I have one of these! I couldn't agree more about the 'shiver down the spine' upon unsheathing it - it FEELS dangerous, like it wants to chop things. Basically a real life Uruk-Hai Cleaver tbh
For those who are curious about it after having read wuxia fiction or read manga/manwha/manhua in wuxia settings, when they talk about the difference between a Sword and a Blade, they mean Jian VS Dao. It is kind of lost in translation and I was confused by the distinction when I read for example Ruler of the Land, but that is the distinction.
Dao isn't just "associated" with knives. It is literally the word "knife". As in, if you held up a kitchen knife or a steak knife and asked a Chinese person what it was, they'd call it a Dao. Or some compound word involving another noun with the word Dao in it
MaximumNewbage but in english，the word sword can also refer to single edge blade， it depends on the function and length of the weapon. knifes are usually shorter and smaller than swords. In chinese， as long as its a single edge cutter， no matter how long the weapon is， or its feature，its a dao.
MaximumNewbage I guess what I’m trying to say is that “dao” isn’t exactly the word knife, it means single edge cutter. And Jian means double edge weapon.
@@alexzhang188 If you're going to get technical, even in English, knife generally means single edged. A double edged "knife" is called a dagger. So Dao still = knife.
MaximumNewbage well， not really. For example backswords, its single edge, yet its a sword. You wouldn’t refer backsword as a knife right? but in Chinese they are called Ma Dao. Ma means horse
@@alexzhang188 That just means that Chinese don't draw a clear distinction between a knife and a sword. Not that Dao does not mean knife. If you hand a kitchen knife to a Chinese person, he'll call it a Dao. You hand a double edged folding knife to him, he'll still call it a Dao (I have literally done this and asked a friend what he'd call it). That means the Dao = knife. Sword is just a big knife to them. They just have a special category for a double edge sword.
"Honey, what's the man next door doing?" "He's taking down his Christmas tree dear. With a sword." "Honey, have you looked at those house listings I emailed you yesterday?"
Whenever i see these chinese swords, i get an impression that most of them are really utilitarian, no nonsense tools of death dealing, optimized to equip whole armies with them, especially dao's.
You're right about the context. It's used to against enemy who wear heavy armour. And also, during the Song Dynasty, the military budget was heavily reduced. That's why they had to make the weapon easier to be produced.
I love the test on your discarded Christmas tree! I purchased a Japanese Nata to help in the garden and camping a few years ago that looks like the Song Hand Dao's little cousin. It has the same brutal single-blade with a square bladed head at about 1/2 - 2/3 the length. The thickness along the back edge along with the pommel to tip weight distribution create a palpable feeling for cleaving.
Yes and no, that was a workaround for people that had not the right to posses weapons, we end with a similar design for different reasons, from a different context.
Coincidentally my favorite kungfu/sword movie where the main character uses this weapon is Killer Constable. It's a dark movie, quite different from the typical chinese sword films of it's time.
Interestingly enough, the character 士 could mean either a "soldier" or a "scholar", and combined with character for a "man" 男, so 男士, means a "gentleman"
One thing I am curious about regarding that tip design is that assuming that you are correct in that it is functionally pretty useless in the thrust, I wonder if that's actually the point? My head instantly goes to the idea that maybe it was doctrine at the time to train exclusively with the cut, maybe because it would be easier to train men of sketchy martial prowess to just uniformly focus on hitting the enemy with the sharp side of the stick and as a part of that making the tip that shape to reinforce the idea that the men should only hit people with the metal stick and not try funny business and get themselves killed? I'm thinking that if you're Chinese warlords during the various times of chaos in the Central Plains, the best results would likely be reached by only focusing on a very specific and limited skill set but devoting all training to those few specific skills, which would be necessary when in times of war you would need men of very inconsistent quality (some being fantastic professionals, others being conscripted peasants), maybe it was seen as a distraction to even consider using the thrust with the dao? Pure conjecture and speculation of course, writing this mainly to see if anyone has some insight into the topic.
Also, being an arsenal weapon that should survive really long, its not interesting to have tips that can be broken. If you are using an "anti-armor" weapon like these, you can bend or break the tip by accident during a cut against the said armor.
I think you are right. These are weapons issued to the rank and file as a backup sidearm. Cutting is a gross motor skill that people tend to fall back on when stressed; being confident enough to thrust with a sword under pressure takes a lot of time and training for most people. The shape of the tip means that it is an effective cutter for it's whole length; which is important as it is a relatively short weapon.
At the time after Tang, heavy armor infrantries are everywhere, dao/jian becomes usless, this thing is basically used as a blunt weapon with some cutting edges, at the time during and after Tang (medieval), people use 槊 Shuo a lot after Qin and Han dynasties(about to be the Roman empire age), a kind of spear longer than 1 zhang丈 and 8 chi尺（ruler）， about to be 4 meters and 14 centimeters， or 13 and half feet, it's used as pike for infantry or a lance for cavalry.
According to some Chinese historical researches I’ve read, this type of Chinese broad sword(宋手刀) probably was first invented in Song dynasty and mainly designed to rapid mass produce with minimal maintaining efforts and low training requirement for soldiers, which is very focus on cutting, slashing without too much difficulty, also not easy to break or bend when clashed with heavy armor for heavy armor were wildly used in Song dynasty, because Song dynasty had a professional standing army consisted of "one million soldiers" in average who mainly were infantries, they also constantly had to fought against all kinds of“nomadic neighbors”, so they needed easy-to-make, easy-to-maintain and easy-to-use infantry sidearm for such large standing army and constant war affairs. This type of broad sword is keep in used till republic era in 20th century, never out of fashion, 雁翅刀(Goose Wing Sabre) in traditional martial arts and 抗戰大刀(Chinese Da Dao) used during Second Sino-Japanese war are its direct descendants. Also the so-called "habaki"(in Japanese) is called "吞口" in Chinese, for anyone want to know. Btw, just a sidenote, Song military were largely professional standing army, not temporary-recruited levies. In fact, Song dynasty(10th century AD) was the first Chinese dynasty who fully implemented professional military system, which means Song Chinese soldiers were almost all “soldier as profession”, not levy, not militia. Many westerners or foreigners often have a superficial bias that is “Chinese military were all peasant levies”(probably due to the “large scale army” impression), which is far from truth to anyone with basic knowledge of Chinese military history. China indeed usually has large army, but China already has established professional military system since Eastern Zhou dynasty(8th century BC), often combined with universal conscription, such combined recruitment system is keep in practiced till modern China, while Song dynasty was the first and only Chinese dynasty who fully conducted professional military system unlike other Chinese dynasties.
Isn't Tang have professional standing army that belong to local officers(which is the reason it collapse)? maybe mercenary is a better word to describe them though...
Most people’s opinions on foreign militaries are based within a scope of 100 years. The Chinese army during WW11 like the Russian army during WW1, was hot garbage.
Two things that held the Song back. 1. They never had a reliable source of horses for cavalry. 2. Song emperors tend to kill off generals that are too successful out of fear of being usurped. The Ming solved it by constantly reassigning generals to different areas to stop soldiers developing loyalty to their general and not the empire.
@@hanliu3707 @Han Liu I think you’re obviously quite lack of basic knowledge of Chinese military history, I can’t believe you can have so many misconceptions in such short sentence. First of all, Song dynasty regular military belong to the state, not mercenary, they’re recruited, trained and paid by the country and lead by the generals appointed by government. The only exceptions were ethnic minority auxiliary. The entire Song military system and doctrine(強幹弱枝) were exactly designed to prevent the same chaotic separatism caused by regional warlords in Tang dynasty from happening again, to the point it becomes a famous Chinese idiom ”杯酒釋兵權”, every educated Chinese all know the allusion of this idiom. It’s also part of the reasons Song military strength was not as powerful as former dynasties. Secondly, Tang dynasty basic military system was also not mercenary but “府兵制fubing system” which was a conscripted militia network system bounded by military households(軍籍) and 均田制(equal-field system), they’re regular troops conscripted and controlled by central government, later such system was abolished due to various reasons and transformed to professional full-time army(健兒), the reasons the Tang dynasty regional military governors went rebel and divided the nations was exactly due to the collapse of fubing system and weaken of centralized power, not the other way around.
