Historically, Chinese swords are classified into two types, the ''
jian
The ''jian'' (pronunciation (劍), English approximation: ) is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the ''jian'' date to the 7th century BCE, during the Spring and ...
'' and the ''
dao
Dao, Dão or DAO may refer to:
* Tao (Chinese: "The Way" 道), a philosophical concept
* Dao (Chinese sword) (刀), a type of Chinese sword
* Dao (Naga sword), a weapon and a tool of Naga people
People and language
* Yao people, a minority ethni ...
''. A ''Jian'' is a straight, double-edged sword mainly used for
stabbing, and has been commonly translated into the
English language
English is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, with its earliest forms spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the ...
as a
longsword
A longsword (also spelled as long sword or long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for primarily two-handed use (around ), a straight double-edged blade of around , and weighing approximate ...
; while a ''dao'' is a single-edged sword (mostly curved from the
Song dynasty
The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...
forward) mainly used for
cutting
Cutting is the separation or opening of a physical object, into two or more portions, through the application of an acutely directed force.
Implements commonly used for wikt:cut, cutting are the knife and saw, or in medicine and science the scal ...
, and has been translated as a
saber
A sabre (French: sabʁ or saber in American English) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such as the ...
or a "
knife
A knife ( : knives; from Old Norse 'knife, dirk') is a tool or weapon with a cutting edge or blade, usually attached to a handle or hilt. One of the earliest tools used by humanity, knives appeared at least 2.5 million years ago, as evidence ...
".
Bronze ''jian''s appeared during the
Western Zhou
The Western Zhou ( zh, c=, p=Xīzhōu; c. 1045 BC – 771 BC) was a royal dynasty of China and the first half of the Zhou dynasty. It began when King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty at the Battle of Muye and ended when the Quanrong n ...
period, and switched to the more durable
wrought iron
Wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content (less than 0.08%) in contrast to that of cast iron (2.1% to 4%). It is a semi-fused mass of iron with fibrous slag inclusions (up to 2% by weight), which give it a wood-like "grain" ...
and
steel during the late
Warring States period
The Warring States period () was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest ...
. In modern times, the ceremonial
commissioned officer's sword of the
Chinese navy
The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN; ), also known as the People's Navy, Chinese Navy, or PLA Navy, is the maritime service branch of the People's Liberation Army.
The PLAN traces its lineage to naval units fighting during the Chine ...
has been patterned after the traditional ''jian'' since 2008. Besides specialty weapons like the
butterfly ''dao'', Chinese swords are usually in length. However, longer swords have been found on occasion.
Outside of
Ancient China, Chinese swords were also used in
Ancient Japan
The first human inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago have been traced to prehistoric times around 30,000 BC. The Jōmon period, named after its cord-marked pottery, was followed by the Yayoi period in the first millennium BC when new invent ...
from the 3rd to the 6th century AD, but were replaced with native
Japanese sword
A is one of several types of traditionally made swords from Japan. Bronze swords were made as early as the Yayoi period (1000 BC – 300 AD), though most people generally refer to the curved blades made from the Heian period (794 – 1185) to ...
s by the middle
Heian era
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japanese. ...
.
Bronze age: Shang dynasty (c. 1200 BC–c. 1046 BC) to Spring and Autumn period (771–476 BC)
![Deux manches d'épée courte (Musée Cernuschi)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Deux_manches_d%27%C3%A9p%C3%A9e_courte_%28Mus%C3%A9e_Cernuschi%29.jpg)
Knives were found in
Fu Hao
Fu Hao () died c. 1200 BC, posthumous temple name Mu Xin (母辛), was one of the many wives of King Wu Ding of the Shang dynasty and also served as a military general and high priestess. Minimal evidence detailing Fu Hao's life and military ac ...
's tomb, dated c. 1200 BC.
Bronze jians appeared during the
Western Zhou
The Western Zhou ( zh, c=, p=Xīzhōu; c. 1045 BC – 771 BC) was a royal dynasty of China and the first half of the Zhou dynasty. It began when King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty at the Battle of Muye and ended when the Quanrong n ...
. The blades were a mere 28 to 46 cm long. These short stabbing weapons were used as a last defense when all other options had failed.
