As far as i know, Han dynasty use 斩马刀, in Tang dynasty, they use 陌刀(mo dao), this giantic behemoth still not found yet in the tomb or probably already rotten in tomb, but this sword were recorded in song dynasty history book, that's why there are lots of fantasy sword or hybrid sword, speaking or this 陌刀 i also want to mention there was another historical spear called as 马槊 (ma shuo) probably similar to the greek behemoth spear, sarissa, but people usually used it on horseback and a hefty and super long version of spear, also same as 陌刀 there were both appears in history books but still not even found one in tomb yet
And the song dynasty they usually use the giant axe to fight the cavalry, this team they are called as 刀斧手(dao fu shou) probably a large axe I don't know
This is such a badaaass looking sword! Something with the simplicity and balance gives it such elegance resembling a piece of art rather than a tool for violence.
What a great review Sifu! I feel slightly stuffed as you said just about everything I was planning to cover in my own review 😂. I love your analogy about a super car; it really feels wonderfully designed. Even though this is a very old sword, LKCHEN has really brought it to life and made it feel vibrant. I can easily endorse it, to anyone who is interested in picking one up. I also agree that while powerful in the strike, this seems to be a much more nimble weapon then the Song chopper (we should note that LK Chen may have made a particularly large Song example). Having run the dynamics of the blade it seems to move almost like a less massive dao (closer to a miaodao than a Zhanmadao).
I have no doubt your review will have much more information than mine, so please don't change any of it! I'm looking forward to hearing what you've got lined up for your video!
Historically speaking big swords often don't have scabbard (both Chinese and otherwise). For these two-handed big knives, majority were excavated without any scabbard/sheath. Some shorter ones were found with scabbards though.
I agree; L K Chen needs to find some better material. I have the LK Chen Da Dao and the vegan leather is my least favorite thing about it. If it gets humid, the top layer wants peel off. I guess L K is against leather for ethical reasons or something, but there has to be something better than that. Other than that though, he makes wonderful swords.
I'm way late to the party, but I'm currently torn between this and the Silver Swallow Miao Dao (also by LK Chen) almost purely because the latter comes with a rather nice wooden scabbard. Being a bit more Western-leaning and having only studied HEMA (Fiore) despite being ethnically Chinese, I really favor the format of this one as kind of a 'melting pot' mix of Western, Chinese, and Japanese sword design. The Robinson XCR of Eastern greatswords. ;P
I'm curious about this as well! As a non-practitioner, I like almost everything about the Tang Zhanmadao better-- but the Silver Swallow comes with a scabbard. :x
@@BlankstateI own miaodao, couple of things to consider: if you live in a dry climet like i am in canada every fitting on the scabbard will fall down as the wood shrink and requires regluing.
I personally use a Horse Chopper set from Choy Li Fut kung fu, but this could also work with Miao Dao techniques. You would have to make a few adjustments fro the length of the handle, but it could definitely work!
As far as I understand it was a homemade forging project by the guy holding it. I don't have his contact info, but I found him searching Mo Dao on Bilibili
Imagine getting hit by this... Overkill lol. I'd love to learn how to use a sword like this one day. It's about as close as you can get to something straight out of fantasy.
There are no surviving treatises or manuals from the Tang dynasty, but we do know the purpose of a Zhan Ma Dao, and that is to cut the foot/leg of a horse to drop the horse and rider and then the rest is similar to the Chang dao, Dan dao, and Miao dao techniques that we find in traditional Chinese martial arts today. The Tang and following Song dynasty were times of heavy armor which allowed big 2 handed choppers like this to be used so prominently. I have a video of me performing parts of the Choy Li Fut horse chopper form with this blade:ruclips.net/video/CnJFLmql1hQ/видео.html I actually prefer this blade by length and weight to the pu dao styled chopper I originally learned with.
there are treatises as far as army deployment and composition, rotating volley fire, and mention of modaos, but clear descriptions of battle with large swords call them something other than modao
However, from the Song: "All the military theorists of the Tang maintained that the crossbow had no advantage over hand-to-hand weapons, and they insisted on having long bills and great shields in the front line to repel the charge, and made the crossbowmen to carry sabres and long-hafted weapons." and Western Xia complained about Song crossbows and Song modao, of which the modao was able to cut down shock cavalry
Not at all! Again, a really tough call, but between the two I would pick the Tang Zhan Ma Dao. It is much heavier in comparison, but the handling, indexing, and cutting power of the sword make it an all around winner in my book.
I have been looking for a truly full tang double-hand-sword with shorter narrow blade and longer handle for a long time. I play MiaoDao a lot but it sometimes hits the roof when swinging indoor. And what’s more, the leverage of my MiaoDao sucks 😂 So this 斩马刀is exactly what I need !!!
An interesting question, why didn't the Chinese develop hand guards in their swords? since they have a longer and earlier history of using swords you would think its a natural progression.