LK chen are an interesting company, I looked into them and they seem to be heavily involved in Hisorical Chinese Martial Arts, they take a very similar and I would say inspired take like the Chinese version of HEMA. Go and take a look at their website, they have guys sparring in HEMA gear on the front page, interesting company.
It has another very important use Head cutter During all ancient dynasties of China we do body counting with heads. War prisoners are the gifts for emperor who will cut their heads at the main gate of the capital to start some important festival. After that emperor will reward his general by their military contributions. How many cities and land have been taken and How many enemies they “chop”. General rewards his troop by the same standard. Level to level. Finally to each soldier how to prove how much enemy he chopped? Head counting!!! Hand Dao is such a good tool to do this job.
Interesting that you see this kind of "forward leaning" tip in Indonesian and Filipino weapons a lot as well. I like these little "fossilized" clues to cultural cross-fertilization.
@@neniAAinen Not surprisingly, the Song survived because of their fortifications and geography south of the Yellow River. It wasn't until the Mongols that finally took down the Southern Song, and they had to import counterweight trebuchets and invest in a massive navy to do it.
@@neniAAinen if I'm not mistaken they are mostly countered with 钩连枪 hook spears. A deadly anti calvary pole arm coupled with shield bearers. This type of pole arm designed to hook the rider, to focus attack on legs, either horses' or men's. If you can't walk, you no longer a threat.
@@chengkuoklee5734 you aren't, it's right. I simply meant that if you as a foot soldier are left only with a sidearm 1:1 against an 铁浮屠，you're free to defend yourself...but chances are slim.
As a person of Chinese descent, the word Dao literally translates to Knife from Chinese to English normally a small cutting implement but is not considered a sword but this would a known as a Great/big Knife or Dia Dao and that goes with a Chinese Saber or Whan Dao with Whan meaning bent or curved and Dao meaning knife and the item being review or describe would not be considered a sward in Chinese eyes but a very big knife. There are very strict rules as to what qualifies as a sword and knife as also other bladed tools.
a "dao" is probably what we call "facão" in brazil, which literally means big knife and are mostly used for chopping, my grandma had an old rusty one that was still cutting wood like butter
Guys, what your wrote is really nonsense as you suggest that there is "THE CHINESE" with well defined terms over 2000 years. Dao is any blade with ONE EDGE, so it can mean knife, sabre or a glefe-like pole weaopon, but not a two edged dagger, sword etc. and Da Dao, Wan Dao being attributes, meaning literally "big dao" "curved dao" etc. which can as well refer to a specific weapon as being purely descriptive. Now "Bi shou 匕首" is certainly not simply THE word for knife in just CHINESE, it is also not well defined and means usually either "dagger" in classical Chinese or something like a modern military knife, it's never the normal kitchen knife in modern standard Mandarin.
It's very symmetrical. For blunt force.. would they ever use it backwards? Hitting with the spine instead of the front. Just for the blunt force and to not damage the blade. Like how butchers use the back of cleavers to break bones and the front to chop. Why some came with a hammered end.
Does look like you could crack a skull or wobble some chumps brain with that spine. I suspect you could use that blade in half-sword form effectively as well. More defensively telling by that point, but still quite effective.
Did those rings serve a storage purpose? Like I’m imagining an armory hanging them 10 each on a long pegs. Hanging would be better for the blade too wouldn’t it since there’s no stress on it compared to them lie against a wall? I dunno, just shooting the sh*#
Awesome! re the tunkou, I believe Kirill Rivkin and Brian Isaac have done a lot of research on the proliferation of the saber concept across Eurasia, I encourage you to look into their work! Another great video Matt :)
I really love these reviews! They’re so in depth, you’re always super careful not to take sides, and you try and get all your facts as right as you can with serious research, so bravo on that 👏. Also, as a random side note, your yard that you cut in near the end is incredibly ambient and peaceful sounding 😄.
Also, I assumed that's the joke you were making, but it is so esoteric that I am not sure if it was. (Dao/Tao = way/path, Taoism being about following the "path", VERY generally speaking)
I have one of these to test out and I could use some advice on what tests to do with it. Apart from general back yard shenanigans, are there tests photos that would be helpful to prospective buyers?
We have to see a match with croquet stake of doom! The sword looks and feel durable, but it would be nice to see it in action. Maybe save that punishment for the final test though, because nothing can withstand the stake forever.
If you have ever seen the studio ghibly film called "Princess Mononoke," that looks like the very exact same blade the main protagonist (Ashitaka) uses on his quest. What he does with it at one point is insane!!! Those things really are choppers!!!!!!!!!!!
Just casually observing, tip design is easier to make and maintain than the Tang and earlier dao tips. You can just make a bar, cut it to shape, and sharpen one edge. Now you can chop, which is what this was for, and maybe thrust if you want. With the Tang and earlier designs you have to shape and sharpen two edges.
not really though, if you are talking about Dao, in Chinese Dao really just means single edged blade(mostly), that's why there are so many poleaerms called Dao.
I mean, Song armies were LARGE and probably mass levied with untrained peasants so something akin to what they use in the field for chopping but with added durability and with economy of mass production in mind went with the design of this. The natural action encouraged by it would not be unfamiliar to the average conscript. It really looks quite intimidating. You can just feel the weight of the blow from looking at the damn thing. Its got a nice architectural feel to it too with its geometric hard edges. Natural wood or bamboo scabbard, restrained colours seems also very in keeping with Song dynasty.
Just out of interest Matt, d'you have a favourite of the LK Chen swords so far? They all have pros and cons, but if you had to choose one of them as an EDC??
In battles during the Song Dynasty, the function of the hand dao was to sever the heads of those enemies who had been killed by long spears or ranged weapons. Of course, it was also used for emergency self-defense. Ancient Chinese warfare was similar to Europe's, utilizing phalanxes and coordinated group combat. They used long spears or advanced ranged weapons, such as crossbows, to injure the enemy. The short knife was only used to score points by cutting off the enemy's head during the cleaning of the battlefield and to request corresponding rewards from the emperor.
I was trying to place why this particular blade shape seemed so familiar, and it finally struck me. It has a striking resemblance to the Buster Sword from Final Fantasy VII (albeit the tip tapers in the other direction). I'm sure the limited power of the original Playstation made the geometry of straight lines and visual distinctiveness of a large blade drove some of the design
Just my view and opinion, correct me if I am wrong;- Through out Chinese history, jian or sword has almost always a weapon of higher station or high ranking officers whereas dao is usually for the ordinary soldiers, be they be cavalry or infantry. It's not really an issue of exclusivity but rather practicality as the usage of dao is actually much easier than the jian in the hands of the infantry man, i.e slash and hack in the heat of battle and considering that MOST of the troops were conscripted from ordinary people their training in the use of dao makes sense. Of course there were elite units such as the royal or imperial guards which were equipped with jian or swords.
As Matt said, one is civilian weapon, one militia, they were designed for different purposes and used in different situations. Basially Sword or Jian is mostly considered as a weapon of noble, There was a story Zhuangzi telling a king there are three types of sword: one of civilian, one of noble, one of king or emperor, they are all real and also metaphor, because it's a symbol and ritual artifact to show one's social statues since early East Zhou Dynasty ( probably 500 B.C. or ealier.)
Nice dao, that's definitely the widest blade LK Chen has made. Speaking of single edged swords, would you do a video on living saber fencing traditions like the French, Northern Italian, Neapolitan, Hungarian, and German?
When you say living, are you talking about various styles of Olympic fencing are actual Sabre traditions? The only one that I have seen anything about that looks legitimate is from Poland but I'd love to be wrong.
