The 23 Most Interesting & Recognizable Chinese Swords

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History teacher Brian Thai explains ancient blades from China’s history
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China is one of the oldest continuous civilizations in human history, so it’s no wonder that it’s been responsible for some of the most fascinating innovations in the art and science of warfare. Here, we’re going to take a look at the most commonly mentioned and infamous swords from the Chinese historical record, including what made them unique and how they were used with insight from history teacher and edutainment content creator Brian Thai.

The Most Iconic Chinese Swords

An illustration of the eight most recognizable and well-known types of swords from Chinese history.

History teacher Brian Thai explains that there were many types of Chinese swords. Some were used for war, some for ceremonies, and some were crafted for important people. The most well-known include the Hudiedao, Liuyedao, Dadao, Miaodao, Chinese Bronze Swords, Tai Chi Sword, Fu Tao, and Tang Dao.

1

Jian

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  1. There are two main categories of swords that nearly all Chinese swords fall under: the jian and the dao. “Jian” includes all straight-bladed weapons that are sharp on both sides of the blade (like a traditional shortsword).[1]
    • Jian were traditionally considered more tedious to maintain, since the weapon wielder would need to sharpen two blades instead of one. They’re much more versatile in battle, though.[2]

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    Brian Thai is a history teacher and edutainment content creator known as The Suit Historian on social media. He shares educational content around various periods of history, including Chinese history.

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2

Dao

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  1. Dao are the other category of Chinese swords. They are defined by two qualities: they must have a blade that is curved or bent at an angle, and they must be sharp on only one side (like a traditional scimitar).[3]
    • Dao have absolutely been used in combat throughout history, but many dao are exclusively used for ceremonial reasons.
3

Hudiedao (Butterfly Sword)

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  1. The hudiedao is closely linked to the heritage of southern China, where it is arguably seen as the most iconic Chinese weapon. These swords were always wielded in pairs. They were shorter dao with thicker blades and closed grips to protect the wielder’s knuckles.[4]
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4

Liuyedao (Willow-Leaf Saber)

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  1. The liuyedao has a curved hilt and a curved blade that jut out in opposite directions, giving this sword a very distinct look. This saber was especially popular with cavalry riders, since the shape of the weapon made it easy to swing firmly without using your entire body weight.[5]
5

Dadao (“Big Knife”)

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  1. Made famous by the popular national song, “The Sword March,” the dadao is basically a saber with a large blade that gets thicker the closer you get to the tip. They often have an ornamental hilt with mirrored 90-degree flourishes on either side of the hand guard, but that’s not a requirement. These swords are considered symbols of 20th-century progress in China, since they were commonly carried by Chinese soldiers in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Civil War.[6]
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    Brian Thai

    Brian Thai

    History Teacher
    Brian Thai is a history teacher and edutainment content creator based in Canada. With over 5 years of experience, Brian is known as The Suit Historian on social media and shares educational and entertaining content around various periods of history, including Canadian history, Cold War history, early European history, and Chinese history. He is also the author of the book Forbidden History, which covers the more disturbing side of history and history’s hidden secrets. Brian currently works as a history teacher at Villa Maria College and has a bachelor’s degree in historical education from the University of Montreal.
    Brian Thai
    Brian Thai
    History Teacher

    Swords were very important to the ancient Chinese. The Yuejue Shu from the Shang Dynasty describes 5 legendary swords: a sword of purity (Chungou), the black sword (Zhanlu), the sword of bravery (Haocao), the fish belly sword (Yuchang), and the Great Destroyer (Juque), which shows how customizable swords were.

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6

Miaodao (Sprout Saber)

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  1. Invented by the martial arts pioneer, General Qi Jiguang, in the Ming era, the miaodao might look a lot like a simple katana to the uninformed viewer. These swords had blades with gentle curves in them, and the thickness of the blade matched the thickness of the grip, creating a clean, uniform appearance.[7]
7

Chinese Bronze Swords

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  1. This is a general category of swords that date back to the Xia Dynasty—the very first official Dynasty in China’s history (it started in 2070 BCE!). The bronze swords were, as you can probably imagine, made out of bronze. They appear to have mainly been used as ritual swords and symbols of status, but some evidence exists to suggest they were used in conflict.[8]
    • Fun fact: People of the Xia Dynasty discovered bronze as a building material well before the Europeans did. The Xia Dynasty predates the European Bronze Age by almost 300 years![9]
    • Thai adds that “There were many different ways to make [Chinese swords], and the materials of the swords evolved throughout their history.”[10]
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8