By the late
Spring and Autumn period, jians lengthened to about 56 cm. At this point, at least some soldiers used the jian rather than the
dagger-axe
The dagger-axe () is a type of pole weapon that was in use from the Erlitou culture until the Han dynasty in China. It consists of a dagger-shaped blade, mounted by its tang to a perpendicular wooden shaft. The earliest dagger-axe blades were ...
due to its greater flexibility and portability. China started producing steel in the 6th century BC. Still, iron and steel tools were not produced in significant quantities until much later. By around 500 BC, however, the sword and shield combination began to be regarded as superior to the spear and dagger-axe.
Legendary swords
According to the ''Yuejue shu'' (Record of Precious Swords), the swordsmith
Ou Yezi forged five treasured swords for
Gan Jiang and
King Zhao of Chu, named, respectively, Zhanlu (湛盧), Juque (巨闕), Shengxie (勝邪), Yuchang (魚腸) and Chunjun (純鈞). He also made three swords for
King Goujian of Yue
Goujian () (reigned 496–465 BC) was the king of the Kingdom of Yue (越國, present-day northern Zhejiang) near the end of the Spring and Autumn period (春秋). He was the son of Marquis Yunchang.
Goujian's reign coincided with arguably th ...
, named Longyuan (龍淵), Tai’e (泰阿) and Gongbu (工布).
*Chungou/Chunjun (Purity) - Its patterns resembled a row of stars in a constellation.
*Zhanlu/Pilü (Black) - A sword made from the finest of the five metals and imbued with the essence of fire. It was said to be sensitive to its owner's behaviour and left of its own accord for the state of Chu when Helü's conduct offended it. When Helü became aware of
King Zhao of Chu's possession of Zhanlu, he attacked Chu.
*Haocao/Panying (Bravery/Hard) - Said to have been imbued with the aspect of lawlessness and was, therefore, of no use to anyone. It was used as a burial object.
*Yuchang (Fish Belly) - A short dagger said to be capable of cleaving through iron as if it were mud. Used by
Helü of Wu
Helü () or Hellu () was from 514 to 496 BC king of the state of Wu toward the end of the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. His given name was Guang (); he was initially known as Prince Guang.
Life
Prince Guang was the son of Ki ...
to assassinate his uncle,
Liao of Wu
Liao, King of Wu (; died 515 BC), also named Zhouyu, was king of the state of Wu in the Spring and Autumn period.
Biography
Liao was the grandson of King Shoumeng. He took the throne in 526 BC. During his time as king he led several battles again ...
. It was hidden in a cooked fish presented to King Liao at a banquet. As a result it gained a reputation for causing its user to be disloyal.
*Juque (Great Destroyer) - Said to be incredibly durable and withstand even hitting or stabbing rock.
*Shengxie (Victor over Evil)
*Longyuan (Dragon Gulf) - Its shape resembled a high mountain and a deep gulf. Goujian used it to cut a gash in his thigh as self-punishment when he mistakenly executed an innocent person.
*Taie (Great Riverbank) - Had patterns like the waves of a flowing river. The King of Chu used it to direct his army against a Jin invasion.
*Gongbu (Artisanal Display) - Had patterns like flowing water that stop like pearls at the spine.
Gan Jiang and Mo Ye
According to the ''Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue'', Ou Yezi was also the teacher of Gan Jiang, who was married to Mo Ye.
King Helü of Wu
King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king.
*In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the ti ...
ordered Gan Jiang and Mo Ye to forge a pair of swords for him in three months. However, the
blast furnace failed to melt the metal. Mo Ye suggested that there was insufficient human ''
qi'' in the stove, so the couple cut their hair and nails and cast them into the furnace, while 300 children helped to blow air into the bellows. In another account, Mo Ye sacrificed herself to increase human ''qi'' by throwing herself into the furnace. The desired result was achieved after three years, and the two swords were named after the couple. Gan Jiang kept the male sword, Ganjiang, for himself and presented the pair's female sword, Moye, to the King. The King, already upset that Gan Jiang had failed to supply the blades in three months but three years, became enraged when he discovered the smith had kept the male sword and thus had Gan Jiang killed.