@@hermespino9985 I have not. I thought that one of the actors in the Polish film The Deluge, had learned it from his grandfather or something. That's too bad. Are the systems that you mentioned reconstructions or have they really been passed on from generation to generation? I ask because I learned such a system in China (but two-handed sabre) and would be interested to check them out when I move back to Europe. Learning from a master that can teach you all of the subtleties of fencing is just not the same as learning from a book..
@@MaartenSFS I am not talking about Olympic fencing and yes there are masters around in these traditions. Of the ones I have listed above Northern Italian is the most common with multiple maestri active in the United States (Ramon Martinez, John Sullins, David Achilleus, Cecil Longino, etc.) and one in Czechia (Michael Knazko). French foil is also quite common (in America at least) but French saber is rarer because a lot of French fencers actually did Northern Italian saber instead; I think Nick Evangelista, Adrian Crown, and Ramon Martinez do it at least occasionally. Neapolitan has gotten tied up with Northern Italian lineages in America so see the previous names, in Europe I recently saw an interview on RUclips with a very elderly Italian fencing master named Paolo Cazzato who to my eye looks like he is still teaching the same kind of guard and low stance Masaniello Parise wrote about in the 1880's. Hungarian has two instructors that I am aware of Hidán Csaba in Budapest and his American student Russ Mitchell in Texas. German is... strange. There is a peculiar kind of dueling called "Mensur" associated with fraternities at German universities, but its so heavily regulated that there isn't all that much technique involved, however if you google terms like "Paukstunde," "Pennäles Fechten," and "Säbelmensur" you get hints that they occasionally do something a little more saber-like, but that area of the fencing world is quite difficult to get good information about. Apologies for the longwinded response, this is subject is one of my main interests, and the preponderance of American names on the list, but most of the masters I can find are American. If you want to look into this any further than my ramblings I would also recommend the Classical Fencing Facebook group. Edit: Here are some videos of what I am talking about: Northern Italian Dueling Saber: ruclips.net/video/lUVZKRZ4UiU/видео.html Northern Italian vs. Southern Italian Saber: ruclips.net/video/kirCSgNyw0Q/видео.html More Northern Italian: ruclips.net/video/bhc9_pZUAdk/видео.html Interview: ruclips.net/video/JQX6iIpEkII/видео.html Hidán Csaba teaching: ruclips.net/video/BBwDSyT74Ms/видео.html
@@andrewk.5575 Oh, your detailed reply is much appreciated. I haven't got the time to check the videos out today, but I will surely do so within the next several days. I now know what you are referring to: the fencing systems that immediately predate Olympic fencing. How close are these systems to battlefield sabre systems? I have heard of the German Mensur duelling, but don't take that sort of thing very seriously.
I could be wrong but I believe that these dao were mainly used against the Northern enemies (Mongols) of the Song dynasty. So they were mainly used for incapaciting/damaging the horses legs.
The Mongols were well armored and even better armored were the Liaos, which were proto-Jurchen or proto-Manchu. The Liaos were in cataphracts. Daos exploit the arm muscle mass and memory developed by peasant farmers who spent a lifetime cutting grass and chopping all sorts of things for their livelihood so you can bet that is a formidable combination. These peasants fight with a weapon that is looks and chops so similar with their tool of livelihood. Its also a reason why peasant revolutions can be so bloody. Jians are reserved for cultured scholars that have the time and the background to learn the martial arts. The dao in the presentation looks to be one of the shorter ones, there were longer, two handed ones that were also meant to chop at the cavalry horses of the Song's nomadic enemies.
Mongols where definitely not well armoured before they started to adopt armour from various place they conquered . Proto Manchu adopted alot of armour tech from Chinese . Those people you mention are not known for being technologically innovative copied to much from China when it comes to armour , metallurgy and architect
These people have plenty to copy and innovate upon and their armor is impressive. It's a historical falsehood that they are lightly armored. The Chinese emphasize pole arms and straight daos in order to penetrate armor. The Liao Cataphracts were such an issue that that Zhanmadao was developed to chop these riders down and stab them through their armor. Only in later periods were combatants were less armored you begin to see curved slashing daos.
@@ChrisRobato . what i meant was they adopted heavy armour from China . Jurchens are a good example for that and most mongols where poorly armour before conquering others and adopting their armour tech .
By the Song Dynasty there is already gunpowder, and super crossbows. The issue is the Jin soldiers have heavy Calvary that is cold forged scale armor. Nomads and period calvary have mounted archers which aren't really armored, But good luck using a sword against someone with bow and arrows. (Documentary on super crossbows and heavy calvary) ruclips.net/video/T4eX6oZdG6w/видео.html Using a sword against calvary might be a bit too optimistic when polearms And firearms is an option, so the Dao might have fallen to a more utility function That is closer to machete than any specific combat-specialized weapon. Dao 刀 refers to anything with a single edged, so really broad based definition. So a sickle 镰刀 A wood plane 刨刀 A scraper 铲刀 A scapel 手术刀 A kitchen knife 菜刀 And pen knife 美工刀 Cutlery knife 餐刀 All carries the character of Dao.
plenty of reenactors in just chain & gambeson wont fight me with my broad bladed bastard sword, if they dont know me(i always pull my blows) because you can still easily break a arm rib or shoulder blade under mail with it (or if it was sharp cut up a shield rim like a axe) i prefer a long grip with a large brass pomel if possible because i fight in continual arc/circle where i can and a longer grip helps balance for my exceptionably heavy blade lol it also lets you rest it against your forearm if held right which takes much of weight from tip down to your forrarm its a strait double sided 68cm long wide 6.5cm wide at hilt 6cms wide before tip taper blade with significant distal taper 2.5fm at hilt 1.5cm at tip with a spearpoint style/european style tip, tip taper starts 10cm from tip blades form is a flattened hexagon ricasso extends 20cms from hilt with quillions about 1.5cms from blade at their tip i have a complex european style hilt though with a cross bar/knife hilt 24cm long with 4 x 7cm long strait up sword catching quilions coming out of 4 corners of a broad proto shell hilt 6cms across at widest 10cm long apart from the knife hilt part with a handle 23cm long made from leather washers over tang sanded to shape for maximum shock absorbing and tightness of hilt fit, held in place with a large brass pommel 4cm long 6cm wide formed from 3cm brass rod and 1x2cmbrass bar bent in a semicircle (allows you to catch & turn swords as well or better than ring pommel, also looks liek a little guy with his arms in air with handle as torse hilt as legs leading down to a compinatorally large blade ....:P ) my bastardisation of a claymore all held together with a single 3mm brass rivet in pommel & friction of leather washers/handle (i like to only put 1 hole or no hole in a tang and make handle as single pean or pin system) ive never put a edge on it but i know it would be a good cutter if i did & even without a edge i do have to pull blows on ppl (even in plate so i dont dint up their armour) its very wrist intensive weapon but as a armature blacksmith i have strong wrists from all the hammer work
I think with this particular you don’t want it to penetrate. The bigger version of this sword was mean hit armored Calvary. The blunt tip helps you knock the rider off the horse without over penetration and potentially losing your sword. This probably took the same idea but just shrunk down.
Hi sir, are yoy alright? You mentioned something about straight swords and curved swords policy entering the uk can you send me the video where to talked about this plz?
It seems like a weapon that would optimize the lethality of a soldier with minimal training. That makes it a very good weapon to keep in armories to be issued to peasant levies. Context...
Your comment is not "context" but mere assumption and speculation and only half correct. If You want to know real context, first you have to study Chinese military history, better learn to read Chinese and Chinese martial arts as well. The real historical context is Song dynasty military were almost entirely professional standing troops(in other words, they're soldiers as "profession", not peasant levies), which means this type of sword(宋手刀) was mainly issued to professional soldiers rather than levies. But you're correct that this sword was designed to massive produce with minimal training requirement and maintaining efforts, because Song dynasty had a professional standing army consisted of "one million soldiers" in constant, they needed easy-to-made and easy-to-use sidearm for such large army, not just for peasants. China already has established professional military system since Eastern Zhou dynasty(8th century BC) but often combined with universal conscription. Song dynasty(10th cnetury) was the first Chinese dynasty who fully implemented professional military system, which means Song Chinese soldiers were almost all professional, not temporary levies.
