many expensive antiques and the temples received plenty of large donations that attracted thieves and even armies. As a result, the monks started training in Kung Fu to defend themselves and inviting Chinese martial arts experts to stay in the monastery for three years. Due to this, the monks would create a martial arts style known as 'Shaolin Kung Fu' which has remained in use up to this very day. While the monks were allowed to continue their beliefs into the Sui Dynasty, the Shaolin Monks were repressed during the Tang dynasty due to the spread of Confucianism. Despite this and later being discriminated during the Song dynasty and Maoist China, the monks are now well respected and practice kung fu mostly for meditation and public entertainment.
The indigenous people of Borneo, the Dayak people is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethic subgroups who were located mainly in the central and southern interior of the island. With them being animist in belief, they became known as Dayak Headhunters thanks to their ancient tradition of headhunting. They became feared for this ritual known as "Ngayau" with those who participated in the ritual being in war parties usually targeting others in revenge for a past insult or attack. However, with many rules with this ritual, the warriors who did the headhunting had to follow said rules to ensure other tribes were safe from the ritual or ensure future success. However, as their belief went from animist to Christianity, the Dayak people stopped their traditions and colonial powers put laws to ban the practice with some exceptions. However, the Dayak would be encourage by the Allied forces in World War 2 to perform the practice after the Japanese occupation of Borneo.
Close Range
Liuyedao (Shaolin Monk): The Liuyedao is a type of Dao used during the Ming and Qing dynasties and having a moderate curve along the length of the blade. An example of this sword has a 29 inch folded steel blade with a total length of 36.38 inches and weighs 1.99 pounds.
Mandau (Dayak Headhunter): The Mandau is a knife used by the Dayak people that is mostly used in the headhunting ceremony with it being both a work of art and a weapon. An example of this knife has a 16.54 inch tempered metal blade with exquisite vine works and brass inlays with a total length of 22.05 inches and weighs 1.87 pounds.
Verdict: The Liuyedao gets the edge. Despite the Mandau being lighter by 1.92 ounces, the Liuyedao is longer blade by 12.46 inches due to comparing a sword against a knife. In addition, despite the curve that its blade has, the Liuyedao has the ability to thrust while the Mandau is mostly limited to slashing.
Medium Range
Staff (Shaolin Monk): The Staff is a pole made of wax wood that can deliver powerful blows without breaking and often carried by Shaolin Monks when leaving the monastery. This wooden staff is 60 inches, or 5 feet, in length and weighs a pound.
Dayak Spear (Dayak Headhunter): The Dayak Spear is a typical spear that makes use of a steel blade and was decorated as a ceremonial weapon. An example of this spear has a length of 54.33 inches and weighs about 2.13 pounds.
Verdict: The Dayak Spear gets the edge. Even if it is more of a ceremonial weapon compared to the Staff and is shorter by 5.67 inches, the Dayak Spear is still made to kill while the Staff requires momentum to deliver a lethal blow.
Long Range
Bi Shou (Shaolin Monk): The Bi Shou is a type of throwing knife that has tassels at the end to improve accuracy and often used in pairs. An example of this knife has a 6.3 inch steel blade with a total length of 9.84 inches and weighs 5.29 ounces.
Sumpit (Dayak Headhunter): The Sumpit is a type of blowgun that is a long narrow tube for shooting darts either for hunting or for battle. While I have seen some version with metal spear points, it will be assume that the Sumpit being used doesn't have this spear point. This blowgun is probably 60 inches, or 5 feet, in length and weighs about 2 pounds.
Verdict: Neither weapon gets the edge. The Bi Shou is much lighter than the Sumpit and can be used as melee weapons, but the Sumpit has more darts that it can use and more than likely has the greater range. In addition, the Sumpit is good for stealth kills while the Bi Shou can be used to surprise an opponent since they can be hidden in the user's sleeves.
Special Weapons
Twin Hooks (Shaolin Monk): The Twin Hooks are a pair of Hook Swords that were used in tandem often associated with Northern style of Chinese martial arts. A Hook Sword has four main components, which are a hook at the top for slashing, the back of the blade as a regular steel blade, the crescent guard for blocking and slashing, and the end of the hilt that is shaped into a dagger. A Hook Sword is typically 36 inches, or three feet, in length and weighs about 2 pounds.
Jimpul (Dayak Headhunter): The Jimpul is a traditional weapon of the Sea Dayak and Kenyah people of Borneo and is a curved machete with the edge being longer than the spine of the blade. An example of the Jimpul has a 22 inch tempered metal blade with brass inlays with a total length of 27.5 inches and weighs 1.76 pounds.