Gan Jiang had already predicted the King's reaction, so he left behind a message for Mo Ye and their unborn son, telling them where he had hidden the Ganjiang Sword. Several months later, Mo Ye gave birth to Gan Jiang's son, Chi (赤), and years later, she told him his father's story. Chi was eager to avenge his father, and he sought the Ganjiang Sword. At the same time, the King dreamed of a youth who desired to kill him and placed a bounty on the youth's head. Chi was indignant and filled with anguish. He started crying on his way to enact his vengeance. An assassin found Chi, who told the killer his story. The assassin then suggested that Chi surrender his head and sword, and the assassin himself will avenge Ganjiang in Chi's place. He did as told and committed suicide. The killer was moved and decided to help Chi fulfil his quest.
The assassin severed Chi's head and brought it, along with the Ganjiang sword, to the overjoyed King. The king was, however, uncomfortable with Chi's head staring at him. The assassin asked the King to have Chi's head boiled, but Chi's head was still staring at the King even after 40 days without any sign of decomposition; thus, the assassin told the king that he needed to take a closer look and stare back for the head to decompose under the power of the King. The King bent over the cauldron, and the assassin seized the opportunity to decapitate him, his head falling into the pot alongside Chi's. The killer then cut off his own head, which also fell into the boiling water. The flesh on the heads was boiled away such that none of the guards could recognize which head belonged to whom. The guards and vassals decided that all three should be honoured as kings due to Chi and the assassin's bravery and loyalty. The three heads were eventually buried together at
Yichun County,
Runan
Runan County () is a counties of China, county under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zhumadian, in the southeast of Henan, Henan Province, China.
History
In ancient times, this area was called "the middle of the world" (), ...
,
Henan
Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...
, and the grave is called "Tomb of Three Kings".
Warring States period (475–221 BC)
Iron and steel swords of 80 to 100 cm in length appeared during the mid
Warring States period
The Warring States period () was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest ...
in the states of
Chu,
Han
Han may refer to:
Ethnic groups
* Han Chinese, or Han People (): the name for the largest ethnic group in China, which also constitutes the world's largest ethnic group.
** Han Taiwanese (): the name for the ethnic group of the Taiwanese p ...
, and
Yan
Yan may refer to:
Chinese states
* Yan (state) (11th century – 222 BC), a major state in northern China during the Zhou dynasty
* Yan (Han dynasty kingdom), first appearing in 206 BC
* Yan (Three Kingdoms kingdom), officially claimed indepe ...
. Most weapons were still made of bronze, but iron and steel were starting to become more common. By the end of the 3rd century BC, the Chinese had learned how to produce quench-hardened steel swords, relegating bronze swords to ceremonial pieces.
The
Zhan Guo Ce
The ''Zhan Guo Ce'', ( W-G: Chan-kuo T'se) also known in English as the ''Strategies of the Warring States'' or ''Annals of the Warring States'', is an ancient Chinese text that contains anecdotes of political manipulation and warfare during the ...
states that the state of
Han
Han may refer to:
Ethnic groups
* Han Chinese, or Han People (): the name for the largest ethnic group in China, which also constitutes the world's largest ethnic group.
** Han Taiwanese (): the name for the ethnic group of the Taiwanese p ...
made the best weapons, capable of cleaving through the strongest armour, shields, leather boots and helmets.
Wu and Yue swords
During the Warring States period, the
Baiyue
The Baiyue (, ), Hundred Yue, or simply Yue (; ), were various ethnic groups who inhabited the regions of East China, South China and Northern Vietnam during the 1st millennium BC and 1st millennium AD. They were known for their short hair, b ...
people were known for their swordsmanship and for producing fine swords. According to the ''
Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue'', King
Goujian
Goujian () (reigned 496–465 BC) was the king of the Kingdom of Yue (越國, present-day northern Zhejiang) near the end of the Spring and Autumn period (春秋). He was the son of Marquis Yunchang.
Goujian's reign coincided with arguably th ...
met a female sword fighter called Nanlin (Yuenü) who demonstrated mastery over the art. So he commanded his top five commanders to study her technique. Ever since the method came to be known as the "Sword of the Lady of Yue". The Yue were also thought to have possessed mystical knives embued with the talismanic power of dragons or other amphibious creatures.
The ''
Zhan Guo Ce
The ''Zhan Guo Ce'', ( W-G: Chan-kuo T'se) also known in English as the ''Strategies of the Warring States'' or ''Annals of the Warring States'', is an ancient Chinese text that contains anecdotes of political manipulation and warfare during the ...