Sadly there's no concrete answer to this. What I find interesting are the large cup guards and knuckle guards on fencing swords in the Han dynasty that never show up again...ever. There are some other swords that have been unearthed with more substantial guards from even before the Han, but it seems that Dao had minimal guards up until the Sui dynasty. My best guess is that it had to do with how swords were slung and trying to keep them from snagging while using other weaponry... but it's all conjecture at this point.
@@SifuKuttel that's really interesting to hear. It seems like range and hand protection on common Chinese swords used by common men wasn't' an issue or an advantage. Otherwise Chinese swords would have progressed similarly to European swords. That's very odd indeed.
the time where the cross guard and the fuller were introduced to China by the steppe nomads more classical Chinese swords looked quite different to that. Considering that the Tang dynasty was founded by a tribe from the North west
Just guessing, but I imagine this is were the Japanese got the idea for the nodachi. A giant, battlefield sword which was used more like a anti cavalry pole arm.
Not quite, the nodachi/odachi developed in Japan from pre-existing tachi independent of Chinese influence through simple convergent evolution, but the tachi itself was developed by modifying indigenously manufactured replicas of imported Chinese Tang dao.
As far as i know, Han dynasty use 斩马刀, in Tang dynasty, they use 陌刀(mo dao), this giantic behemoth still not found yet in the tomb or probably already rotten in tomb, but this sword were recorded in song dynasty history book, that's why there are lots of fantasy sword or hybrid sword, speaking or this 陌刀 i also want to mention there was another historical spear called as 马槊 (ma shuo) probably similar to the greek behemoth spear, sarissa, but people usually used it on horseback and a hefty and super long version of spear, also same as 陌刀 there were both appears in history books but still not even found one in tomb yet
And the song dynasty they usually use the giant axe to fight the cavalry, this team they are called as 刀斧手(dao fu shou) probably a large axe I don't know
I am a simple man. I see a big sword, I give a like👍
😅 Sometimes that's all you need!
This is such a badaaass looking sword! Something with the simplicity and balance gives it such elegance resembling a piece of art rather than a tool for violence.
What a great review Sifu! I feel slightly stuffed as you said just about everything I was planning to cover in my own review 😂.
I love your analogy about a super car; it really feels wonderfully designed. Even though this is a very old sword, LKCHEN has really brought it to life and made it feel vibrant. I can easily endorse it, to anyone who is interested in picking one up.
I also agree that while powerful in the strike, this seems to be a much more nimble weapon then the Song chopper (we should note that LK Chen may have made a particularly large Song example). Having run the dynamics of the blade it seems to move almost like a less massive dao (closer to a miaodao than a Zhanmadao).
I have no doubt your review will have much more information than mine, so please don't change any of it! I'm looking forward to hearing what you've got lined up for your video!
@@SifuKuttel uh oh… now I have to actually go out and do it ;-)
I've been eyeing this blade for a while. Only thing is that I think it really needs a thick, solid wooden scabbard for transport and storage safety.
Historically speaking big swords often don't have scabbard (both Chinese and otherwise). For these two-handed big knives, majority were excavated without any scabbard/sheath. Some shorter ones were found with scabbards though.
Historically, yes@@alexwang2419. But modern day practicalities mandate non- traditional management procedures
I agree; L K Chen needs to find some better material. I have the LK Chen Da Dao and the vegan leather is my least favorite thing about it. If it gets humid, the top layer wants peel off. I guess L K is against leather for ethical reasons or something, but there has to be something better than that. Other than that though, he makes wonderful swords.
I agree , i even mentioned that to LK chen . A real scabbard would be much nicer for display
I'm way late to the party, but I'm currently torn between this and the Silver Swallow Miao Dao (also by LK Chen) almost purely because the latter comes with a rather nice wooden scabbard. Being a bit more Western-leaning and having only studied HEMA (Fiore) despite being ethnically Chinese, I really favor the format of this one as kind of a 'melting pot' mix of Western, Chinese, and Japanese sword design. The Robinson XCR of Eastern greatswords. ;P
Can’t wait to get this sword 🎉
How do you compare this to LK's Miaodao?
I'm curious about this as well! As a non-practitioner, I like almost everything about the Tang Zhanmadao better-- but the Silver Swallow comes with a scabbard. :x
@@BlankstateI own miaodao, couple of things to consider: if you live in a dry climet like i am in canada every fitting on the scabbard will fall down as the wood shrink and requires regluing.
In about the Same ballpark, but heavier. I really would not want to get hit with this one. Particularly!😮
Thats a beast of a sword.
My sword of choise .
Great info! T’ang Dynasty is awesome. Can you do a vid on Mountain Scale Armor, was it a real historical thing or just fantasy?
So, use the Kata and practice drills for the Miao Dao ?😮Thanks for your reply, btw.