Verdict: The Twin Hooks get the edge. Not only does the user have two of them against the single machete, but the Twin Hooks have multiple ways of killing someone compared to the Jimpul. In addition, the user of the Hook Blades can hook them together and swing them as a fifth component and give them a reach advantage compared to the blade of the Jimpul.
X-Factors
Killer Instinct: The Dayak Headhunter gets the edge. Due to their beliefs, the Shaolin Monk would be more likely to disable an opponent and only kill if there is no alternative. As their name suggests, the Dayak Headhunter was willing to collect the heads of rival tribesman and fight against them.
Training: The Shaolin Monk gets the edge. The Shaolin Monk was trained in the ways of martial arts, namely Shaolin Kung Fu, and how to do so with their weapons to great effect. On the other hand, the Dayak Headhunter was trained to battle against other tribesmen and the art of headhunting.
Ferocity: The Dayak Headhunter gets the edge. The Shaolin Monk is a pacifist by nature and would mostly be on the defensive should they get into a fight. The Dayak Headhunter was willing to battle against other tribes and collect the heads of their foes during said conflicts.
Endurance: Despite their beliefs and pacifism, the Shaolin Monk would trained on a daily basis to master their martial art and train with their weapons. The Dayak Headhunter hails from the tropical jungles of Borneo and they had to adapt to the environment that they lived in.
Match Information: This is a one on one match with nothing else being taken into account.
The Set Up: A Shaolin Monk is practicing his arts in a lightly forested area while a Dayak Headhunter is nearby searching for food.
BATTLE
In a lightly forested area with trees and shrubs spread out along the area, a man in orange robes is practicing his movements with a Staff in his hands. On his belt is a Liuyedao in a scabbard on his left side with two Bi Shou on his arms which are hidden by his sleeves. Not far from him, a pair of Hook Swords are laying in the grass with the only sign of them being there is the sun reflecting off them. This man is a Shaolin Monk, who has stopped in the area during his traveling to practice his martial arts.
Not far away from where the monk is, a man wearing a loincloth around his waist with a scabbard for his Mandau and a cloth pouch on it with armbands on his upper arms is walking through the area. In the man's left hand is a Jimpul in its scabbard while in his right hand is his Dayak Spear and Sumpit. The man is a Dayak Headhunter, who has split off from his hunting party to find an animal for food.
As he moves through the area, the Dayak stops upon seeing the monk and hides behind some shrubs while putting down his Jimpul and Dayak Spear onto the ground. Seeing the man practicing with his Staff, he realizes the man would make a great trophy and reaches in the cloth pouch for a dart and puts it into his Sumpit. The headhunter uses the shrub to balance the blowpipe and puts his mouth onto the Sumpit as he aims at the monk.
At this time, the Shaolin starts to spin his Staff around him during his practice before hearing something hit his staff. Looking at his weapon, he sees a small dart on it and takes it off before examining it. However, he sees something out the corner of his eye and looks to see the end of the Sumpit as the Dayak has put another dart into it. Realizing the danger, the monk quickly steps out of the way as the second dart is shot and sails through the air far past its target.
Reaching his left hand into the sleeve of his right arm, the Shaolin grabs the Bi Shou and takes it out before quickly throwing it at the blowpipe. The knife flies through the air before embedding itself into the blowgun and the headhunter quickly tosses it away upon seeing this. Grabbing his Jimpul and spear from the ground, he sprints forward with the monk getting into a defensive stance with his Staff.
Dropping his machete to the ground, the Dayak grabs his spear with both hands before performing a thrust that the Shaolin easily knocks out of the way with his Staff. However, the headhunter quickly pulls his Dayak Spear back before performing another thrust only for it to be deflected again and the monk smacks him in the head with his Staff. Backing up in a daze, the Dayak shakes it off before seeing the Shaolin back in his defensive position and seems to get angry from him using his stick.
Quickly bending down and grabbing the hilt of his Jimpul, he puts the scabbard under his arm and takes the machete out before letting the scabbard drop when he performs a one-handed thrust with his Dayak Spear. The monk easily deflects it again only for the headhunter to swing his Jimpul to chop into the Staff before stepping back. Yet another thrust is performed, but the Shaolin simply sidesteps it before he swings his Staff to strike his foe in the head.
However, the Dayak swings his Jimpul and seems to easily chop the Staff in half as he ducks under the broken end coming at him. The monk steps back and throws what's in his hand away before he dives under another thrust from the spear and rolls onto his feet as he draws his Liuyedao. Acting before the Dayak can, the Shaolin slashes the man's right arm open and causes the man to drop his spear.
