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African Swords
This is a list of types of swords. The term sword used here is a narrow definition. This is not a general List of premodern combat weapons and does not include the machete, macuahuitl or similar "sword-like" weapons. African swords Northern African swords * Flyssa (19th century Algeria) * Kaskara (19th century Sudan) * Khopesh (Egyptian) * Mameluke sword (18th to 19th century Egyptian) * Nimcha (15th to 19th century Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) Eastern African swords * Billao (Somali) * Shotel (Eritrea and Ethiopian) Western African swords * Akrafena (Ghana and Togo) * Ida (Nigeria and Benin) * Takoba (Mali and Niger) Central African swords * Ikakalaka * Ikul * Mambele * Ngulu Asian swords Eastern Asian swords China * Dao (刀 pinyin dāo) "sabre" ** Baguadao (八卦道) ** Butterfly sword (蝴蝶雙刀) ** Changdao (長刀) ** Dadao (大刀) ** Liuyedao (柳葉刀) ** Miao dao (苗刀) ** Nandao (南刀) ** Piandao (片刀) ** Wodao (倭刀) ** Yan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sword
A sword is an edged and bladed weapons, 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 tip. A slashing sword is more likely to be curved and to have a sharpened cutting edge on one or both sides of the blade. Many swords are designed for both thrusting and slashing. The precise definition of a sword varies by historical epoch and geographic region. Historically, the sword developed in the Bronze Age, evolving from the dagger; the Bronze Age sword, earliest specimens date to about 1600 BC. The later Iron Age sword remained fairly short and without a crossguard. The spatha, as it developed in the Late Roman army, became the predecessor of the European sword of the Middle Ages, at first adopted as the Migration Period sword, and only in the High Middle Ages, developed into the classical Knightly sword, ar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mambele
A mambele is a form of hybrid knife/axe in central and southern Africa, originating from a curved throwing dagger used by the Mangbetu people, Mangbetu. Description The mambele consists of an iron blade with a curved back section and rearward spike. It can be used in close combat as a hatchet or dagger, or more typically as a throwing weapon. It usually consists of four blades, three on top and one on the side. The curved hook was used to keep the weapon in the victim, and if pulled out, caused further damage. It is about in length. These African iron weapons are thrown with a rotatory motion, and can inflict deep wounds with their projecting blades. The mambele is also known as: *Hunga Munga *Danisco by the Marghi people, Marghi *Goleyo by the Musgum people, Musgum *Njiga by the Sultanate of Bagirmi, Bagirmi *Kpinga by the Zande people, Zande. They were classed as "Court Metal", being produced under the patronage of the Avongara clan, distributed only to professional warri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 dynasty, Song China (960–1279). General characteristics The ''zhanmadao'' is a single-edged Dao (Chinese sword), sabre with a long broad blade, and a long handle suitable for two-handed use. It was used as an anti-cavalry weapon, dating from Emperor Cheng of Han, made to slice through a horse's legs. This is mentioned in the ''Wujing Zongyao'', a Song military manual from 1072. It featured prominently against the Jin dynasty (1115–1234), Jin armies in campaigns between 1129 and 1141. The earliest variant of the ''zhanmadao'' is called ''zhanmajian'' (), literally "horse beheading ''jian''". The ''zhanmajian'' existed during the Han dynasty, so called because it was supposedly able to cut off a horse's head. The difference between the two is that ''zhanmajian'' is double-edged whereas the ''zhanmadao'' is single-edg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yanmaodao
The ''yanlingdao'' () or ''yanmaodao'' () is a type of ''dao'' used as a standard military weapon during the Ming dynasty and middle Qing dynasty (1368–1800). The blade is straight until the curve begins around the center of percussion along the last 1/4 or so of the blade approaching the tip. The center of percussion is the point on the blade with the least vibration on hard contact, the spot on the blade that transmits the most power to the target in a hard chop. This allows for thrusting attacks and overall handling similar to that of the ''jian'', while still preserving much of the ''daos strengths in cutting and slashing. This type of sword seems to have lost its popularity with military and martial arts practitioners alike by the end of the 18th century, being eclipsed by the more curved liuyedao in the military, and the more broad Oxtail Dao in civilian and martial art settings. ''Yanmaodao'' almost invariably have straight grips, although downward-curved handles are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 '' ōdachi'' in form. Extant examples show a handle approximately long, with a gently curved blade long. The Chinese word ''wo'' literally means "Japanese", so ''wodao'' literally means "Japanese sword". The term ''wodao'' sometimes refers to Japanese swords, but it mainly refers to similar swords developed in China with Japanese swords used as reference. Chinese ''wodao'' was developed based on the Japanese sword used by the ''wokou'' pirates, a mixed group of Japanese and Chinese who repeatedly looted on the Chinese coast.Rekishi Gunzo. (2 July 2011) ''The Complete Work on Strategic and Tactical Weapons. From Ancient China to Modern China''. Gakken. Qi Jiguang (1528-1588 AD), a general of the Ming Dynasty, studied ''wokous tactics and Japanese sw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Piandao