'' mentions the high quality of southern swords and their ability to cleave through oxen, horses, bowls, and basins. However, they would shatter if used on a pillar or rock. Wu and Yue's swords were highly valued, and those who owned them would hardly ever use them for fear of damage. However, these swords were commonplace in Wu and Yue and treated with less reverence. The ''Yuejue shu'' (Record of Precious Swords) mentions several named swords: Zhanlu (Black), Haocao (Bravery), Juque (Great Destroyer), Lutan (Dew Platform), Chunjun (Purity), Shengxie (Victor over Evil), Yuchang (Fish-belly), Longyuan (Dragon Gulf), Taie (Great Riverbank), and Gongbu (Artisanal Display). Many of these were made by the Yue swordsmith
Ou Yezi.
Even after Wu and Yue were assimilated into larger Chinese polities, the memory of their swords lived on. During the
Han dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
, Liu Pi King of Wu (195-154 BC) had a sword named Wujian to honour the history of metalworking in his kingdom.
Qin dynasty (221–206 BC)
Sword dance
Sword dances are recorded throughout world history. There are various traditions of solo and mock-battle (Pyrrhic) sword dances from Africa, Asia and Europe.
General types of sword dance include:
*solo dancers around swords – such as t ...
s are first mentioned shortly after the end of the
Qin dynasty
The Qin dynasty ( ; zh, c=秦朝, p=Qín cháo, w=), or Ch'in dynasty in Wade–Giles romanization ( zh, c=, p=, w=Ch'in ch'ao), was the first dynasty of Imperial China. Named for its heartland in Qin state (modern Gansu and Shaanxi), ...
. Swords up to 110 cm in length began to appear.
File:WarringStatesBronzeSword.JPG, Warring States bronze jians
File:Sword of Goujian, Hubei Provincial Museum, 2015-04-06 01.jpg, Sword of Goujian
Goujian () (reigned 496–465 BC) was the king of the Kingdom of Yue (越國, present-day northern Zhejiang) near the end of the Spring and Autumn period (春秋). He was the son of Marquis Yunchang.
Goujian's reign coincided with arguably th ...
File:Warring States Iron Sword.jpg, Warring States iron jian
File:Bronze jian of the Terracotta Army.jpg, Qin dynasty
The Qin dynasty ( ; zh, c=秦朝, p=Qín cháo, w=), or Ch'in dynasty in Wade–Giles romanization ( zh, c=, p=, w=Ch'in ch'ao), was the first dynasty of Imperial China. Named for its heartland in Qin state (modern Gansu and Shaanxi), ...
jian
File:Bronze Swords from the qin dynasty (2667710662).jpg, Qin bronze jians
File:Сиань 7.jpg, Qin jian
Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD)
The jian was mentioned as one of the "Five Weapons" during the
Han dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
, the other four being dao, spear, halberd, and staff. Another version of the Five Weapons lists the bow and crossbow as one weapon, the jian and dao as one weapon, in addition to halberd, shield, and armour.
The jian was a popular personal weapon during the Han era, and a class of swordsmen emerged who made their living through fencing. Sword fencing was also a popular pastime for aristocrats. A 37-chapter manual known as the ''Way of the Jian'' is known to have existed but is no longer extant. South and central China were said to have produced the best sworders. Han dynasty swords made between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD have been found in
Japan; a ring-pommel dao with an inscription "thirty-fold refined" and a jian with the inscription "fifty-fold refined". A jian in
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,321,805 and has a geographic area of . Nara Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the north, Osaka Prefecture to the northwest, Wakayam ...
was also found with an inscription saying it was produced in the Zhongping era (184-189 AD) and "hundredfold refined."
There existed a weapon called the "Horse Beheading Jian" because it was supposedly able to cut off a horse's head. However, another source says it was an execution tool used on special occasions rather than a military weapon.
The ring-pommel
backsword
A backsword is a type of sword characterised by having a single-edged blade and a hilt with a single-handed grip. It is so called because the triangular cross section gives a flat back edge opposite the cutting edge. Later examples often have a ...
(環首刀) also became widespread as a weapon of
cavalry warfare during the Han era. Being single-edged, the backsword had the advantage of a thickened dull side that strengthen the whole sword, making it less prone to breaking. When paired with a
shield, it made for a suitable replacement for the ''jian''. Hence it became the more popular choice as time went on. After the Han, sword dances using the dao rather than the jian are mentioned to have occurred. Archaeological samples range from 86 to 114 cm in length.