@@MrGod47 I stand corrected with regard to the peasant levies. At any rate, this seems like a weapon you'd issue to someone you didn't expect to receive a lot of training in how to use a sword. That doesn't necessarily mean non-professionals as many (most?) professional soldiers had some primary job that didn't involve a sword. I didn't have enough knowledge of the actual...context. :-)
Just thinking looking at that blade and guard and how easy it was for you to index and easily you turned the blade but still know where the edge of the blade the thought came after you mentioned it being used agenst armour so seeing as it has a crowbar like back edge could you consider the solider turning the blade so when he struck someone in armour its impact would be like an iron bar and in doing this also save the sharp edge of the blade for softer targets posible back of the knees and ankles once the man in armour has been knocked down by the impact from the back of the blade . As an ex soldier useing a riot battern I understand what damage a impact can have on a person and a person wearing steel armour is not immune to damage
I'm so glad that its blade is straight! I mean, according to the the most recent weapon laws, that makes it not as dangerous. The UK is so much safer now that we don't have to worry about any of those evil, dangerous curved swords being bought and sold!😉😁
Yep, no problem importing this. In fairness, you could import a curved one as it is traditionally made, which is one of the defences (like an exemption).
@@scholagladiatoria , Thank you for the reply! Yes, I had forgotten about that provision! And I guess these would have to be considered traditionally made. So... I'm so glad that we don't have to worry about any of those mass-produced, CNC milled, curved blades circulating around! We should feel so much safer with regards to stabbings now that only hand-forged, pattern-welded blades are allowed into the country!😀
You use the ring to putt a banner on it to iritating or tanguel the enemy and you can hold with the pinky while using the bow while riding on a horse they use to be cheep and clonky to armed fast against the enemy and they have a long grip to get a better lever
Hey there, as much as I really enjoy your content, I will be leaving RUclips. Sure I’m just one guy, but I hope others including yourself will make a stand against the totalitarianism and censorship we are now seeing from big tech. I hope have success but sincerely hope to see your channel elsewhere, gab.tv or bitchute etc.
they also have many bigger choppers, according to some old text, the Jin(one of the main enemies) only fear two things from Song army, one is crossbow, the other is poleaxe. It makes sense, as they are all very much anti armor weapon
@@changchadchanamdong2668 I would say they have decent armor after Han dynasty, maybe not mass produced, many nomad served as auxiliary or mercenary for Han chinese druing and after Han dynasty, they may also some tech from central asia, which also have heavy metal armor.
Oh shit, you got Ashitaka's sword from Princess Mononoke. Kinda goofy that they gave an Emishi guy a Chinese sword (because why would he have one of those... hmmm), but whatever!
Sony Dynasty has very heavy armor. this is mostly because Song dynasty don't have many horse and their enemy has a lot of horse. They have a rule to limit the armor weight not to be heavier than 29KG.
Hey Matt, I'd like to hear your thoughts about the Chinese spade and crescent moon poleweapons. Edit: I mean the monk spade poleweapon which sometimes has two heads, a spade and a crescent moon. Sometimes they have only the spade or the crescent moon. I'm not talking about the guan dao.
For starters, Guan Yu never wielded a Guan Dao. It was an anachronistic invention made a thousand years after in a romanticized retelling. The thing I really want to know is why did the dagger-axe (戈) and halberd (戟) fell out of use?
@@martytu20 I think there is a misunderstanding, and it's probably my fault. When I said crescent moon I did not mean the glaive Guan Yu is portrayed using, I meant the poleweapon with a U shaped blade, the same blade spade polearms have as a second head. I think it is also named gekken pole arm but I'm not sure, I don't know the exact names of these, and that's the cause of the misunderstanding.
@@andreigabrielion9575 The Han era halberd would have looked more like this. wildfiregames.com/forum/uploads/monthly_2018_08/516_1025213_867b3be1c040eca.jpg.4e9301502e40e12b8774d65b8cbcc93f.jpg
Song has one of the smallest area of all Chinese Dynasties but they were one of the most technological advance and richest. It was said if not for the Mongols, Industrial revolution might have happened 500 earlier in China.
I have one of these! I couldn't agree more about the 'shiver down the spine' upon unsheathing it - it FEELS dangerous, like it wants to chop things.
Basically a real life Uruk-Hai Cleaver tbh
It looks great for chopping men in half...lings.
The Chinese Triads favours machetes shaped this way during their melee disputes. Something about being ergonomically comfortable
Uruk-Hai Cleaver is what came to my mind!
Reminds me of Skallagrim's video on the han jians where he said he felt the sword was 'possessed'
It looks oddly futuristic, like something a vampiric daywalker would use.
It reminds me of the swords we've seen in the Dune trailer, too.
The perfect weapon for the Zombie Apocalypse 🧟♀️ ... imagine chopping your way through an army of the dead!
@@VideoMask93 Heh, I just rewatched that and you're right!
Its very close to the sword Ultra Violet uses in the movie from 2006. Hers was sharpened on both sides like a Jian.
I think it's mostly the colour, if the guard and ring is brass colour it would have a different vibe.
For those who are curious about it after having read wuxia fiction or read manga/manwha/manhua in wuxia settings, when they talk about the difference between a Sword and a Blade, they mean Jian VS Dao. It is kind of lost in translation and I was confused by the distinction when I read for example Ruler of the Land, but that is the distinction.
Dao isn't just "associated" with knives. It is literally the word "knife". As in, if you held up a kitchen knife or a steak knife and asked a Chinese person what it was, they'd call it a Dao. Or some compound word involving another noun with the word Dao in it
MaximumNewbage but in english，the word sword can also refer to single edge blade， it depends on the function and length of the weapon. knifes are usually shorter and smaller than swords. In chinese， as long as its a single edge cutter， no matter how long the weapon is， or its feature，its a dao.
MaximumNewbage I guess what I’m trying to say is that “dao” isn’t exactly the word knife, it means single edge cutter. And Jian means double edge weapon.
@@alexzhang188 If you're going to get technical, even in English, knife generally means single edged. A double edged "knife" is called a dagger. So Dao still = knife.
MaximumNewbage well， not really. For example backswords, its single edge, yet its a sword. You wouldn’t refer backsword as a knife right? but in Chinese they are called Ma Dao. Ma means horse
@@alexzhang188 That just means that Chinese don't draw a clear distinction between a knife and a sword. Not that Dao does not mean knife. If you hand a kitchen knife to a Chinese person, he'll call it a Dao. You hand a double edged folding knife to him, he'll still call it a Dao (I have literally done this and asked a friend what he'd call it). That means the Dao = knife. Sword is just a big knife to them. They just have a special category for a double edge sword.
"Honey, what's the man next door doing?"
"He's taking down his Christmas tree dear. With a sword."
"Honey, have you looked at those house listings I emailed you yesterday?"
Thanks for the shoutout!! This sword is a beast of a cutter and looks the part! Also, it would be awesome to see a vid from you on early sabers.
Do you think this is a good blade for crossbowmen and archers
Whenever i see these chinese swords, i get an impression that most of them are really utilitarian, no nonsense tools of death dealing, optimized to equip whole armies with them, especially dao's.
Looks like a beast of a cutter. She is next on my list.
I'll have one in cpm-3v, please.
You're right about the context.
It's used to against enemy who wear heavy armour.
And also, during the Song Dynasty, the military budget was heavily reduced.
That's why they had to make the weapon easier to be produced.
I love the test on your discarded Christmas tree! I purchased a Japanese Nata to help in the garden and camping a few years ago that looks like the Song Hand Dao's little cousin. It has the same brutal single-blade with a square bladed head at about 1/2 - 2/3 the length. The thickness along the back edge along with the pommel to tip weight distribution create a palpable feeling for cleaving.
