Lethal Weapon
It may just seem like an alternative to a sword to casual viewers of
Xena: Warrior Princess, but Xena's chakram is not only a trademark of the show, it is also a factual weapon which gives
Xena far more of a historical basis than many of us may realise.
KATE BARKER investigates the origin of the 'round killing thing' which has become Xena's infamous weapon of destruction.
Lethal Weapon
"Chakram (or chakra): A quoit weapon used mainly by Sikhs, unknown outside India. It consisted of a steel ring from 12 to 30 centimetres in diameter and between two and four centimetres in width, with a very sharp outer edge and a round inner edge, which was used to whirl the weapon around the forefinger before throwing. Another method of whirling consisted of holding the chakram between the thumb and the first finger and throwing it to coincide with the full swing of the body, like a discus. Its effective range was 40 to 50 metres. The surface of a chakram was usually quite plain, but some examples of these
weapons show elaborately inlaid or line-engraved surfaces."
From
The Complete Encyclopaedia of At ins attd Weapons, edited by Leonid Tarassuk & Claude Blair, BT Batsford Publishers, 1979.
While
Xena: Warrior Princess may be the stuff of legends, our hero’s weapon of choice has its roots firmly in historical fact.
The origins of the chakram go back to the ancient East and appear in histories both factual and mythological — of China, the Sanskrit language and, in particular, India. Much of the information on the chakram refers to its use by the Indian Sikhs and Akalies, with some references to the weapon dating back hundreds of years. The chakram was also known as a war-quoit (a quoit being described by the
Oxford English Dictionaty as a "ring of metal, rubber or rope" and by the
Oxford Encyclopaedic Dictionary as a heavy, flattish, sharp-edged iron ring thrown like the ancient Greek discus"). Under Guru Govind Singh, war-quoits were used extensively’ by’ the Sikhs of the Punjab (northwest) area of India, significantly against the invading Mongol dynasty around the mid-1200s.
Paintings and pictorial references to these times often showed several chakrams or sx ar-quoits worn by the Sikhs around their turbans, either for dress or as both weapons and head protection in battles. The chakrants would often he whirled around the forefinger before being released, or thrown underarm like the modern-day Frisbee. Research suggests that the Sikh military used the chakram almost exclusively from the 16th to around the 19th Century for dress and battle.
There were different types of chakram: the
chakkar sada had a smooth, sharp outer edge, while the
chakkar katavdar’s outer edge was serrated. In a description of a late 16th Century Indian army, the inventory of weapons included steel 'wheels' called
chacarani, carried on the left arm or atop turbans.
The earliest references include descriptions of the chakram in the myths and tales of the
Mahabharata and
Ramayana, traditional epics of the Indian peoples and their gods. According to some translations, each of the 32 Hindu gods had their own weapons, from battle-axes to bows and arrows. In illustrations of these texts, the god Vishnu very clearly holds a chakram. As legend goes, the chakram was given to Vishnu by an older god, Agni the fire god — as a reward for as creaming another god, Indra.
According to text, Vishnu was the eighth and most important incarnation of the god Krishna — and didn’t he in fact turn up in India at one point, to meet Xena? Indra, who was God of the Kshatriyas (those of the indian warrior caste), carries a battleaxe, thunderbolt, sword and chakram. Apparently, Indra used the chakram to help fight off demons — and a certain Warrior Princess has certainly done her share of that. Other comparisons may also be drawn from this example, including the fact that Xena appears to have 'found' her chakram with just a little help from Ares, God of War.
The chakram also appears in specific stories front the
Mahabharata. In one tale, a character attempts to retrieve swallow nectar (perhaps the equivalent of the Greek gods’ ambrosia?), which is the substance of the moon. His head his cut off by a chakram. but he still partially succeeds, until the moon escapes from the gash in his neck. This charming myth offers an interesting explanation of the phenomenon of the moon’s eclipse.
Examples of the use of the chakram (or variants thereof) as a tool of the fighting arts can also be found in Irish and Chinese histories. Although the information is not as extensive, it seems that in these areas, the chakram was often used in hand-to hand combat. From the Chinese
Yuan Dynasty (1206 BC) at least, the
Xiu Quan (sleeve ring) was used for short-range attacks or distracting the enemy again being thrown or tossed like a discus.
Zhi Qian (throwing coins) were almost miniature versions of the chakram, with sharp edges. These were most likely used for self-defence. Another Chinese variant on the chakram was the
Quan or
Lun (ring or wheel), a metal ring of 12-18 inches in diameter. This weapon was used mainly for defence, and sonic variations featured outside spurs, used to assist in blocking and sliding an opponent’s weapon away and inflicting a maximum amount of damage.
Another Chinese weapon with perhaps greater significance to
Xena was the
Lu Jiao Dao (deer antler sabre). This weapon had many names, another being
R Yue Qian-Kun Jian (Sun-Moon Heaven-Earth sword). Translated, this name refers to the yin-yang concept: sun and moon are classified as yang, while heaven and earth are identified with yin. Illustrations show the weapon shaped like the
Baguazhang-style
Yin-Yang Fish, and further study will reveal that the particular shape bears at least a little resemblence to Xena's second chakram when it breakss apart and becomes two weapons. The
Zi-Wu (or sun-moon, as they are commonly called) were mostly used in pairs, and so named because while one of the pair (
Yang) is being utilised, the other (
Yin) is already prepared for attack. In light of this information, the fact that Xena's
ying-yang chakram can he split apart and used in this manner also suggests that whoever designed Xena’s history did a great deal more research than might have been expected from a typical action adventure series.