I personally use a Horse Chopper set from Choy Li Fut kung fu, but this could also work with Miao Dao techniques. You would have to make a few adjustments fro the length of the handle, but it could definitely work!
Thanks@@SifuKuttel
Who made that Han Sha at 5:38?
As far as I understand it was a homemade forging project by the guy holding it. I don't have his contact info, but I found him searching Mo Dao on Bilibili
@@SifuKuttel shame. That would be hecka cool to have and practice with.
Imagine getting hit by this... Overkill lol. I'd love to learn how to use a sword like this one day. It's about as close as you can get to something straight out of fantasy.
❤ bonsoir Sifu 🙏🏼
Ah! Ça c’est une arme dangereuse et impressionnante 😊
Bon week-end
Merci Sifu Noël! Bon week-end!
More Like a question How were these Swords used in battles? How were they moved and manipulated to stop Enemy troops or Cavalry riders?
There are no surviving treatises or manuals from the Tang dynasty, but we do know the purpose of a Zhan Ma Dao, and that is to cut the foot/leg of a horse to drop the horse and rider and then the rest is similar to the Chang dao, Dan dao, and Miao dao techniques that we find in traditional Chinese martial arts today. The Tang and following Song dynasty were times of heavy armor which allowed big 2 handed choppers like this to be used so prominently. I have a video of me performing parts of the Choy Li Fut horse chopper form with this blade:ruclips.net/video/CnJFLmql1hQ/видео.html I actually prefer this blade by length and weight to the pu dao styled chopper I originally learned with.
Thank you for your response !
there are treatises as far as army deployment and composition, rotating volley fire, and mention of modaos, but clear descriptions of battle with large swords call them something other than modao
However, from the Song:
"All the military theorists of the Tang maintained that the crossbow had no advantage over hand-to-hand weapons, and they insisted on having long bills and great shields in the front line to repel the charge, and made the crossbowmen to carry sabres and long-hafted weapons."
and Western Xia complained about Song crossbows and Song modao, of which the modao was able to cut down shock cavalry
@@yohopirate Thank you !
Tang dao borrowed/improved by japanese to become katana, then borrowed/improved again by Ming dynasty to become miaodao
both the tang dao and the ming dao is better then the katana whats your point 60% of japanses and language was copied from china
@@zehechen920hahaha
i hope i don´t annoy you with these questions, wich one would you choose if you had too, Zhan Mao Dao or Silver Swallow?
Not at all! Again, a really tough call, but between the two I would pick the Tang Zhan Ma Dao. It is much heavier in comparison, but the handling, indexing, and cutting power of the sword make it an all around winner in my book.
how can leather be vegan? just a thought 🙂
Good question 😅 it’s a leather substitute that doesn’t use any animal byproducts so they call it “Vegan leather”
it's plastic
I have been looking for a truly full tang double-hand-sword with shorter narrow blade and longer handle for a long time. I play MiaoDao a lot but it sometimes hits the roof when swinging indoor. And what’s more, the leverage of my MiaoDao sucks 😂 So this 斩马刀is exactly what I need !!!
An interesting question, why didn't the Chinese develop hand guards in their swords? since they have a longer and earlier history of using swords you would think its a natural progression.
Sadly there's no concrete answer to this. What I find interesting are the large cup guards and knuckle guards on fencing swords in the Han dynasty that never show up again...ever. There are some other swords that have been unearthed with more substantial guards from even before the Han, but it seems that Dao had minimal guards up until the Sui dynasty. My best guess is that it had to do with how swords were slung and trying to keep them from snagging while using other weaponry... but it's all conjecture at this point.
@@SifuKuttel that's really interesting to hear. It seems like range and hand protection on common Chinese swords used by common men wasn't' an issue or an advantage. Otherwise Chinese swords would have progressed similarly to European swords. That's very odd indeed.
the time where the cross guard and the fuller were introduced to China by the steppe nomads more classical Chinese swords looked quite different to that. Considering that the Tang dynasty was founded by a tribe from the North west
If the handle was only 16 inch short and if the blade was wider, would be excellent 👌 I have the Mutki Longsword, similar design
Good to see someone handling a Chinese sword with Chinese form for once 😅
Just guessing, but I imagine this is were the Japanese got the idea for the nodachi. A giant, battlefield sword which was used more like a anti cavalry pole arm.
Not quite, the nodachi/odachi developed in Japan from pre-existing tachi independent of Chinese influence through simple convergent evolution, but the tachi itself was developed by modifying indigenously manufactured replicas of imported Chinese Tang dao.
🗿👍🏿
Zhanmadao demo ruclips.net/video/tTV2X6tBX8I/видео.html
Minimalism at its best👍
Took you 5 centuries but okay.
🤣🤣🤣 yeahhhh, but here we are
@@SifuKuttel lol