Tai Chi Sword

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  1. A tai chi sword refers to the type of jian used in the martial art known as tai chi. This straight-bladed weapon features a Yin-Yang symbol and (usually) has a traditional Chinese tassel attached to the butt of the weapon. The sword is mainly used in exercises.[11]
9

Fu Tao (Hook Sword)

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  1. The fu tao (and its variations: shuang gou, hu tou gou, qian kun ri yue dao, “twin hook sword,” and “tiger hook sword”) is arguably one of the weirdest swords in the history of warfare. These weapons feature blades that are sharp on one side, with distinct hooks at the end of the blade. The hooks were intended to be used to disarm opponents, but the swords saw their most iconic use in Kung Fu and Wushu practices, where they’re often used in ceremonies and dances.[12]
    • According to Thai, “There were many types of swords throughout Chinese history. Some were used for war, some for ceremonies, and some were specially crafted for important people.”[13]
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10

Tang Dao (Tang Sword)

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  1. The aptly named Tang dao is a dao from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). There are actually a lot of different “styles” of Tang dao weapons from the era, but in general, they’re simple single-bladed swords. They have a simple grip and guard, and there isn’t a lot of flash or style to the overall design. Some scholars consider them to be a “proto-Katana.”[14]
11

Yanmaodao/Yanlingdao (Goose Quill Saber)

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  1. Inspired by the weapons of the Steppe Nomads to the north of China, the yanmaodao (often called the yanlingdao) is a straight sword with a slight curve at the end of the blade.[15]
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12

Song Dao (Song Sword)

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  1. Named after the Song Dynasty (960-1270 CE), the Song dao is a thick sword that could be mistaken for a machete. Its blade is extremely robust and only gets thicker the closer you get to the tip. The weight and shape of the blade made it ideal for single, forceful blows—not dexterous and quick maneuvers.[16]
13

Wodao (“Japanese Sword”)

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  1. The wodao was a large two-handed sword with a slight, symmetrical curve in the blade and handle. The name, which translates to “Japanese sword” or “sword of the Wo people” (the Chinese called Japanese people the “Wo” before Japan existed), was inspired by the weapons carried by Japanese pirates of the time.[17]
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14

Changdao (Ming Saber)

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  1. The changdao is a large greatsword that requires two hands to wield. It has a huge grip and a long blade that tapers to a thin point. It was a popular weapon among imperial guards and famous warriors in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), where it was considered an ineffective weapon for anyone untrained in the ways of war.[18]
15

Zhan Ma Dao (“Horse Chopper”)

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  1. The zhan ma dao is a large greatsword with a thinner handle and a colossal blade. It’s a two-handed weapon that was meant to be both intimidating and effective against cavalry, since you wouldn’t need to swing the sword very hard to do serious damage to a rider on a horse.[19]
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16

Jiu Huan Dao (9-Ringed Broadsword)

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  1. Also known as the 9-ringed broadsword due to the 9 metal rings embedded in the backside of the blade, the jiu huan dao is a traditional sword used in Wushi and Kung Fu martial arts ceremonies and dances. It was likely never used in combat. The giant blade and the rings are more aesthetic than functional.[20]
17

Niuweidao (Oxtail Saber)

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  1. The niuweidao was a heavy single-edged sword that was popularized by civilians in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). It was a simple weapon with a thin blade and a soft curve in the grip and the blade that made it natural to wield for untrained swordsmen.[21]
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18

Guandao/Yanyuedao (Reclining Moon Blade)

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  1. The guandao (or yanyuedao) is a polearm sword. Measuring often more than 4 ft (1.2 m) in length, these long weapons had a thick, distinct blade that made a huge impression. It was popular among Shaolin monks, historically.[22]
19

Sai (“Iron Ruler”)

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  1. Everyone has seen sai swords in Kung Fu flicks and Mortal Kombat video games. These three-pronged short swords look kind of like little tridents. Traditionally, warriors would use two of them. They could be held upright and used as a thrusting weapon, or gripped by the handle and used to stab quickly. It seems likely that these iconic weapons were popular because they resembled the tridents depicted in popular Buddhist art.[23]
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20

Longquan (“Longquan Treasured Sword”)

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  1. Named after the Longquan city where it was originally popularized, Longquans are jian swords with a simple straight design and a blade with a slight taper that ends in a point. They’re notable for the metals used to make them; the city of Longquan has access to very high-quality metal resources, so these swords were popular for holding up exceptionally well.[24]
21

Shuangshou Jian (Two-Handed Sword)

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  1. The shuangshou jian was developed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE), where it served as a specialized weapon for highly respected fighters with storied pedigrees. It’s a huge two-handed weapon with a large grip and slightly flexible blade, which made it rather unwieldy to use if you weren’t trained with it.[25]
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22

Han Jian (“Han Longsword”)

