Hey there, discovered you channel recently and loving the content! Really cool to see Chinese swords being reviewed and handled by someone who trained and is well versed in Chinese swordsmanship as compared to those from a HEMA background. Would love to see a video(s) going through the different dynasties and eras of Chinese swords and what they were used for etc. The history behind the swords are a great touch as well! Subscribed and looking forward for more content! Also, I'm trying to get into Chinese sword fighting (more practical combat instead of performance and form). What kind of sword would you recommend for practice? Wushu jians with the floppy tips? Wooden? Also trying to keep it cheap haha.
I bought one of those today, and I asked about the ornaments finishing. I actually asked whether they could use silver instead, and they said they could not.
I love swords! I mostly like European, but an facinated by any sword. LK Chen has really stepped up & filled a gap in the market that really needed to be filled. It's great to have a range of quality & affordable Chinese swords now.
Nickel silver (baitong) might be a better choice for reproducing the look of the silver parts, and is also a common historical material for sword fittings. But maybe it would be more difficult or costly for them to produce than brass or bronze.
Nice vid! I am not the biggest fan of the extended handle just because I can be a stickler for historical accuracy, but your experiences when comparing the longer and shorter handle really show how difficult it can be to adapt a historical design in modern times. Also, the chisel edge appears to be historical at least according to some examples shown in 黃甫江寫的【刀劍鑒定】47頁. I agree with your assertion that this is not an anti armor weapon. Perhaps the chisel profile was used so that the edge would be more resilient while in battle. I have heard that many sengoku period japanese blades are not sharpened as much as later edo period ones for precisely this reason.
are there any anti-armor weapons? Except for stabbing, I don't know if cutting will ever work against a properly made armor. I know there are records there are spots the swords were used against, for example, the hands, the horses' legs, etc.
@@dongf2618 Yeah, I don't think that cutting through metal lamellar is viable. I made a video about the LK Chen Song Hand Dao and in it I mention some anti-armor weapons like the mace 骨朵, iron whip 鐡鞭, and estoc 鐧 which I think take the place of any "anti-armor" sword. ruclips.net/video/Q2wCw8kIHyI/видео.html
It’s a really nice piece. Especially for the price. Not a criticism...I always like to “bond” with my swords and knives. I welcome the opportunity to get some jewelers files and fine sandpaper to perfectly smooth the wood and metal. It just makes me feel like I make it my own which in a funny way just makes the sword seem like it works better in my hands. Great video and thank you. Very concise and historically accurate.
Thanks for posting this review! I've been eyeing this dao for a while after having purchased the Flying Phoenix and Gale Wind since I've seen the original at the New York MET many times, but had been unsure of which handle length to go for. After watching this I'll certainly be going for the original length. I'd been considering waiting for LK to produce something closer to the Ming or Qing Dynasties before I picked up one of his dao since I'd expect them to more closely match modern living traditions, but I really like the aesthetics here and like the idea of owning a replica I've passed by on so many visits to the museum.
I enjoyed the entire video. I could watch 20 minutes of you moving it around though. I need an LK Chen to swing around the backyard. Although I’d probably look like quite a fool. It just looks so fun and graceful.
The Fall of Jin was actually one of the four times Chinese Civilisation nearly ended. Other Three Times include: The Fall of Song The Fall of Ming The Fall of Qing Buddhism started spreading in China during the Late Han Dynasty via Central Asia. In fact, there were several Buddhist missionaries and emissaries during that time, famous examples include 安世高, Lokaksema & Dharmarakṣa. They laid the foundations for Chinese Mahayana Buddhism that later spread to Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Emperor Wen of Sui even converted to Buddhism if I remembered correctly. Getting back on topic, that sword is a cavalry sword so it is hard to judge when you are using it like an infantryman
Could you explain how the fall of the Qing was one of the times Chinese civilization nearly ended? Wasn't this an ethnic Manchu dynasty that fell to an ethnic Han Chinese revolution?