The headhunter moves away as the monk kicks the Dayak Spear up and catches it only to throw it away from them. However, the Dayak steps forward and attempts to swing his Jimpul at his foe's neck only for the Shaolin to use his Liuyedao to parry the sword out of the way and make him pass him. Both men turn to face their foe with each being only two feet away and neither making a move.
However, the Dayak smiles as his injured right arm is around his body and grabs the handle of his Mandau. The headhunter quickly swings his Jimpul that gets blocked by the Liuyedao before he draws his knife and performs a slash it. This causes it to cut into the monk's robes and chest along causing him to spin as he falls to the ground with his sword flying away from him. Seeing his foe almost unmoving, the Dayak moves to be at his side before raising his Mandau.
However, as it comes down, the Shaolin rolls to his left to avoid the knife as it hits the ground before raising his legs up and performs a somersault to get back to his feet. The headhunter attempts to cut his foe's neck with his weapons only for the monk to drop to avoid it and gives two punches to the man's stomach. Getting to his feet as his foe backs up in pain, he turns his head to spy his Twin Hooks and quickly performs a sidestep to avoid an overhead swing with his Jimpul.
Taking a chance, the monk uses his hand to stop the headhunter from swinging his right arm and delivers a jump kick to his foe's face. With the Dayak being knocked backwards, the Shaolin takes this moment to turn around and run to where his Twin Hooks are. Quickly getting to his feet, the headhunter sees him running and runs after the monk to keep on the offense. However, the Shaolin slides to where his Hook Swords are and picks them up as the Dayak catches up and attempts to swing his Jimpul at his foe.
However, the monk uses the Hook Sword in his right hand to catch it and easily uses his wrist to disarm the headhunter of his machete. The Dayak attempts to perform a slash to his foe's neck with his Mandau, but the Shaolin easily uses the crescent guard of the Hook Sword in his left hand to block the strike. Reacting quickly, the monk brings his right leg up and kicks his foe in the chest with the headhunter being pushed back. Taking a few steps back as well, the Shaolin quickly hooks the two swords together before spinning around.
The Dayak attempts to move forward, but the hilt of one of the Hook Swords slashes through his stomach and he cries out in agony, dropping his Mandau. As the monk gets his sword back and looks at his foe, he winces as the man falls to his knees and has his arms wrapped around his stomach with blood gushing from the wound. Hearing footsteps, the Dayak Headhunter looks up to see the Shaolin Monk walking up to him and cross his Hook Swords next to the man's neck to put the man out of his misery.
However, the monk is surprised as the headhunter appears almost calm and closes his eyes before the monk quickly slices though his neck and beheads the man. Stepping out of the way as the body falls forward, the Shaolin Monk lowers his swords to his sides and gives a bow in remorse to his fallen foe.
Final Verdict: Both of these opposing warriors gave it their all, but it was ultimately the Shaolin Monk who secured a close victory with 5.2 out of 10 battles. What made this so even was the x-factors, with the headhunter had the factors of ferocity and killer instinct while the monk had training and a slight edge in endurance. Both being relatively even in x-factors made this fight a close one, but like last time it came down to the weapons used in this fight which the monk had the clear advantage. While both were even in long range, the headhunter had medium range with his spear which was the only edge he had. The monk had both close range and special weapons which allowed him to dominate the fight especially when combined with his training. In addition, his arsenal is arguable more balanced as he can use all his weapons when needed whereas the headhunter is limited in when he can use certain weapons like his Sumpit and Dayak Spear. Overall, the better training and arsenal of the Shaolin Monk allowed him to overcome the ferocity and killer instinct of the Dayak Headhunter.
Got a battle you want to see? Tell me and if I can get it into the series! Next time, we pit the late medieval rebels of Scotland and Bohemia against each other!
Ray Tanaka: Hey, everyone! Guess what? I got this chapter done in a 15-16 hour time period, meaning this is now the fastest chapter written, edited, and posted for either series! Can't wait to see how I can beat this one. Anyway, with the actual battle, I had this planned for my Deadliest Warrior series before it got cancelled and I simply decided to do it here. Considering how different these two are, I'm surprised I've not seen this match before I finally got to it. Also, I do feel like the monk was always the one with the edge especially with what I said in regards to having the better arsenal. Other than that, the next match I did try to make as obvious as possible since...well, not many groups to choose from when its narrowed down to that many. Hope you all enjoyed!