The most popular Chinese long sword, which is said to have been able to slice a horse in two, is the Zhanmao Dao. Zhanmao Dao The large horse chopping Zhanmao Dao – Credits: Royal Armories The most common length was around the 43 inches (110 cm) mark. It is thought that the word first emerged during the Ming Dynasty when the number of Japanese pirates operating along the east coast was at its highest. This terminology developed because swords were often used in tandem with a shield. DanDao Two-handed large Chinese swords are known simply as DanDao – Credits: Great River Taoist CenterĪlthough Dandao means single saber, it can refer to various Chinese long swords. The Shuangshou Jian’s length could be 48 to 60 inches (120 to 155 cm). Its weaker flexible edges gave it much power for both thrusting and slashing and could effectively take down enemy cavalry. It is a Chinese sword made with a full tang blade and a stronger carbon steel core. It came about during the Han Dynasty with the technological advances found in the field of sword metallurgy. The first type of traditional Jian sword that was much longer than the other Chinese types and meant to be used as a two-handed weapon was the Shoungshou Jian. Shuangshou Jian The type of long Jian that has been found in 3rd-century Chinese tombs – Credits: Skallagrim Nonetheless, it is still the most popular Chinese sword, most commonly seen in media and anime and used today as a Tai Chi sword. It was also expensive to make, which led to its eventual change, where it was replaced by the curved single-edged Dao sword. It is a straight sword with a double-edged blade, which was very popular in China but took time to master.

It is both a weapon for war and a training Chinese martial arts tool like Wushu and Kung Fu and came from the previous Longquan sword design. The first Chinese long sword with a steel blade effective enough to be battle ready in any combat scenario was the Han Jian, designed during the Han Dynasty. Han Jian The very first types of Chinese long swords – Credits: Wiki Media In this article, we’ll present all of the Chinese long swords over 30 inches s in overall length (75 cm), explaining their uses, importance, and how they came to be. In part because of their effectiveness in battle, they have been a part of Chinese sword heritage since ancient times and have remained in use through the 20th century. In no way is this more true than with Chinese long swords, whose enormous and broad blades made them terrifying and useful as polearms, spears, axes, and halberds. Nowadays, it is commonly believed that the larger the blade, the deadlier and stronger the weapon.

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