Hey Sifu, what an awesome overview. You did a superb amount of research for this video and I really appreciate the points you covered. Whooo boy can you make that blade dance! You are spot on saying that it has an “aggressive” mass allocation :)
Might I add one more note about the use of the ring pommel on this type of sword? As many weapons historians are aware, lanyards (or looped cords, as seen here 7:24) were tied around the bottom of cavalry swords to prevent the user from dropping them due to impact of striking a hard target while moving fast from horseback. The Chinese took this a step further, much like with the Royal Arsenal dao, where the lanyard (when tied around the user's wrist) was necessary to keep the hand from sliding past the bolster and onto the blade during a thrust attack against a hard target. The majority of recovered Hidden Hilt dao didn't actually have a decorative ring pommel, likely because they still used it to tie a lanyard around, not just for cavalry purposes, but also standard fighting. And even though this one is based on a historical model with a fancy/decorated ring pommel, it most likely would've still needed a lanyard (which later became decorative tassels btw~) in order to be used in combat. The user would simply slip their sword hand through the loop before drawing the sword, and from there it can be used all the ways like a sword with a fully constructed hilt, including lunging attacks if necessary. Even the guy in this picture 0:09 is using a lanyard :) TL;DR - Lanyards were tied/looped to the ring pommels of these swords to keep from dropping the sword when fighting from horseback (much like how Europeans did with their cavalry sabers), and MORE IMPORTANTLY to keep the hand from sliding onto the blade when thrusting with the tip (when fighting on foot).
Its only used in the beginning of Tang dynasty up till 700-750ad. Hidden hilt sword can trace their origin back to the mongol steppe of Xianbei tribes.
That's a really tough decision. They are both very unique, and excellent cutters. This sword has the weight and edge for an efficient cut, but the Han Dao is slightly lighter and shorter, but is quick and keen. Let me know which one you go with!
I haven’t had any issues with forms training and test cutting, but if you are still worried, I would suggest the non-sharpened option for the sword, or the Palatial Tang Dao lkchensword.com/palatial-tang-dao
In those days these kinda sword only use on horse back for deep swing not sword fight hand-tohand combat. In fact, the hidden hilt sword traced their origin to the steppe people of Xianbei. Gradually the chinese switch to used the Tang Heng dao thats without the ring pommel and longer hilt for one or two handed use. Check sifu review on the tang heng dao, its the actual sword used by the tang soldier fom 750ad onwards till 11th century.
Hey Sifu, what an awesome overview. You did a superb amount of research for this video and I really appreciate the points you covered. Whooo boy can you make that blade dance! You are spot on saying that it has an “aggressive” mass allocation :)
Might I add one more note about the use of the ring pommel on this type of sword? As many weapons historians are aware, lanyards (or looped cords, as seen here 7:24) were tied around the bottom of cavalry swords to prevent the user from dropping them due to impact of striking a hard target while moving fast from horseback. The Chinese took this a step further, much like with the Royal Arsenal dao, where the lanyard (when tied around the user's wrist) was necessary to keep the hand from sliding past the bolster and onto the blade during a thrust attack against a hard target. The majority of recovered Hidden Hilt dao didn't actually have a decorative ring pommel, likely because they still used it to tie a lanyard around, not just for cavalry purposes, but also standard fighting. And even though this one is based on a historical model with a fancy/decorated ring pommel, it most likely would've still needed a lanyard (which later became decorative tassels btw~) in order to be used in combat. The user would simply slip their sword hand through the loop before drawing the sword, and from there it can be used all the ways like a sword with a fully constructed hilt, including lunging attacks if necessary. Even the guy in this picture 0:09 is using a lanyard :)
TL;DR - Lanyards were tied/looped to the ring pommels of these swords to keep from dropping the sword when fighting from horseback (much like how Europeans did with their cavalry sabers), and MORE IMPORTANTLY to keep the hand from sliding onto the blade when thrusting with the tip (when fighting on foot).
Bonjour Sifu 🙏🏼
Toujours de belles armes merci pour tes explications 😊
Great explanation, review, and exposition of the history involved. Really enjoyed this one.
Great presentation Sifu✊
❤merci Sifu pour ces informations 🙏🏼
Bonjour Sifu 🙏🏼
Toujours de belles armes 🙏🏼
Bonne soirée
Good explanations, great video and a beautiful sword
❤merci Sifu pour cette superbe vidéo 😊
❤bonjour Sifu 🙏🏼
Merci pour cette vidéo intéressante 🙏🏼
Merci 🙏
Its only used in the beginning of Tang dynasty up till 700-750ad. Hidden hilt sword can trace their origin back to the mongol steppe of Xianbei tribes.
Thank you for the videos. I am trying to decide between this and the Royal Arsenal Han Dao for cutting--what do you recommend between the two? Thanks!
That's a really tough decision. They are both very unique, and excellent cutters. This sword has the weight and edge for an efficient cut, but the Han Dao is slightly lighter and shorter, but is quick and keen. Let me know which one you go with!
This sword doesn't have a hand guard, when i'm gripping the sword, will i accidently slide my hand to the blade and cut myself?
I haven’t had any issues with forms training and test cutting, but if you are still worried, I would suggest the non-sharpened option for the sword, or the Palatial Tang Dao lkchensword.com/palatial-tang-dao
In those days these kinda sword only use on horse back for deep swing not sword fight hand-tohand combat. In fact, the hidden hilt sword traced their origin to the steppe people of Xianbei. Gradually the chinese switch to used the Tang Heng dao thats without the ring pommel and longer hilt for one or two handed use. Check sifu review on the tang heng dao, its the actual sword used by the tang soldier fom 750ad onwards till 11th century.
Hi Sifu,
What’s a good email address to contact you at?
Sifukuttel@gmail.com 👍