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Wushu - Weapons - Dao Shu (02)
...Dao (Chinese: 刀;
Pinyin: dāo) is a category of single-edge Chinese swords primarily used for
slashing and chopping (sabers), often called broadswords in English because some
varieties have wide blades. In China, the dao is known as one of the four major
weapons, along with the spear, staff, and the sword, and referred to as "The
Courage of All Soldiers". Dao is actually a generic word used to denote any
member of a family of single-edged, broad-bladed cutting or slicing tools, but
in common, everyday usage means knife. The weapon, also known as dan dao 單刀 (single knife), is thereby thought to
be an adaptation of the kitchen knives common to Chinese cuisine. Dao also
appears in the names of such polearms as the pudao and guan dao, indicating the
knifelike nature of their blades.
General Characteristics :
While dao have varied greatly over the
centuries, most single-handed dao of the Ming period and later, and the modern
swords that are based (sometimes loosely) on them share a number of
characteristics. Dao blades are moderately curved and single-edged, though often
with few inches of the back edge sharpened as well; the moderate curve allows
them to be reasonably effective in the thrust. Hilts are canted, curving in the
opposite direction as the blade which improves handling in some forms of cuts
and thrusts. Cord is usually wrapped over the wood of the handle. Hilts may also
be pierced like those of jian (straight-bladed Chinese sword) for the addition
of lanyards, though modern swords for performances will often have tassels or
scarves instead. Guards are typically disc-shaped often with a cupped shape to
prevent rainwater from getting into the sheath, and to prevent blood from
dripping down to the handle, making it more difficult to grip. Sometimes guards
are thinner pieces of metal with an s-curve, the lower limb of the curve
protecting the user's knuckles; very rarely they may have guards like those of
the jian.
Early history :
The earliest dao date from the Shang
dynasty in China's bronze age, and are known as zhibei dao (直背刀)
- straight backed knives. As the name implies, these were straight-bladed or
slightly curved weapons with a single edge. Originally bronze, these would be
made of iron or steel by the time of the late Warring States.Originally less
common as a military weapon than the jian - the straight, double-edged blade of
China - the dao became popular with cavalry during the Han dynasty due to its
sturdiness and superiority as a chopping weapon. Soon after dao began to be
issued to infantry, beginning the replacement of the jian as a standard-issue
weapon.
During the Tang dynasty, dao were
exported to both Korea and Japan, influencing the swordsmithing of both nations.
The blades of Tang era dao are reminiscent of the Japanese chokuto or the
popular image of the perhaps-mythical ninjato.
During the Song dynasty, one form of
infantry dao was the shoudao, a chopping weapon with a clip point. While some
illustrations show them as straight, the 11th century Song military encyclopedia
Wujing Zongyao depicts them with curved blades - possibly an influence from the
steppe tribes of Central Asia, who would conquer parts of China during the Song
period. Also dating from the Song are the falchion-like dadao and the long,
two-handed zhanmadao...
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