Changdao Sword

The Changdao Sword is a double-handed and single-edged sword and the word Changdao translates to saber staff, long saber, or long-handled saber.

During the Ming dynasty, the Changdao was commonly utilized as a common term for double-handed blades, and also, it was a specific kind of anti-cavalry weapon that was used during this period. Recently, the word Miaodao was occasionally utilized to characterize similar blades.

Just like the rich culture and history of China, swords and weapons also have a long history. Bronze blades were traced all the way back to the Shang dynasty where daggers were commonly made out of bronze. In the middle of the third century BC, long bronze swords suddenly started appearing while the later blades were then created out of steel or iron.

The swords during that period usually measured around seventy to a hundred centimeters in length though there were much longer swords around.

Swords made from bronze and stone have been utilized since ancient times which is why a lot of bronze daggers were acquired from the tombs of various kings of the Zhou dynasty in 1000 BC. Chinese swords have also aided in opening up the Japanese sword-making industry before and in the years 794 to 1185 during the Heian period.

Dao Sword

The Dao of Chinese Saber are considered as single-edged swords and it is also known as one of the four primary weapons of the Chinese; so with that, the Dao sword is grouped with the Jian, the Gun, and the Quang and is also called The General or Master of All Weapons.

Bronze is still greatly utilized in this day and age so this is the primary weapon utilized in Wushu tournaments/championships. The blade is generally straight then slightly curved at the tip and it measures about a meter in length; it also features a lanyard, cord, or tassel which is fitted to its hilt for practical and decorative purposes.

The Dao Sword is said to be the true war sword of the Chinese since it was also used by numerous generals to push back Mongolians during their invasion in the Medieval Age. Later, those who lacked proper firearms utilized the weapon during the Chinese-Japanese battle.

The different types of Dao are the following: the Dadao Sword, Yanmaodao, Piandao, Niuweidao, Liuyedao, and the Changdao Sword.

Changdao Sword

During the Tang dynasty, the Changdao Swords were described as blades that were quite similar to the Modao despite the weapon being a double-edged blade, unlike the Changdao Sword.

The weapon was also called the Dan Dao (Single Saber) then later in the Republican Era, it was called the Miao Dao (Sprout Saber); it is the Chinese adaptation of the Japanese Nodachi. Although the Changdao Sword follows the regular style of the Nihonto, its forging technique, blade geometry, and hilt design are unlike.

Appearance

The Changdao is said to have appeared first in the Tang dynasty and it was the preferred weapon of the Tang army’s elite vanguard infantry groups. Based on historical descriptions, the total length of the Changdao Sword is seven feet and this is made up of a single-edged, three feet long blade together with four feet long pole for gripping.

Because of the weapon’s considerable size and length, the Changdao Sword became one of the indications of the elite infantry during the Tang dynasty. These troops were often placed on the front lines of the army and functioned as spearheads against opposing formations.

This specific version of the Changdao Sword eventually lost its demand right after the Tang dynasty yet eventually, the weapon reappeared during the Ming era. Its general term during the period was that it was a double-handed and single-edged blade; it was positively viewed as a highly efficient weapon by Qi Jiguang.

He was a general who acquired an Aizu (Kage Ryu) a manual that came from the Japanese Wokou; he thoroughly studied the manual and modified it, making this more advantageous for him and his troops against the opponents on the Mongol border.

On the Mongol border, General Qi commanded around a hundred thousand troops and since he considered the Changdao extremely effective, the general ensured that up to 40% of the commandos in his troop wielded this; the weapon was utilized throughout the late Ming period.

The Changdao Sword is usually compared to the Naginata or Odachi which bears a close resemblance to the Dadao Sword.

Construction of the Changdao Sword

Since 500 BC, the Chinese have been casting and exporting iron alloys to their neighbors in East Asia through sea trade, and because of the mining and discovery of iron, it revolutionized the metal-working methods thus creating the very first steel war swords of the Chinese.

Smiths during that time discovered that by mixing two strands of steel of differing carbon content, a strong and flexible sword can be created.

Unlike the common beliefs, the Changdao Sword is not linked to any ancient form of the double-handed Chinese swords from the much earlier dynasties; the Tian Gong Kai (the late Ming dynasty’s calendar) also states that the forging methods of the Japanese were unknown to the Chinese.

Chinese Swords for Sale

Because of the numerous films, series, and books that depict the traditional martial arts and history of the Chinese, numerous people have started collecting Chinese swords. For those planning to train in the Chinese martial arts, it will be necessary for practitioners to acquire Chinese swords that are fully functional and ready to use for training.

The Chinese swords for sale available on our website are fully functional and perfect for cutting or training and these can also be utilized for various historical re-enactments for plays, movies, and more.

You can either use them as decorative pieces, featuring very unique and beautiful designs that can work as excellent adornments for one’s home or these can be a great addition to a growing collection of classic Chinese weapons.