Crouching Nerd, Hidden Dragon
"I thought it was just old people's yoga?"
No. The ancient combative art of tai chi is so much more than that, which will learn if you click on any of the links below or read this page, which goes over the two types of swords used in tai chi and other types of Chinese martial arts.
On the other pages, click the Yin Yang to return.
The Dao (刀)
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The dao is a sword mainly used for slicing and chopping. The earliest dao date from the Shang Dynasty; dao from this era are often straight edged. They became popular for cavalry in the Han Dynasty due to being easier to learn to handle than the spear and jian. by the end of the Three kingdoms Period, the dao had mostly superseded the jian in the army, and the jian was mostly thereafter used as a self-defense weapon, especially the scholarly aristocracy.
The dao is a single-edged blade, the handle being made from sturdy wood and wrapped in cord or coated in sharkskin. The bottom of the handle is pierced to allow a lanyard or tassel to be passed through which may be wrapped around the hand. The guard at the base of the blade is round and cupped to prevent rainwater from entering the sheath and blood dripping down onto the handle.
The Jian (劍)
The jian is a double edged blade... No, really. It's incredibly effective in battle, but it takes much longer to learn to handle than the dao and spear. It is used largely for stabbing and thrusting. In Chinese folklore it is known traditionally as the "Gentleman of Weapons."
The jian has a smaller, non-rounded guard, unlike the dao. The hilt can accomodate both hands or one hand and a few fingers. The grip is made of wood or coated in sharkskin, with a minority being wrapped like a dao's handle. tassels are occasionally attached. It is considered that for you to learn the jian, "Body, mind and sword must be one." Real jian swords are quite heavy and being able to make a twanging sound (also known as 'chirping') when you stab is considered an achievement. Knowing this, manufacturers of jian used only for performances make light, flimsy swords that are easy to make a sound with.