Chinese Martial Arts and the Sword

Chinese Martial Arts and the Sword

Chinese Martial Arts and the Sword

Smashing through shields, smashing apart armor, and slashing through fleshing and bone there was a time when the sword was king of the battlefield. It denoted strength and power, and in many cultures, it was a symbol of leadership and nobility. China's warriors called their broadswords and bladed weapons Dao, and they became part of the four major weapons groups in Chinese martial arts. A sharp curved edge and a hilt going oppose the blade is the most popular design today, but it has evolved over the centuries, and can still be lethal in close combat.

Like in other nations, the sword first appeared during China's Bronze Age, but it wasn't the best material to work with. The Era of Warring States which began in 476 BCE and lasted over 200 years brought about many changes in China. Cavalry replaced chariots, crossbows began being widely used, and iron weapons and armor came into use. Among them was the dagger-axe which could be 9 to 12 feet tall and allowed armies to form walls of spears. Another weapon available to the infantry was the podao which was like a broadsword, but with a longer handle that allowed a warrior to cut the limits off a cavalrymen's horse. Along with new weapons many new books on tactics were produced, the most famous being t Sun Tzu's The Art of War, which still remains relevant today.

As time went on metal works and warriors would develop different designs to deal with whatever combat situation they had to deal with. The spear and sword remained popular with China's soldiers, but the Mongol invasion would bring many outside influences. The riders of the steppes are best known for their use of the bow, but they were also experts with the saber and lance. The Mongols who primarily used the single-handed curved brought weapons with them from Europe, Arabia, and India, and their influence would have long-lasting effects on China's weapons industry.

Chinese swords would continue to be used in combat in China up until Japan's invasion during the 1930s, and during the occupation, they were used by resistance fighters in ambushes. Today they're part of Wushu training, and a variety of swords are used as part of cultural training. Some schools still teach weapons combat as part of self-defense though items like canes and baseball bats have replaced swords (try carrying a sword on your normal commute). Swords teach us the fundamentals of personal combat, and how to deal with close combat situations. Though firearms are part of combat today when you close in on an enemy you will find the fight hasn't changed much, so don't forget what you learned from your sword training.

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