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  1. The Han jian is a jian from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). Government ledgers from that era indicate that the Han government had 99,000 jian in storage to match 99,000 shields. The jian were sturdy blades with simple metalworking designs. The weapons were meant to be versatile and could be used with one or two hands.[26]
23

Han Dao (“Han Sabre”)

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  1. Like the Han jian, the Han dao was a widely-used dagger-style sabre from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). The Han dao was carried by infantry of the era. It was a very simple, single-edged weapon that came in a variety of straightforward designs. Usually, there’d be a ring at the base of the handle so that the weapon could be looped through a belt.[27]
    • Fun fact: It’s likely that every pre-modern Dynasty had an arsenal comparable to the Han Dynasty, but archeological records from this period are really good, so we know a lot more about the Han Dynasty than other ancient Dynasties.[28] Part of this is likely the result of the Silk Road rising to prominence in this period, so a lot of trade during that era was documented.[29]
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  • Throughout the article, official or widely-recognized alternative English names are set in parentheses without quotation marks. For swords with no commonly accepted English alternative name, we include the closest English translation in quotation marks. If an alternative or acceptable translated name doesn’t exist, a parenthetical name is not included.
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.hanbonforge.com/blog/What-is-the-difference-between-Dao-VS-Jian
  2. ↑ https://www.hanbonforge.com/blog/What-is-the-difference-between-Dao-VS-Jian
  3. ↑ https://www.hanbonforge.com/blog/What-is-the-difference-between-Dao-VS-Jian
  4. ↑ https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2021/01/24/an-updated-and-revised-social-history-of-the-hudiedao-butterfly-swords-2/
  5. ↑ https://www.kultofathena.com/product/iron-tiger-forge-liuyedao-with-folded-steel-blade/
  6. ↑ https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2020/12/02/a-social-and-visual-history-of-the-dadao-the-chinese-military-big-saber/
  7. ↑ https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2021/02/21/old-or-new-the-miaodao-and-invention-in-chinese-martial-arts/
  8. ↑ https://drpress.org/ojs/index.php/hiaad/article/view/11995/11681
  9. ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Europe/The-Bronze-Age
  1. ↑ Brian Thai. History Teacher. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.teapotmonk.com/tai-chi-articles/a-history-of-sword-play-with-the-teaptmonk
  3. ↑ https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2016/02/28/through-a-lens-darkly-37-demonstrating-the-heroic-spear-saber-and-double-tiger-head-hook-swords/
  4. ↑ Brian Thai. History Teacher. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2021/01/07/reconstructing-the-tang-dao-regionalism-and-cultural-exchange/
  6. ↑ https://swordis.com/blog/chinese-curved-swords/
  7. ↑ https://lkchensword.com/song-hand-dao
  8. ↑ https://www.martialartswords.com/blogs/articles/sword-spotlight-the-chinese-wodao
  9. ↑ https://lkchensword.com/imperial-guards-chang-dao
  10. ↑ https://lkchensword.com/song-zhan-ma-dao
  11. ↑ https://www.truekatana.com/knowledge-base/606/what-is-a-9-ring-broadsword
  12. ↑ https://lkchensword.com/niu-wei-dao
  13. ↑ https://rexresearch1.com/AlchemyArchives/1TaoistAlchemy/Wu8ImmortalsRevolvingSwordPureYang.pdf
  14. ↑ https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2021/01/24/an-updated-and-revised-social-history-of-the-hudiedao-butterfly-swords-2/
  15. ↑ https://www.truekatana.com/collections/chinese-longquan-sword
  16. ↑ https://sevenswords.uk/shuangshou-jian/
  17. ↑ https://lkchensword.com/han-jian-&-han-dao
  18. ↑ https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2020/07/22/recreating-the-han-dao-and-battles-on-bridges/
  19. ↑ https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2020/07/22/recreating-the-han-dao-and-battles-on-bridges/
  20. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267199471_Archeological_Evidences_Embroidered_Textiles_of_the_Han_and_Tang_Dynasties_206BC-907AD_Unearthed_along_the_Silk_Road

About This Article

Brian Thai
Co-authored by:
Brian Thai
History Teacher
This article was co-authored by Brian Thai and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Brian Thai is a history teacher and edutainment content creator based in Canada. With over 5 years of experience, Brian is known as The Suit Historian on social media and shares educational and entertaining content around various periods of history, including Canadian history, Cold War history, early European history, and Chinese history. He is also the author of the book Forbidden History, which covers the more disturbing side of history and history’s hidden secrets. Brian currently works as a history teacher at Villa Maria College and has a bachelor’s degree in historical education from the University of Montreal. This article has been viewed 2,025 times.
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