Another interesting fact about the chakram is the spiritual meaning behind the word, also used in
Xena and apparent in historical context. Take all but the last letter of "chakram" and we have "chakra", which takes the history and meaning of the weapon — along with Xena's relation to it — down a whole new and fascinating path. In Sanskrit, the word "chakra" litcrally translates as "circle’ or "wheel". Read the following entry from
The New Encyclopaedia Britannica and you will start to sec another example of
Xena drawing on historical reference.
"Chakra (also spelled Cakra); wheel. Any of a number of psychic-energy centres of the body, prominent in the practices of certain forms of Hinduism and Tantric Buddhism. The chakra are conceived of as focal points where psychic forces and bodily functions merge and interact with each other. Each of the major chakra is associated with a spectfic colour, shape, sense organ, natural element, deity and mantra. The
Muladhara (lowest chakra at the base of the spine) encircles a mysterious divine potency (
Kundalini) that the individual attempts by Yogic technique to raise from chakra to chakra until it reaches the highest point (
Sahasrara, the top of the head) and self-illumination results."
The Cambridge Encyclopaedia also talks about chakra as "visual vortices in the body's energy field, important for channelling vital energies," and explains that imbalances and disturbances in this field can cause "disharmony in the physical, emotional and spiritual realms."
Remember those psychic energies tapped into by Xena under the tutelage of her mentor Lao Ma in the episodes set in Chin? Or how about Xena's loss of her dark side and its memories when her chakram was broken in half? We later find out that this version of the war-quoit was the "dark" chakram and that only by forging it together ss ith the "chakram of light" (the one that can kill gods) can Xena truly become herself. There's also that point in the 1940s
Xena episode
The Xena Scrolls where the two halves of the broken chakram come together and Xena's spirit enters the body her descendant Melinda Pappas (played with great humour by Lucy Lawless).
These days there are numerous references to the chakram and its variations, in both printed form and on internet web pages from all over the world. Here, a budding chakram fan will find, among other things, discussion and debate on the historical facts of the chakram’s origin, both outside and whithin the world of
Xena.
For example, according to many sources, chakrams were often ornately decorated on one or both sides) with designs and symbols from whichever culture was using them. They could be simple rings of steel or polished brass; plainly designed or with beautiful decoration. It's been said that in the
Xenaverse, the design of Xena's original chakram was inspired by Lao Ma in Chin, perhaps yet another connection to the mystical forces behind its power.
Chakrams dating hack to the 19th C cntnrs and before (such as those in the Wallace Collection in London) have been found to range from simple rings of flattened steel to those of intricately aerodynamic design. Following on from this theme, some web sites contain detailed explanations of how the chakram must he made in order to achieve aerodynamic excellence. Tips for chakram creation include notes on durability and rust resistance, correct weight, and whether or not the user wants to create that familiar whistling sound when the chakram is in flight. According to one description of required sharpness, "a utility edge as is found on axes and shovels will suffice."
There are also sites relating testflights with replica chakrams, letting the general public know (contrary to what we might see in
Xena) just what the chakram can and cannot do while in flight. Articles both on and off the internet show illustrations of the chakram and how best to throw it; others describe practising with the chakram-like aerobic, a modern-day variation on the plastic frisbee with similar designs to its steel counterpart. It also seems that while practicing with replicas, the "twirling" method used in authenticated histories is the more effective method of use.
In practice with aerobics or imitation chakrams, experiments found that the weapon could be petlled etp or down by gusts of wind but would mostly stick to its projected course when thrown. Apparently, the practice of bending the chakram to the required shape was used if it didn't fly' straight and true. No turning corners for the 'real' chakram, but it might be interesting to note that some information claims that the chakram (or aerobic, at least) is the world's furthest thrown object: 1,257 feet, almost a quarter of a mile.!
However, all the research — including comment from the designers at
Xena — makes it clear that the chakram does not have the skills of a boomerang and will not return if you throw it. It is also said that a 'real' chakram would cause significant damage up to 100 yards and could be lethal up to 50 yards... so kids, don't try' this at home.
If you want your own chakram but don't have the skills (or equipment) to make one, never fear Some internet sites and mail order company advertise as armouries, offering to make and sell chakrams of varying size, design and price.
Some of the web sites that offer custom made chakrams range in their pricing from US $37 00 (aluminium, dull-edged and gold detail) to US $300.00 (fully painted and engraved titantium) If you think that’s a steep price, listen to thts at a recent
Xena convention in Burbank, California a chakram used in the series was auctioned for over US $8,000! That's a lot of money for a ring of aluminium... but then again, how do you put a price on having an "authentic" piece of
Xena hanging proudly in your living room?
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Lethal Weapon Official Xena Magazine February 2001, Kate Barker, 38-43.
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