One similar weapon of europe was the Beidana, used mostly in Italy from about the 1200s by the Waldesians.
Yes and no, that was a workaround for people that had not the right to posses weapons, we end with a similar design for different reasons, from a different context.
Coincidentally my favorite kungfu/sword movie where the main character uses this weapon is Killer Constable. It's a dark movie, quite different from the typical chinese sword films of it's time.
Matt just naturally assumes that other people have cutting parties in their backyards...
Interestingly enough, the character 士 could mean either a "soldier" or a "scholar", and combined with character for a "man" 男, so 男士, means a "gentleman"
So a scholarly warrior man. As a soldier should be.
士 is usually an educated noble male out of any context
士 meant very different things over a course of more than 2000 years, so don't try to fuse them into "educated warrior" or something, that's nonsense.
in old chinese: educated low rank noble, like samurai or knight.
in medieval chinese: scholar
in early modern chinese: gentleman
It can also be combined with character for a "woman" 女, so 女士 means "Madam" or "educated woman".
One thing I am curious about regarding that tip design is that assuming that you are correct in that it is functionally pretty useless in the thrust, I wonder if that's actually the point? My head instantly goes to the idea that maybe it was doctrine at the time to train exclusively with the cut, maybe because it would be easier to train men of sketchy martial prowess to just uniformly focus on hitting the enemy with the sharp side of the stick and as a part of that making the tip that shape to reinforce the idea that the men should only hit people with the metal stick and not try funny business and get themselves killed? I'm thinking that if you're Chinese warlords during the various times of chaos in the Central Plains, the best results would likely be reached by only focusing on a very specific and limited skill set but devoting all training to those few specific skills, which would be necessary when in times of war you would need men of very inconsistent quality (some being fantastic professionals, others being conscripted peasants), maybe it was seen as a distraction to even consider using the thrust with the dao?
Pure conjecture and speculation of course, writing this mainly to see if anyone has some insight into the topic.
Also, being an arsenal weapon that should survive really long, its not interesting to have tips that can be broken. If you are using an "anti-armor" weapon like these, you can bend or break the tip by accident during a cut against the said armor.
I think you are right. These are weapons issued to the rank and file as a backup sidearm. Cutting is a gross motor skill that people tend to fall back on when stressed; being confident enough to thrust with a sword under pressure takes a lot of time and training for most people.
The shape of the tip means that it is an effective cutter for it's whole length; which is important as it is a relatively short weapon.
At the time after Tang, heavy armor infrantries are everywhere, dao/jian becomes usless, this thing is basically used as a blunt weapon with some cutting edges, at the time during and after Tang (medieval), people use 槊 Shuo a lot after Qin and Han dynasties(about to be the Roman empire age), a kind of spear longer than 1 zhang丈 and 8 chi尺（ruler）， about to be 4 meters and 14 centimeters， or 13 and half feet, it's used as pike for infantry or a lance for cavalry.
Don’t forget for crossbowman and archers
According to some Chinese historical researches I’ve read, this type of Chinese broad sword(宋手刀) probably was first invented in Song dynasty and mainly designed to rapid mass produce with minimal maintaining efforts and low training requirement for soldiers, which is very focus on cutting, slashing without too much difficulty, also not easy to break or bend when clashed with heavy armor for heavy armor were wildly used in Song dynasty, because Song dynasty had a professional standing army consisted of "one million soldiers" in average who mainly were infantries, they also constantly had to fought against all kinds of“nomadic neighbors”, so they needed easy-to-make, easy-to-maintain and easy-to-use infantry sidearm for such large standing army and constant war affairs.
This type of broad sword is keep in used till republic era in 20th century, never out of fashion, 雁翅刀(Goose Wing Sabre) in traditional martial arts and 抗戰大刀(Chinese Da Dao) used during Second Sino-Japanese war are its direct descendants. Also the so-called "habaki"(in Japanese) is called "吞口" in Chinese, for anyone want to know.
Btw, just a sidenote, Song military were largely professional standing army, not temporary-recruited levies. In fact, Song dynasty(10th century AD) was the first Chinese dynasty who fully implemented professional military system, which means Song Chinese soldiers were almost all “soldier as profession”, not levy, not militia. Many westerners or foreigners often have a superficial bias that is “Chinese military were all peasant levies”(probably due to the “large scale army” impression), which is far from truth to anyone with basic knowledge of Chinese military history. China indeed usually has large army, but China already has established professional military system since Eastern Zhou dynasty(8th century BC), often combined with universal conscription, such combined recruitment system is keep in practiced till modern China, while Song dynasty was the first and only Chinese dynasty who fully conducted professional military system unlike other Chinese dynasties.
Thx, that was really interesting and certainly makes sense in the context of the weapon!
Isn't Tang have professional standing army that belong to local officers(which is the reason it collapse)? maybe mercenary is a better word to describe them though...
Most people’s opinions on foreign militaries are based within a scope of 100 years. The Chinese army during WW11 like the Russian army during WW1, was hot garbage.
Two things that held the Song back. 1. They never had a reliable source of horses for cavalry.
2. Song emperors tend to kill off generals that are too successful out of fear of being usurped. The Ming solved it by constantly reassigning generals to different areas to stop soldiers developing loyalty to their general and not the empire.
@@hanliu3707 @Han Liu
I think you’re obviously quite lack of basic knowledge of Chinese military history, I can’t believe you can have so many misconceptions in such short sentence. First of all, Song dynasty regular military belong to the state, not mercenary, they’re recruited, trained and paid by the country and lead by the generals appointed by government. The only exceptions were ethnic minority auxiliary. The entire Song military system and doctrine(強幹弱枝) were exactly designed to prevent the same chaotic separatism caused by regional warlords in Tang dynasty from happening again, to the point it becomes a famous Chinese idiom ”杯酒釋兵權”, every educated Chinese all know the allusion of this idiom. It’s also part of the reasons Song military strength was not as powerful as former dynasties.
Secondly, Tang dynasty basic military system was also not mercenary but “府兵制fubing system” which was a conscripted militia network system bounded by military households(軍籍) and 均田制(equal-field system), they’re regular troops conscripted and controlled by central government, later such system was abolished due to various reasons and transformed to professional full-time army(健兒), the reasons the Tang dynasty regional military governors went rebel and divided the nations was exactly due to the collapse of fubing system and weaken of centralized power, not the other way around.
That two-handed cut, I doubted it was going to go through. I was pleasantly surprised.
Reminds me of Prince Ashitaka's sword.
LK chen are an interesting company, I looked into them and they seem to be heavily involved in Hisorical Chinese Martial Arts, they take a very similar and I would say inspired take like the Chinese version of HEMA. Go and take a look at their website, they have guys sparring in HEMA gear on the front page, interesting company.
It has another very important use
Head cutter
During all ancient dynasties of China we do body counting with heads.
War prisoners are the gifts for emperor who will cut their heads at the main gate of the capital to start some important festival.
After that emperor will reward his general by their military contributions. How many cities and land have been taken and How many enemies they “chop”.
General rewards his troop by the same standard. Level to level.
Finally to each soldier how to prove how much enemy he chopped?
Head counting!!!
Hand Dao is such a good tool to do this job.
Interesting that you see this kind of "forward leaning" tip in Indonesian and Filipino weapons a lot as well. I like these little "fossilized" clues to cultural cross-fertilization.
"If you jab that into their face, it would be horrible" - Matt, you're hilarious
"...and this is another kettle of fish..."
As an american I think this is the most Brittish thing I've ever heard lol.
I bet you didn't even know that fish come in kettles, did you??
@@TheBaconWizard sure didn't
Don't know where the saying came from, but I heard it growing up in Texas 50 years ago.
You also cook fish in a fish-kettle.
In context, this is arguably the heaviest armoured cavalry the Song faces.
dragonsarmory.blogspot.com/2017/07/heavy-jin-dynasty-armor.html
badass armor. didn't know about this
I guess if you're left only with this dao against a fully armoured horseman, you're royally screwed.
