The Klebit Bok or Kelavit Bok is the traditional shield of the Kayan and the Kenyah people originating from

Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and e ...

. It is similar to the shields used by other Dayak people such as the

Kliau The Kliau, Keliau or Klau is a traditional shield of the Dayak people of Borneo. It is similar to the shields used by other Dayak people such as the Klebit Bok of the Kenyah. Other names for this shield include: ''klawang'' or ''kelawang'' and ...

of the Iban.

Description

The Klebit Bok is a shield in a shape of a hexagon and painted on both sides. On its front, three demonic faces are often painted, in red, white and black and arranged vertically. Their staring, round eyes and grotesquely fanged mouths are surrounded by tufts of human hair attached with resin. The front is richly decorated with clumps of human hair forcefully pressed into the narrow cracks of wood before being secured by means of fresh wax. The hair is allegedly from hunted heads. It completes the designs, making the shield all the more terrifying for one's enemies. The reverse of the shield frequently depicts one or two figures whose heads and limbs dissolve into fantastic tendrils. Its name is derived from ''klebit'' (meaning "shield") and ''bok'' (meaning "hair") indicating a strong connection between the shield and the hair with which it is decorated.

References

Shields Weapons of Indonesia {{Indonesia-stub

Description

See also

References