Chinese swords

single-edged Chinese sword primarily used for slashing and chopping

The jian (Mandarin Chinese: , , English approximation: , Cantonese: ) is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BCE, during the Spring and Autumn period, one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from in length. The weight of an average sword of blade-length would be approximately 700 to 900 grams (1.5 to 2 pounds). There are also larger two-handed versions used for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts.

A guandao is a type of Chinese polearm that is used in some forms of Chinese martial arts. In Chinese, it is properly called a yanyuedao (偃月刀; lit. "reclining moon blade"), the name under which it appears in texts such as the Wujing Zongyao and Huangchao Liqi Tushi. It consists of a heavy blade with a spike at the back and sometimes also a notch at the spike's upper base that can catch an opponent's weapon. In addition, there are often irregular serrations that lead the back edge of the blade to the spike. The blade is mounted atop a long wooden or metal pole and a pointed metal counterweight

short single-edged blade originating from southern China in the 19th century

Chinese arched sword

The zhanmadao () was a single-bladed anti-cavalry Chinese sword. It originated during the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and was especially common in Song China (960–1279).

thumb|Miaodao in its scabbard thumb|upright|Miaodao blade The miaodao (苗刀) is a Chinese two-handed dao or saber, with a narrow blade, long hilt, and an overall length of or longer. The name means "sprout saber", presumably referring to a likeness between the weapon and a newly sprouted plant. An early reference, in Jin Yiming's Single Defense-Saber, makes a connection between the miaodao and the Qing-era wodao, as well as mentioning both single and two-handed versions of the miaodao, suggesting that the name originally described the shape only, without any connotations of size. While the miaod

The wodao () is a Chinese sword from the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty. It is typically long and slender, but heavy, with a curved back and sharp blade. It bears a strong resemblance to the Tang sword, changdao, tachi or ōdachi in form. Extant examples show a handle approximately long, with a gently curved blade long. thumb|The Wodao sword (Japanese Pirate's sword) recorded in the "Jixiao Xinshu" written by the [[Ming dynasty general Qi Jiguang. It is a very long sword, with a blade length of 5 feet, similar to the Japanese odachi katana.]]

Podao or pudao () is a Chinese single-edged infantry weapon that is still used primarily for training in various Chinese martial arts. The blade of the weapon is shaped like a Chinese broadsword, but the weapon has a longer handle, usually around one to two meters (about three to six feet) which is circular in cross-section. It looks somewhat similar to the guandao.

The piandao (片刀) is a type of Chinese sabre (dao) used during the late Ming dynasty and through the Qing dynasty. A curved dao meant for slashing and draw-cutting, it bore a strong resemblance to the Persian shamshir. A fairly uncommon weapon, it was generally used by skirmishers in conjunction with a shield.

legendary sword maker

thumb|right|Taijijian thumb|right|Pan Ying performing taijijian in the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing. Taijijian () is a straight two-edged sword used in the training of the Chinese martial art tai chi. The straight sword, sometimes with a tassel and sometimes not, is used for upper body conditioning and martial training in traditional tai chi schools. The different family schools have various warmups, forms and fencing drills for training with the double-edged sword known as jian.

Honor in the military of the Republic of China

weapon

250px|thumb|A Dao (Chinese sword)|Chinese sword shaped like a liuyedao (note: controversial. This knife is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. It should be a [[niuweidao that is often mistaken for a liuyedao)]] thumb|250px|A liuyedao from the 17th to 18th century (Note: Controversial. The shape of this blade is relatively straight, and the tip is curved, more like a yanmaodao.)

thumb| The changdao () was a two-handed, single-edged Chinese sword. The term has been translated as "long saber," "saber-staff," or "long-handled saber." During the Ming dynasty, was often used as a general term for two-handed swords and was used in the frequent raids along the coast. After Republican Era, the term is sometimes used to describe due to similarity. Tang dynasty sources describe the as being identical to the (), but the may have been a double-edged weapon like earlier zhanmajian.

thumb|right|Niuweidao 250px|thumb|A Dao (Chinese sword)|Chinese sword shaped like a [[liuyedao (note: controversial. This knife is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. It should be a niuweidao that is often mistaken for a liuyedao)]]

thumb|right|Qing dynasty [[peidao () of slightly different shapes, but primarily straight. Modern collectors would tend to classify these blades as yanmaodao/yanlingdao.]] thumb|250px|A liuyedao from the 17th to 18th century (Note: Controversial. The shape of this blade is relatively straight, and the tip is curved, more like a yanmaodao.)