The Qing Dynasty ended due to the Xinhai Revolution, true. But the country was still balkanised, with the European powers & Americans fighting to expand their colonial possessions in China and the Japanese desiring its own colonial empire began annexing even bigger parts of Chinese territory. The former Generals of Qing became warlords and started carving their own mini fiefdoms in Chinese territory. Provinces became nearly autonomous in all matters and making their own policies outside of the Nationalist Government. During that time, the push towards 'Westernisation' began and Chinese customs, philosophy (Confucianism, Daoism etc.)and culture became discarded and frowned upon as backward, worthless and superstitious. Chinese civilisation was nearly completely abandoned in the desperate race to catch up with the Western colonial powers & Imperial Japan. Now, couple that with Massive corruption, sky-high opium addiction rates, exploding crime rates, criminal organisations& bandits terrorising entire communities, unprecedented natural disasters and the state being utterly helpless and unable to defend itself against both foreign predation & its own resentful populace, it would come as no surprise that it would explode into an all-out Civil War. While this is happening, Imperial Japan began its imperialist expansion and sparked off the insanely bloody 2nd Sino-Japanese War. Hence, why the period during and after the Fall of Qing was viewed as a near-end for Chinese civilisation.
Sweet blades, you know something about chinese history, chinese Martial Arts, and a lot about swords!!✌️ Keep up during a great job, Wu Tang Master Jeff!
Would the dao be sharpen to the guard?.. I'm used to the last few inches being very dull to allow the blade to rest on arm to elbow with fingers on blade with guard forming firm grip for close in work... Fine as a wall hanger but limits functionality... Edge profile does not define sharpness... Of course I can file it down...
Hey there, discovered you channel recently and loving the content! Really cool to see Chinese swords being reviewed and handled by someone who trained and is well versed in Chinese swordsmanship as compared to those from a HEMA background. Would love to see a video(s) going through the different dynasties and eras of Chinese swords and what they were used for etc. The history behind the swords are a great touch as well! Subscribed and looking forward for more content!
Also, I'm trying to get into Chinese sword fighting (more practical combat instead of performance and form). What kind of sword would you recommend for practice? Wushu jians with the floppy tips? Wooden? Also trying to keep it cheap haha.
I bought one of those today, and I asked about the ornaments finishing. I actually asked whether they could use silver instead, and they said they could not.
Their castings are garbage anyway. Blades are probably where they put their effort
I love swords! I mostly like European, but an facinated by any sword.
LK Chen has really stepped up & filled a gap in the market that really needed to be filled.
It's great to have a range of quality & affordable Chinese swords now.
Nickel silver (baitong) might be a better choice for reproducing the look of the silver parts, and is also a common historical material for sword fittings. But maybe it would be more difficult or costly for them to produce than brass or bronze.
Not really but there are fair lot more people having adverse reaction to Nickel than Brass or Bronze.
Same cost
I suspect this isn't even good brass though. Look for reviews where it breaks
Great review.
Nice vid! I am not the biggest fan of the extended handle just because I can be a stickler for historical accuracy, but your experiences when comparing the longer and shorter handle really show how difficult it can be to adapt a historical design in modern times. Also, the chisel edge appears to be historical at least according to some examples shown in 黃甫江寫的【刀劍鑒定】47頁. I agree with your assertion that this is not an anti armor weapon. Perhaps the chisel profile was used so that the edge would be more resilient while in battle. I have heard that many sengoku period japanese blades are not sharpened as much as later edo period ones for precisely this reason.
It is a cavalry blade, never quite intended to be used by infantry
are there any anti-armor weapons? Except for stabbing, I don't know if cutting will ever work against a properly made armor. I know there are records there are spots the swords were used against, for example, the hands, the horses' legs, etc.
@@dongf2618 Yeah, I don't think that cutting through metal lamellar is viable. I made a video about the LK Chen Song Hand Dao and in it I mention some anti-armor weapons like the mace 骨朵, iron whip 鐡鞭, and estoc 鐧 which I think take the place of any "anti-armor" sword. ruclips.net/video/Q2wCw8kIHyI/видео.html
It’s a really nice piece. Especially for the price.