An account of
Duan Jiong's tactical formation in 167 AD specifies that he arranged "…three ranks of halberds (長鏃 changzu), swordsmen (利刃 liren) and spearmen (長矛 changmao), supported by crossbows (強弩 qiangnu), with light cavalry (輕騎 jingji) on each wing."
File:Western Han Iron Swords.jpg, Han jians
File:漢鐵劍.jpg, Han jian and dao
File:Western Han Iron Sword.jpg, Western Han jian
File:五十湅钢剑 人面纹格挡剑(2).jpg, Han jian with elaborate sword guard
File:Warring States Dian Bronze Sword (9965317716).jpg, Dian Kingdom
Dian () was an ancient kingdom established by the Dian people, a non-Han Chinese metalworking civilization that inhabited around the Dian Lake plateau of central northern Yunnan, China from the late Spring and Autumn period until the Eastern Han d ...
bronze dagger
File:Han bronze and iron swords.jpg, Han knives and jians
Three Kingdoms (184/220–280)
![Western Jin Iron Sword](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Western_Jin_Iron_Sword.jpg)
Swords of idiosyncratic sizes are mentioned. One individual named Chen apparently wielded a great sword over two meters in length.
Sun Quan's wife had over a hundred female attendants armed with daos.
By the end of the
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms () from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the dynastic states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Three Kingdoms period was preceded by the Eastern Han dynasty and was followed by the West ...
the dao had completely overtaken the jian as the primary close combat weapon. The lighter and less durable double-edged jian entered the domain of court dancers, officials, and expert warriors.
Northern and Southern dynasties (420–589)
![Chinese swords Sui Dynasty about 600 found near Luoyang](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Chinese_swords_Sui_Dynasty_about_600_found_near_Luoyang.jpg)
In the 6th century, Qimu Huaiwen introduced to
Northern Qi
Qi, known as the Northern Qi (), Later Qi (後齊) or Gao Qi (高齊) in historiography, was a Chinese imperial dynasty and one of the Northern dynasties during the Northern and Southern dynasties era. It ruled the eastern part of northern China ...
the process of 'co-fusion' steelmaking, which used metals of different carbon contents to create steel. Apparently, daos made using this method were capable of penetrating 30 armour lamellae. It's not clear if the armour was of iron or leather.
Tang dynasty (618–907)
The dao was separated into four categories during the
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdom ...
. These were the Ceremonial Dao, Defense Dao, Cross Dao, and Divided Dao. The Ceremonial Dao was a court item usually decorated with gold and silver. It was also known as the "Imperial Sword". The Defense Dao does not have any specifications but its name is self-explanatory. The Cross Dao was a waist weapon worn on the belt, hence its older name, the Belt Dao. It was often carried as a sidearm by crossbowmen. The Divided Dao, also called a Long Dao (long saber), was a cross between a polearm and a saber. It consisted of a 91 cm blade fixed to a long 120 cm handle ending in an iron butt point, although exceptionally large weapons reaching 3 meters in length and weighing 10.2 kg have been mentioned. Divided daos were wielded by elite Tang vanguard forces and used to spearhead attacks.
Song dynasty (960–1279)
![Jin Iron Sword 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Jin_Iron_Sword_1.jpg)
Some warriors and bandits duel wielded daos to break deadlocks in confined terrain during the late
Song dynasty
The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...
.
According to the ''Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian'', written in 1183, the "Horse Beheading Dao" (''zhanmadao'') was a two handed saber with a 93.6 cm blade, 31.2 cm hilt, and ring pommel.
File:Song soldiers from a tomb in Pengshan, Sichuan.png, Song soldiers carrying daos
File:宋朝雕刻 08.jpg, Song stone relief of a swordsman wearing mountain pattern and mail armour
File:Sword Truncheon, Northern Song, Heirloom (33549743291).jpg, Truncheon, Song dynasty
File:Liao and Jin swords.jpg, Liao and Jin swords
File:大定二十九年战刀.jpg, Jin dao sabre
File:Yuan Iron Sword (19791478201).jpg, Yuan dao
Yuan dynasty (1279–1368)
![Weapons (1496872487)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Weapons_%281496872487%29.jpg)
Under the
Yuan dynasty
The Yuan dynasty (), officially the Great Yuan (; xng, , , literally "Great Yuan State"), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after its division. It was established by Kublai, the fift ...
