The Arts and Sciences of Ancient Philippines
The ancient Filipinos were fine artists. Their architecture was represented by the bahay kubo style of homes, neat and well suited to the warm tropical climate. Their knowledge of painting is shown in their art of tattooing. The skillful tattoo artists of the barangays were the first painters of ancient Filipino society. Their sculpture can be seen in their carvings of wood, gold, stone and ivory. It can also be seen in the way they decorated their tools and weapons. They carved artistic designs on the handles of their knives, daggers, swords, spears and shields. Their use of personal ornaments such as bracelets, armlets, anklets, strings of beads, head bands, and amulets are examples of their fine sense of beauty.
The early Filipinos knew some science too. They had knowledge of curing, astronomy, engineering. They knew the curative powers of many medicinal plants and herbs, and many of their herbal cures are supported by today’s medicinal doctors. They also knew the herbs that were useful as antidotes for various poisons, though some of their practices of medicine were unfortunately related to magic and religion. Their knowledge of astronomy was evident in their steering of their boats by the position of the stars, the moon, the sun and by the direction of sea winds.
They had marvelous engineering skills. They constructed irrigation systems, forts, and rice terraces. The greatest engineering achievements of early Filipinos were the rice terraces of the Ifugaos on the Cordillera, which are a great tourist attraction today.
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