@@neniAAinen Not surprisingly, the Song survived because of their fortifications and geography south of the Yellow River. It wasn't until the Mongols that finally took down the Southern Song, and they had to import counterweight trebuchets and invest in a massive navy to do it.
@@neniAAinen if I'm not mistaken they are mostly countered with 钩连枪 hook spears. A deadly anti calvary pole arm coupled with shield bearers. This type of pole arm designed to hook the rider, to focus attack on legs, either horses' or men's. If you can't walk, you no longer a threat.
@@chengkuoklee5734 you aren't, it's right. I simply meant that if you as a foot soldier are left only with a sidearm 1:1 against an 铁浮屠，you're free to defend yourself...but chances are slim.
As a person of Chinese descent, the word Dao literally translates to Knife from Chinese to English normally a small cutting implement but is not considered a sword but this would a known as a Great/big Knife or Dia Dao and that goes with a Chinese Saber or Whan Dao with Whan meaning bent or curved and Dao meaning knife and the item being review or describe would not be considered a sward in Chinese eyes but a very big knife. There are very strict rules as to what qualifies as a sword and knife as also other bladed tools.
What you said isn't accurate. The Chinese word for knife is "Bi shou 匕首". Dao simply means single edged blade. Also, you typed Wan Dao wronge.
a "dao" is probably what we call "facão" in brazil, which literally means big knife and are mostly used for chopping, my grandma had an old rusty one that was still cutting wood like butter
Guys, what your wrote is really nonsense as you suggest that there is "THE CHINESE" with well defined terms over 2000 years. Dao is any blade with ONE EDGE, so it can mean knife, sabre or a glefe-like pole weaopon, but not a two edged dagger, sword etc. and Da Dao, Wan Dao being attributes, meaning literally "big dao" "curved dao" etc. which can as well refer to a specific weapon as being purely descriptive. Now "Bi shou 匕首" is certainly not simply THE word for knife in just CHINESE, it is also not well defined and means usually either "dagger" in classical Chinese or something like a modern military knife, it's never the normal kitchen knife in modern standard Mandarin.
@@onionknight5650 Well no, a knife could be described as a dao. Bishou is a term that is used specifically for daggers
No we don’t
It's very symmetrical. For blunt force.. would they ever use it backwards? Hitting with the spine instead of the front. Just for the blunt force and to not damage the blade. Like how butchers use the back of cleavers to break bones and the front to chop. Why some came with a hammered end.
I think it's possible, though we don't have any source to suppose it, as far as I know.
Does look like you could crack a skull or wobble some chumps brain with that spine. I suspect you could use that blade in half-sword form effectively as well. More defensively telling by that point, but still quite effective.
Did those rings serve a storage purpose? Like I’m imagining an armory hanging them 10 each on a long pegs. Hanging would be better for the blade too wouldn’t it since there’s no stress on it compared to them lie against a wall? I dunno, just shooting the sh*#
Sounds pretty plausible theory.
It's usually going with ropes, in battle the ropes are used as lanyards tied on the user's arm to prevent losing their weapons...
Awesome! re the tunkou, I believe Kirill Rivkin and Brian Isaac have done a lot of research on the proliferation of the saber concept across Eurasia, I encourage you to look into their work! Another great video Matt :)
I really love these reviews! They’re so in depth, you’re always super careful not to take sides, and you try and get all your facts as right as you can with serious research, so bravo on that 👏. Also, as a random side note, your yard that you cut in near the end is incredibly ambient and peaceful sounding 😄.
This is the Dao
When you think about it, aren't Mandalorians technically speaking Space Taoists?
Also, I assumed that's the joke you were making, but it is so esoteric that I am not sure if it was. (Dao/Tao = way/path, Taoism being about following the "path", VERY generally speaking)
@@neruneri this guys gets it
@@neruneri No, because Daoism is mostly non-violent.
Hahahaha, this one is good.
Sadly I never get invited to backyard cutting parties :(
I have one of these to test out and I could use some advice on what tests to do with it. Apart from general back yard shenanigans, are there tests photos that would be helpful to prospective buyers?
We have to see a match with croquet stake of doom! The sword looks and feel durable, but it would be nice to see it in action. Maybe save that punishment for the final test though, because nothing can withstand the stake forever.
@@thescholar-general5975 It will run into that for sure. The doom stake is going to be a regular..
I quite like this kind of sword (宋手刀）. Simple, robust, and perfectly functional :D
If you have ever seen the studio ghibly film called "Princess Mononoke," that looks like the very exact same blade the main protagonist (Ashitaka) uses on his quest. What he does with it at one point is insane!!! Those things really are choppers!!!!!!!!!!!
The protagonist use a Warabitetō
I think you just proved it wasn't just a fighting blade, it was a camp tool, too!
Just casually observing, tip design is easier to make and maintain than the Tang and earlier dao tips. You can just make a bar, cut it to shape, and sharpen one edge. Now you can chop, which is what this was for, and maybe thrust if you want. With the Tang and earlier designs you have to shape and sharpen two edges.
not really though, if you are talking about Dao, in Chinese Dao really just means single edged blade(mostly), that's why there are so many poleaerms called Dao.
I'm pretty sure that Philip Martin could dice up tatami with a butter knife if he had 5 minutes to sharpen it.
20:27 would be call to see just a general video about cross pollination of weaponry between europe, asia, africa etc
You are absolutely right matt easton. Thank you for educating your HEMA brethren on eastern arms, armor, and culture. It’s refreshing
I mean, Song armies were LARGE and probably mass levied with untrained peasants so something akin to what they use in the field for chopping but with added durability and with economy of mass production in mind went with the design of this. The natural action encouraged by it would not be unfamiliar to the average conscript.
It really looks quite intimidating. You can just feel the weight of the blow from looking at the damn thing.
Its got a nice architectural feel to it too with its geometric hard edges.
Natural wood or bamboo scabbard, restrained colours seems also very in keeping with Song dynasty.
Just out of interest Matt, d'you have a favourite of the LK Chen swords so far? They all have pros and cons, but if you had to choose one of them as an EDC??
In battles during the Song Dynasty, the function of the hand dao was to sever the heads of those enemies who had been killed by long spears or ranged weapons. Of course, it was also used for emergency self-defense. Ancient Chinese warfare was similar to Europe's, utilizing phalanxes and coordinated group combat. They used long spears or advanced ranged weapons, such as crossbows, to injure the enemy. The short knife was only used to score points by cutting off the enemy's head during the cleaning of the battlefield and to request corresponding rewards from the emperor.
I was trying to place why this particular blade shape seemed so familiar, and it finally struck me. It has a striking resemblance to the Buster Sword from Final Fantasy VII (albeit the tip tapers in the other direction). I'm sure the limited power of the original Playstation made the geometry of straight lines and visual distinctiveness of a large blade drove some of the design
It looks like a giant bread 🥖 knife 🔪
The Lorax is going to be pissed at you for chopping up that pine tree. It's not even Christmas!
Handsome piece. Your discourse doesn’t leave any questions in my mind, well presented.
Those final cuts look like conclusive proof that at least *that* sword could cut through a pole arm''s pole... or a leg bone.
Just my view and opinion, correct me if I am wrong;- Through out Chinese history, jian or sword has almost always a weapon of higher station or high ranking officers whereas dao is usually for the ordinary soldiers, be they be cavalry or infantry. It's not really an issue of exclusivity but rather practicality as the usage of dao is actually much easier than the jian in the hands of the infantry man, i.e slash and hack in the heat of battle and considering that MOST of the troops were conscripted from ordinary people their training in the use of dao makes sense. Of course there were elite units such as the royal or imperial guards which were equipped with jian or swords.
As Matt said, one is civilian weapon, one militia, they were designed for different purposes and used in different situations. Basially Sword or Jian is mostly considered as a weapon of noble, There was a story Zhuangzi telling a king there are three types of sword: one of civilian, one of noble, one of king or emperor, they are all real and also metaphor, because it's a symbol and ritual artifact to show one's social statues since early East Zhou Dynasty ( probably 500 B.C. or ealier.)
