![Miaodau2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Miaodau2.JPG)
The ''miaodao'' (苗刀) is a Chinese two-handed
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 ...
or
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 th ...
of the
Republican Era Republican Era can refer to:
* Minguo calendar, the official era of the Republic of China
It may also refer to any era in a country's history when it was governed as a republic or by a Republican Party. In particular, it may refer to:
* Roman Rep ...
, with a narrow blade, long
hilt
The hilt (rarely called a haft or shaft) of a knife, dagger, sword, or bayonet is its handle, consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A tassel or sword knot may be attached to the guard or pommel. ...
, and an overall length of or more. The name means "sprout saber", presumably referring to a likeness between the weapon and a newly sprouted plant. An early reference, in Jin Yiming’s ''Single Defense-Saber'', makes a connection between the ''miaodao'' and the
Qing-era ''
wodao
The ''wodao'' () is a Chinese sword from the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty. It is typically long and slender, but heavy, with a curved back and sharp blade. It bears a strong resemblance to the Tang sword, zhanmadao, Tachi or Odachi in form. Ext ...
'', as well as mentioning both single and two-handed versions of the ‘’miaodao’’, suggesting that the name originally described the shape only, without any connotations of size. While the ''miaodao'' is a recent weapon, the name has come to be applied to a variety of earlier Chinese long sabers, such as the
zhanmadao
The ''zhanmadao'' () was a single-bladed anti-cavalry Chinese sword. It originated during the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and was especially common in Song China (960–1279).
General characteristics
The zhanmadao is a single-edged sabre ...
and
changdao
The ''changdao'' () was a two-handed, single-edged Chinese sword. The term has been translated as "long saber," "saber-staff," or "long-handled saber." During the Ming dynasty, was often used as a general term for two handed swords. After Repub ...
. Along with the
dadao Dadao, formerly romanized ta-tao, may refer to:
* ''dadao'' (, p ''dàdāo'', ), a machete-like variety of the dao (sword)
** "The Sword March
"The Sword March" is a Chinese music, Chinese patriotic song first sung in the Republic of Chi ...
, miaodao were used by some Chinese troops during the
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was a military conflict that was primarily waged between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. The war made up the Chinese theater of the wider Pacific Th ...
.
While the miaodao is rarely practiced in modern Chinese martial arts, some schools of
piguaquan
Piguaquan (), also known as Piguazhang () due to its emphasis on palm techniques, is often practiced along with Bajiquan () and is a style of wushu (Chinese martial arts) that features explosive, long-range power. It originated in Cangzhou, ...
and
tongbeiquan
Tongbeiquan (通背拳 ''tōngbèiquán''; literally "Spreading Power from the Back Boxing", as ''tong'' means "through," ''bei'' means "back" and ''quan'' means "fist") is a school of martial arts popular in northern China, known for engaging o ...
(in the Guo Changsheng lineage) and
xingyiquan
Xing Yi Quan is classified as one of the internal styles of Chinese martial arts. The name of the art translates approximately to "Form-Intention Fist", or "Shape-Will Fist".
Xing Yi is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements ...
train with the weapon. The miaodao is also often mistakenly claimed to have been one of the weapons taught at the Central Military Academy in Nanjing; the weapon in question was actually a European-style officer's saber, though some later schools may have based miaodao techniques on this form.
The "miao" of miaodao should not be confused with the
Miao ethnic group, who are not associated with this weapon.
Gallery
File:Wang Zhihai MiaoDao.jpg
See also
*
Chinese sword
Historically, Chinese swords are classified into two types, the '' jian'' and the ''dao''. A ''Jian'' is a straight, double-edged sword mainly used for stabbing, and has been commonly translated into the English language as a longsword; while a ' ...
*
Dao (sword)
*
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 the ...
*
Sword
A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed ti ...
References
* Dekker, Peter (2016), “Chinese long sabers of the Qing dynasty”, Mandarin Mansio
* Duan Ping (段平), Zheng Shouzhi (郑守志) et al. Wushu Cidian (武术词典) Wushu Dictionary. Renmin Tiyu Chubanshe, 2007. .
* Ma Mingda (马明达), Shuo jian cong gao (说剑丛稿), .
* Rovere, Dennis with Chow Hon Huen (2008). ''The Xingyi Quan of the Chinese Army: Huang Bo Nien's Xingyi Fist and Weapon Instruction''. Blue Snake Books. .
* Tom, Philip (February 2005). "An Introduction to Chinese Single-Edged Hilt Weapons (Dao) and Their Use in the Ming and Qing Dynasties". ''Kung Fu Tai Chi'', p. 85.
* Jin Yiming (金一明) (1932), ''Single Defense-Saber'' (單戒刀), New Asia Press, translated by Paul Brennan 201
External links
A comprehensive article about the miaodao* https://web.archive.org/web/20081103074622/http://www.freewebs.com/jingangbashi/miaodaointro.htm
Blade weapons
Chinese swords
World War II infantry weapons of China
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