The ''piandao'' (片刀) is a type of Chinese sabre (''dao'') used during the late Ming dynasty and through the Qing dynasty. A deeply curved dao meant for slashing and draw-cutting, it bore a strong resemblance to the Persian shamshir. A fairly uncommon weapon, it was generally used by skirmishers in conjunction with a shield. See also * Dao (sword) * Dadao * Oxtail Dao *Yanmaodao The ''yanlingdao'' () or ''yanmaodao'' () is a type of ''dao'' used as a standard military weapon during the Ming dynasty and middle Qing dynasty (1368–1800). The blade is straight until the curve begins around the center of percussion along ... * Liuyedao Chinese swords {{China-hist-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nandao
A ''Nandao'' () is a kind of '' dao'', or single-edged sword, that is used in contemporary wushu taolu.' Ratified for use by the International Wushu Federation in 1992, it has gained widespread popularity worldwide and has become one of the main events at wushu competitions. History Creation In the 1980s with the development of modern wushu taolu, professors of the Chinese Wushu Association wanted to find a sword or short weapon that would compliment the empty-hand style of nanquan. Among the candidates for consideration were the nine-ring sword, the butterfly sword, the dadao, and the Ghost-head sword, but they were all deemed impractical. During the construction of a compulsory nangun routine, professor Wang Peikun met with Zhou Susheng, coach of the Guangxi Wushu Team to discuss the creation of a new type of sword, the nandao. They found a sword-maker to create prototype nandao sword which were given to the coaches. Wang and Zhou discussed creating a routine fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Miaodao
The ''miaodao'' (苗刀) is a Chinese two-handed '' dao'' or saber, with a narrow blade, long hilt, and an overall length of or longer. 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'', 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'' and ''changdao''. Along with the '' dadao'', ''miaodao'' were used by some Chinese troops during the Second Sino-Japanese War. While the ''miaodao'' is rarely practiced in modern Chinese martial arts, some schools of Piguaquan and Tongbeiquan (in the Guo Changsheng lineage) and Xingyiqu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Liuyedao
The ''liuyedao'' or "willow-leaf saber" is a type of ''dao'' that was commonly used as a military sidearm for both cavalry and infantry during the Ming and Qing dynasties. A descendant of the earlier Mongol sabre the liuyedao remained the most popular type of single handed sabre during the Ming dynasty, replacing the role of the ''jian'' as a issued weapon in the military.Tom 2005, pp. 77-78 Many schools of Chinese martial arts Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater Ch ... originally trained with this weapon. This weapon features a moderate curve along the length of the blade. This reduces thrusting ability (though it is still fairly effective at same) while increasing the power of cuts and slashes. The hilts are typically straight, but can be re-curved downward startin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Changdao (sword)
The ''changdao'' ( zh, t=長刀, s=长刀, first=t, p=chángdāo, l=long sword) 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 and was used in the frequent raids along the coast. After Republican Era, the term is sometimes used to describe due to similarity. Tang dynasty sources describe the as being identical to the ( zh, s=陌刀), but the may have been a double-edged weapon like earlier '' zhanmajian''. The seems to have first appeared during the Tang dynasty as the preferred weapon choice for elite vanguard infantry units in the Tang army. It was described as having an overall length of seven feet, composed of a three-foot-long single-edged blade and a four-foot-long pole grip. Due to its considerable length and size, it became one of the hallmarks of elite Tang infantry and was often placed at the front ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Butterfly Sword
The butterfly sword is a short dao, or single-edged sword, originally from southern China, though it has also seen use in the north. It is thought that butterfly swords date from the early 19th century. Several English language accounts from the 1840s describe local militia in Guangdong being trained in the "double swords", short swords with a hook extending from the guard, and fitting into a single scabbard. The blade of a butterfly sword is roughly as long as a human forearm, which allows easy concealment inside loose sleeves or boots, and allows greater maneuverability when spinning and rotating during close-quarters fighting. Butterfly swords are usually wielded in pairs. A pair of swords will often be carried side by side within the same scabbard, so as to give the appearance of a single weapon. The butterfly sword has a small crossguard to protect the hands of the wielder, similar to that of a ''sai'', which can also be used to block or hook an opponent's weapon. In some ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baguazhang
''Baguazhang'' () is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the '' Wudang'' school, the other two being tai chi and '' xingyiquan''. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice (or ''neijia''). ''Baguazhang'' literally means "eight trigram palm", referring to the ''bagua'' "trigrams" of the ''I Ching'', one of the canons of Taoism. History The creation of ''baguazhang'' as a formalized martial art is attributed to Dong Haichuan, who is said to have learned it from Taoist and Buddhist masters in the mountains of rural China during the early 19th century. Many Chinese authorities do not accept the Buddhist origin, instead maintaining that those teachers were purely Taoist in origin, the evidence lying in ''baguazhangs frequent reference to core concepts central to Taoism, such as yin and yang theory, ''I Ching'', and Taoism's most distinctive paradigm, the ''bagua'' diagram. The attribution to Buddhist teachers came from the second generation teachers, i.e. Dong Hai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