That is a very spiffy machete.
We all like a bit of grip when we pulling our sword out of the scabbard.
Besides the pommel it reminds me of jacks sword from samurai jack
Nice dao, that's definitely the widest blade LK Chen has made. Speaking of single edged swords, would you do a video on living saber fencing traditions like the French, Northern Italian, Neapolitan, Hungarian, and German?
When you say living, are you talking about various styles of Olympic fencing are actual Sabre traditions? The only one that I have seen anything about that looks legitimate is from Poland but I'd love to be wrong.
@@MaartenSFS have you looked into Russ Mitchell's book on Hungarian Hussar sabre fencing. Also current Polish Sabre systems are reconstructions.
@@hermespino9985 I have not. I thought that one of the actors in the Polish film The Deluge, had learned it from his grandfather or something. That's too bad. Are the systems that you mentioned reconstructions or have they really been passed on from generation to generation? I ask because I learned such a system in China (but two-handed sabre) and would be interested to check them out when I move back to Europe. Learning from a master that can teach you all of the subtleties of fencing is just not the same as learning from a book..
@@MaartenSFS I am not talking about Olympic fencing and yes there are masters around in these traditions. Of the ones I have listed above Northern Italian is the most common with multiple maestri active in the United States (Ramon Martinez, John Sullins, David Achilleus, Cecil Longino, etc.) and one in Czechia (Michael Knazko). French foil is also quite common (in America at least) but French saber is rarer because a lot of French fencers actually did Northern Italian saber instead; I think Nick Evangelista, Adrian Crown, and Ramon Martinez do it at least occasionally. Neapolitan has gotten tied up with Northern Italian lineages in America so see the previous names, in Europe I recently saw an interview on RUclips with a very elderly Italian fencing master named Paolo Cazzato who to my eye looks like he is still teaching the same kind of guard and low stance Masaniello Parise wrote about in the 1880's. Hungarian has two instructors that I am aware of Hidán Csaba in Budapest and his American student Russ Mitchell in Texas. German is... strange. There is a peculiar kind of dueling called "Mensur" associated with fraternities at German universities, but its so heavily regulated that there isn't all that much technique involved, however if you google terms like "Paukstunde," "Pennäles Fechten," and "Säbelmensur" you get hints that they occasionally do something a little more saber-like, but that area of the fencing world is quite difficult to get good information about.
Apologies for the longwinded response, this is subject is one of my main interests, and the preponderance of American names on the list, but most of the masters I can find are American. If you want to look into this any further than my ramblings I would also recommend the Classical Fencing Facebook group.
Edit: Here are some videos of what I am talking about:
Northern Italian Dueling Saber: ruclips.net/video/lUVZKRZ4UiU/видео.html
Northern Italian vs. Southern Italian Saber: ruclips.net/video/kirCSgNyw0Q/видео.html
More Northern Italian: ruclips.net/video/bhc9_pZUAdk/видео.html
Interview: ruclips.net/video/JQX6iIpEkII/видео.html
Hidán Csaba teaching: ruclips.net/video/BBwDSyT74Ms/видео.html
@@andrewk.5575 Oh, your detailed reply is much appreciated. I haven't got the time to check the videos out today, but I will surely do so within the next several days. I now know what you are referring to: the fencing systems that immediately predate Olympic fencing. How close are these systems to battlefield sabre systems? I have heard of the German Mensur duelling, but don't take that sort of thing very seriously.
there is multiple type of DAO in chinese civilisation. and the word DAO in different from JIAN.
I love the historical context, it really allows someone to appreciate the sword more, thanks Matt!
Somewhat orkish, it remind me a little of the River Cleaver from ZombieTools.
River cleaver looks similar to a da dao
Thats what my dad called a "bologna slicer".
I could be wrong but I believe that these dao were mainly used against the Northern enemies (Mongols) of the Song dynasty. So they were mainly used for incapaciting/damaging the horses legs.
The Mongols were well armored and even better armored were the Liaos, which were proto-Jurchen or proto-Manchu. The Liaos were in cataphracts. Daos exploit the arm muscle mass and memory developed by peasant farmers who spent a lifetime cutting grass and chopping all sorts of things for their livelihood so you can bet that is a formidable combination. These peasants fight with a weapon that is looks and chops so similar with their tool of livelihood. Its also a reason why peasant revolutions can be so bloody. Jians are reserved for cultured scholars that have the time and the background to learn the martial arts. The dao in the presentation looks to be one of the shorter ones, there were longer, two handed ones that were also meant to chop at the cavalry horses of the Song's nomadic enemies.
Mongols where definitely not well armoured before they started to adopt armour from various place they conquered . Proto Manchu adopted alot of armour tech from Chinese . Those people you mention are not known for being technologically innovative copied to much from China when it comes to armour , metallurgy and architect
These people have plenty to copy and innovate upon and their armor is impressive. It's a historical falsehood that they are lightly armored. The Chinese emphasize pole arms and straight daos in order to penetrate armor. The Liao Cataphracts were such an issue that that Zhanmadao was developed to chop these riders down and stab them through their armor. Only in later periods were combatants were less armored you begin to see curved slashing daos.
@@ChrisRobato . what i meant was they adopted heavy armour from China . Jurchens are a good example for that and most mongols where poorly armour before conquering others and adopting their armour tech .
all of Song soldiers were actually professional soldiers, so not really peasant farmers
Some Ork: Dat'z a roit gud choppa dat iz!
By the Song Dynasty there is already gunpowder, and super crossbows.
The issue is the Jin soldiers have heavy Calvary that is cold forged scale armor.
Nomads and period calvary have mounted archers which aren't really armored,
But good luck using a sword against someone with bow and arrows.
(Documentary on super crossbows and heavy calvary)
ruclips.net/video/T4eX6oZdG6w/видео.html
Using a sword against calvary might be a bit too optimistic when polearms
And firearms is an option, so the Dao might have fallen to a more utility function
That is closer to machete than any specific combat-specialized weapon.
Dao 刀 refers to anything with a single edged, so really broad based definition.
So a sickle 镰刀
A wood plane 刨刀
A scraper 铲刀
A scapel 手术刀
A kitchen knife 菜刀
And pen knife 美工刀
Cutlery knife 餐刀
All carries the character of Dao.
....dat dacian falx in the background tho....just look at it....
plenty of reenactors in just chain & gambeson wont fight me with my broad bladed bastard sword, if they dont know me(i always pull my blows) because you can still easily break a arm rib or shoulder blade under mail with it (or if it was sharp cut up a shield rim like a axe)
i prefer a long grip with a large brass pomel if possible because i fight in continual arc/circle where i can and a longer grip helps balance for my exceptionably heavy blade lol it also lets you rest it against your forearm if held right which takes much of weight from tip down to your forrarm
its a strait double sided 68cm long wide 6.5cm wide at hilt 6cms wide before tip taper blade with significant distal taper 2.5fm at hilt 1.5cm at tip with a spearpoint style/european style tip, tip taper starts 10cm from tip blades form is a flattened hexagon ricasso extends 20cms from hilt with quillions about 1.5cms from blade at their tip
i have a complex european style hilt though with a cross bar/knife hilt 24cm long with 4 x 7cm long strait up sword catching quilions coming out of 4 corners of a broad proto shell hilt 6cms across at widest 10cm long apart from the knife hilt part with a handle 23cm long made from leather washers over tang sanded to shape for maximum shock absorbing and tightness of hilt fit, held in place with a large brass pommel 4cm long 6cm wide formed from 3cm brass rod and 1x2cmbrass bar bent in a semicircle (allows you to catch & turn swords as well or better than ring pommel, also looks liek a little guy with his arms in air with handle as torse hilt as legs leading down to a compinatorally large blade ....:P )
my bastardisation of a claymore
all held together with a single 3mm brass rivet in pommel & friction of leather washers/handle
(i like to only put 1 hole or no hole in a tang and make handle as single pean or pin system)
ive never put a edge on it but i know it would be a good cutter if i did & even without a edge i do have to pull blows on ppl (even in plate so i dont dint up their armour) its very wrist intensive weapon but as a armature blacksmith i have strong wrists from all the hammer work
I think with this particular you don’t want it to penetrate. The bigger version of this sword was mean hit armored Calvary. The blunt tip helps you knock the rider off the horse without over penetration and potentially losing your sword. This probably took the same idea but just shrunk down.
