Dao (sword) Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Dao 刀 (Py dāo, Wade-Giles tao1) is a category of single-edge Chinese swords primarily used for slashing and chopping (sabers), often called broadswords in English because some varieties have wide blades. Dao is actually a generic word used to denote any member of a family of single-edged, broad-bladed cutting or slicing tools, but in common, everyday usage means knife. The weapon is thereby thought to be an adaptation of the kitchen knives common to Chinese cuisine.
They changed shape significantly through the centuries and are named according to standard shapes. As well, different regions of China have their distinctive styles. They are characterised by a whole or partially curved profile and come in a large range of sizes, sometimes attached to the end of a long staff and known as "Long-handled Broadswords" (see halberd). This is commonly called the guan dao or Kwan dao (Cantonese), after its eponymous creator, the historic literary figure, Guan Yu, of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, who later became popularly venerated as the Taoist god of war.
Dao were popular with central Asian cavalry, especially that of the Mongols and Manchu. Japanese samurai swords share many features with the dao. Most recently, dao were used by some Chinese militia units against Japanese invaders in the Second World War. Many Chinese martial arts schools still train extensively with the dao, seeing it as a powerful conditioning tool and a versatile weapon.
The Chinese spear and dao were commonly issued to infantry due to the expense of and relatively greater amount of training required for the effective use of Chinese straight sword, or jian.
One measure of the proper length of the sword should be from the hilt in your hand and the tip of the blade at the brow and in some schools, the height of shoulder. Alternatively, the length of the sword should be from the middle of the throat along the length of the outstretched arm. There are also significantly larger versions of dao used for training in some Baguazhang and Taijiquan schools.
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