Not a criticism...I always like to “bond” with my swords and knives. I welcome the opportunity to get some jewelers files and fine sandpaper to perfectly smooth the wood and metal. It just makes me feel like I make it my own which in a funny way just makes the sword seem like it works better in my hands.
Great video and thank you. Very concise and historically accurate.
Thanks for posting this review! I've been eyeing this dao for a while after having purchased the Flying Phoenix and Gale Wind since I've seen the original at the New York MET many times, but had been unsure of which handle length to go for. After watching this I'll certainly be going for the original length. I'd been considering waiting for LK to produce something closer to the Ming or Qing Dynasties before I picked up one of his dao since I'd expect them to more closely match modern living traditions, but I really like the aesthetics here and like the idea of owning a replica I've passed by on so many visits to the museum.
I enjoyed the entire video. I could watch 20 minutes of you moving it around though. I need an LK Chen to swing around the backyard. Although I’d probably look like quite a fool. It just looks so fun and graceful.
You speak exactly like my Asian art history professor and I love it.
The Fall of Jin was actually one of the four times Chinese Civilisation nearly ended.
Other Three Times include:
The Fall of Song
The Fall of Ming
The Fall of Qing
Buddhism started spreading in China during the Late Han Dynasty via Central Asia.
In fact, there were several Buddhist missionaries and emissaries during that time, famous examples include 安世高, Lokaksema & Dharmarakṣa.
They laid the foundations for Chinese Mahayana Buddhism that later spread to Japan, Korea and Vietnam.
Emperor Wen of Sui even converted to Buddhism if I remembered correctly.
Getting back on topic, that sword is a cavalry sword so it is hard to judge when you are using it like an infantryman
Could you explain how the fall of the Qing was one of the times Chinese civilization nearly ended? Wasn't this an ethnic Manchu dynasty that fell to an ethnic Han Chinese revolution?
The Qing Dynasty ended due to the Xinhai Revolution, true.
But the country was still balkanised,
with the European powers & Americans fighting to expand their colonial possessions in China and the Japanese desiring its own colonial empire began annexing even bigger parts of Chinese territory.
The former Generals of Qing became warlords and started carving their own mini fiefdoms in Chinese territory. Provinces became nearly autonomous in all matters and making their own policies outside of the Nationalist Government.
During that time, the push towards 'Westernisation' began and Chinese customs, philosophy (Confucianism, Daoism etc.)and culture became discarded and frowned upon as backward, worthless and superstitious. Chinese civilisation was nearly completely abandoned in the desperate race to catch up with the Western colonial powers & Imperial Japan.
Now, couple that with Massive corruption, sky-high opium addiction rates, exploding crime rates, criminal organisations& bandits terrorising entire communities, unprecedented natural disasters and the state being utterly helpless and unable to defend itself against both foreign predation & its own resentful populace, it would come as no surprise that it would explode into an all-out Civil War.
While this is happening, Imperial Japan began its imperialist expansion and sparked off the insanely bloody 2nd Sino-Japanese War.
Hence, why the period during and after the Fall of Qing was viewed as a near-end for Chinese civilisation.
Love these videos. You gonna start the USA’s first and only HCMA (Historical Chinese Martial Arts) chapter? ‘Cause I’ll join up so hard!
Did the actual sui dynasty sword come with 80cm?
I like the guard, but not the handle. looks too skinny. Did they ever cord wrap during the sui/tang dynasties?
Sweet blades, you know something about chinese history, chinese Martial Arts, and a lot about swords!!✌️ Keep up during a great job, Wu Tang Master Jeff!
It's "QC" bro🤣
coming here from blade of the guardian comic
its getting an anime adaptatiooooon
Would the dao be sharpen to the guard?.. I'm used to the last few inches being very dull to allow the blade to rest on arm to elbow with fingers on blade with guard forming firm grip for close in work... Fine as a wall hanger but limits functionality... Edge profile does not define sharpness... Of course I can file it down...