It's the blade featured in "Shingeki no Kyojin"
Hi sir, are yoy alright? You mentioned something about straight swords and curved swords policy entering the uk can you send me the video where to talked about this plz?
It seems like a weapon that would optimize the lethality of a soldier with minimal training. That makes it a very good weapon to keep in armories to be issued to peasant levies. Context...
Your comment is not "context" but mere assumption and speculation and only half correct. If You want to know real context, first you have to study Chinese military history, better learn to read Chinese and Chinese martial arts as well. The real historical context is Song dynasty military were almost entirely professional standing troops(in other words, they're soldiers as "profession", not peasant levies), which means this type of sword(宋手刀) was mainly issued to professional soldiers rather than levies. But you're correct that this sword was designed to massive produce with minimal training requirement and maintaining efforts, because Song dynasty had a professional standing army consisted of "one million soldiers" in constant, they needed easy-to-made and easy-to-use sidearm for such large army, not just for peasants.
China already has established professional military system since Eastern Zhou dynasty(8th century BC) but often combined with universal conscription. Song dynasty(10th cnetury) was the first Chinese dynasty who fully implemented professional military system, which means Song Chinese soldiers were almost all professional, not temporary levies.
@@MrGod47 I stand corrected with regard to the peasant levies. At any rate, this seems like a weapon you'd issue to someone you didn't expect to receive a lot of training in how to use a sword. That doesn't necessarily mean non-professionals as many (most?) professional soldiers had some primary job that didn't involve a sword. I didn't have enough knowledge of the actual...context. :-)
I love these videos on China! Such an interesting place and culture we don’t learn too much about (at least in America), keep up the great work!
Just thinking looking at that blade and guard and how easy it was for you to index and easily you turned the blade but still know where the edge of the blade the thought came after you mentioned it being used agenst armour so seeing as it has a crowbar like back edge could you consider the solider turning the blade so when he struck someone in armour its impact would be like an iron bar and in doing this also save the sharp edge of the blade for softer targets posible back of the knees and ankles once the man in armour has been knocked down by the impact from the back of the blade . As an ex soldier useing a riot battern I understand what damage a impact can have on a person and a person wearing steel armour is not immune to damage
Who was the first that forged the deadly blade? Of rugged steel his savage soul was made.
- Tibullus
I put a like, oblivious to the butchering of a candid Christmas tree
I'm so glad that its blade is straight! I mean, according to the the most recent weapon laws, that makes it not as dangerous. The UK is so much safer now that we don't have to worry about any of those evil, dangerous curved swords being bought and sold!😉😁
Yep, no problem importing this. In fairness, you could import a curved one as it is traditionally made, which is one of the defences (like an exemption).
Were there skyrim memes when they made the law
@@scholagladiatoria , Thank you for the reply! Yes, I had forgotten about that provision! And I guess these would have to be considered traditionally made. So... I'm so glad that we don't have to worry about any of those mass-produced, CNC milled, curved blades circulating around! We should feel so much safer with regards to stabbings now that only hand-forged, pattern-welded blades are allowed into the country!😀
The spear analogy was how i see it.
In war the dao evolved to replace the jian and withstand the spear or other pole arms.
Dao means single edge blade, so even a knife is a form of Dao.
You use the ring to putt a banner on it to iritating or tanguel the enemy and you can hold with the pinky while using the bow while riding on a horse they use to be cheep and clonky to armed fast against the enemy and they have a long grip to get a better lever
Matt, how well does that blade do with a half-sword grip and Draw cuts? It looks like it you could put a lot pressure in half-sword draw cuts.
YES! East Asian sword that isn't a katana.
to me it looks like a elf tried to make a uruk sword P.S great video
why didn't that Chinese Jian sword had a ring shaped pommel?
it's an older design.
I wish the tip was reversed. Like a ninjato and some katanas . Kiriha zukuri i think.
Bruh you got tricked. Someone sold you a spatula.
Hey there, as much as I really enjoy your content, I will be leaving RUclips. Sure I’m just one guy, but I hope others including yourself will make a stand against the totalitarianism and censorship we are now seeing from big tech. I hope have success but sincerely hope to see your channel elsewhere, gab.tv or bitchute etc.
Bye Felicia.
I had the impression that Song China put a huge emphasis on crossbowmen, so a heavy cutter seems like a perfect side arm for missile troops
they also have many bigger choppers, according to some old text, the Jin(one of the main enemies) only fear two things from Song army, one is crossbow, the other is poleaxe. It makes sense, as they are all very much anti armor weapon
@@hanliu3707 . the jin copied armour and so many other techs from songs and previous dynasty . those nomads had shit armour before that
@@changchadchanamdong2668 I would say they have decent armor after Han dynasty, maybe not mass produced, many nomad served as auxiliary or mercenary for Han chinese druing and after Han dynasty, they may also some tech from central asia, which also have heavy metal armor.
That's like the Orc sword from LotR.
Oh shit, you got Ashitaka's sword from Princess Mononoke. Kinda goofy that they gave an Emishi guy a Chinese sword (because why would he have one of those... hmmm), but whatever!
If the Chinese invented the original Uruk-Hai sword.
Yep
Wang Yibo and Zhao Liying are so cute together in this series.
Was Lucy a bit jealous of your Xmas tree disposal technique?
@@Meevious Next year; cutting practise on Santa! Fun for the whole family! :D
*Matt Easton raises Dao*
"Meat is back on the menu boys!"
Sony Dynasty has very heavy armor. this is mostly because Song dynasty don't have many horse and their enemy has a lot of horse. They have a rule to limit the armor weight not to be heavier than 29KG.
i1.kknews.cc/SIG=nliv97/ctp-vzntr/1531948677136s54o310r38.jpg
a status from song dynasty
Streight baldes can not cut......... jajajajajajaja.
rip khitan liao culture and honshang culture
Fearsomely barbaric looking!! Love it lol
Hey Matt, I'd like to hear your thoughts about the Chinese spade and crescent moon poleweapons.
Edit: I mean the monk spade poleweapon which sometimes has two heads, a spade and a crescent moon. Sometimes they have only the spade or the crescent moon. I'm not talking about the guan dao.
For starters, Guan Yu never wielded a Guan Dao. It was an anachronistic invention made a thousand years after in a romanticized retelling.
The thing I really want to know is why did the dagger-axe (戈) and halberd (戟) fell out of use?
@@martytu20 I think there is a misunderstanding, and it's probably my fault. When I said crescent moon I did not mean the glaive Guan Yu is portrayed using, I meant the poleweapon with a U shaped blade, the same blade spade polearms have as a second head. I think it is also named gekken pole arm but I'm not sure, I don't know the exact names of these, and that's the cause of the misunderstanding.
@@andreigabrielion9575 The Han era halberd would have looked more like this. wildfiregames.com/forum/uploads/monthly_2018_08/516_1025213_867b3be1c040eca.jpg.4e9301502e40e12b8774d65b8cbcc93f.jpg
Damn, you are getting serious mileage out of that Langmesser
Song has one of the smallest area of all Chinese Dynasties but they were one of the most technological advance and richest. It was said if not for the Mongols, Industrial revolution might have happened 500 earlier in China.
yes,that time Song danasty GDP is about 1/4 of the whole world
All Attack on Titan fans will love this sword lol
It's like a machete!.... Im gonna get one 😊
now that's my kind of sword!
I see a tear shaped guard and want it painted black