, the jian experienced a resurgence and was used more often.
Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
![Sword with Scabbard MET DP119022](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Sword_with_Scabbard_MET_DP119022.jpg)
The dao continued to fill the role of the basic close combat weapon. The jian fell out of favor again in the Ming era but saw limited use by a small number of arms specialists. It was otherwise known for its qualities as a marker of scholarly refinement.
The "Horse Beheading Dao" was described in Ming sources as a 96 cm blade attached to a 128 cm shaft, essentially a glaive. It's speculated that the
Swede Frederick Coyett
Frederick Coyett (), born in Stockholm c. 1615 or 1620, buried in Amsterdam on 17 October 1687, was a Swedish nobleman and the last colonial governor for the Dutch colony of Formosa. He was the first Swede to travel to Japan and China and became ...
was talking about this weapon when he described
Zheng Chenggong
Zheng Chenggong, Prince of Yanping (; 27 August 1624 – 23 June 1662), better known internationally as Koxinga (), was a Ming loyalist general who resisted the Qing conquest of China in the 17th century, fighting them on China's southeastern ...
's troops wielding "with both hands a formidable battle-sword fixed to a stick half the length of a man".
Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang (, November 12, 1528 – January 17, 1588), courtesy name Yuanjing, art names Nantang and Mengzhu, posthumous name Wuyi, was a Chinese military general and writer of the Ming dynasty. He is best known for leading the defense on the ...
deployed his soldiers in a 12-man 'mandarin duck' formation, which consisted of four pikemen, two men carrying daos with a great and small shield, two 'wolf brush' wielders, a rearguard officer, and a porter.
File:Ming whip, blade, and truncheon.jpg, Ming whip, truncheon, and dao
File:Ming Iron Sword and Whip (19791306721).jpg, Ming truncheon
File:Ming Iron Dao.jpg, Ming dao
File:山文甲.jpg, Ming soldiers carrying a dao and jian
File:Ming jian sword.jpg, Ming soldier carrying a jian
Ming-Qing sword types
See also
*
Chinese swordsmanship
Chinese swordsmanship encompasses a variety of sword fighting styles native to China. No Chinese system teaches swordsmanship exclusively (as is the case with modern sports such as fencing or kendo), but many eclectic schools of Chinese martia ...
*
Chinese armour
Chinese armour was predominantly lamellar from the Warring States period (481 BC–221 BC) onward, prior to which animal parts such as rhinoceros hide, rawhide, and turtle shells were used for protection. Lamellar armour was supplemented by scale ...
*
Chinese siege weapons
This is an overview of Chinese siege weapons.
Siege ladders
Siege ladders were used starting from the Warring States period. A hinged folding ladder known as the "cloud ladder" was quite prominent. Originally it used a counterweight to unfold o ...
*
Weapons and armor in Chinese mythology
Legendary weapons, arms, and armor are important motifs in Chinese mythology as well as Chinese legend, cultural symbology, and fiction. Weapons featured in Chinese mythology, legend, cultural symbology, and fiction include Guanyu's pole weapo ...
*
Japanese sword
A is one of several types of traditionally made swords from Japan. Bronze swords were made as early as the Yayoi period (1000 BC – 300 AD), though most people generally refer to the curved blades made from the Heian period (794 – 1185) to ...
*
Indian sword
There are a number of swords that originated in India and have seen their usage throughout the history of warfare.
Overview
In the Indian subcontinent, one of the earliest available Bronze age swords of copper was discovered by the period of Ind ...
*
Korean sword
Korean swords have served a central place in the defense of the nation for thousands of years. Although typical Korean land battles have taken place in wide valleys and narrow mountain passes, which favor use of the spear and bow, the sword found ...
References
Bibliography
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* Late Imperial Chinese Armies: 1520-1840 C.J. Peers, Illustrated by Christa Hook, Osprey Publishing «Men-at-arms»,
External links
*http://www.shadowofleaves.com/Chinese_Sword_History.htm
*http://www.chinesesword.net/Swordplay/Swordplay1E.htm
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinese Swords
17th-century BC establishments
Blade weapons
Chinese swordsmanship