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The Saber Dao is known as the general of the 4 types of Chinese weapons, which also include the gun, the spear (Qiang) and the Jian (another type of Chinese sword). The term Dao is used for all types of single-edged and broad-bladed weapons; In everyday use Dao is used to refer to a knife.
A over time, Dao Sabers have varied, with the majority of these sabers being used with one hand. The blades of these swords are curved and single-edged, although there are Dao sabers that have a double edge at the tip of the blade. The handles are slightly inclined, curved in the opposite direction of the blade, thus improving the handling of the saber.
The oldest Saber Dao dates back to the Bronze Age of China and is known as Zhibei Dao. The Dao saber was less common than the Jian straight blade sword; This became popular with cavalry during the Han dynasty due to its robustness, superiority as a cutting weapon, and relative ease of use; It is generally said that it takes a week to master a Dao/saber, a month to wield a Qiang/spear, and a year to wield a Jian/straight sword.
During the Tang Dynasty, Dao sabers were exported to Korea and Japan, influencing sword forging in both nations. The Mongols invaded China around the 13th century; It was then that they influenced China and other nations on war tactics and weapons manufacturing instruments. One of the favorite weapons of the Mongols was the saber; a single-edged, one-handed sword with a curved blade.
The four main types of Dao sabers are:
- Liu Ye Dao (Willow Blade Saber)
- Yao Dao (Carving Saber): Ming Period
- Zhan Ma Dao, or Pu Dao (Single-bladed saber, or horse-cutting saber)
- Yan Ling Dao (Goose-bladed Saber, or Gooseneck Saber): Song Dynasty
Some remember the shape of Japanese katanas (Like the Pu Dao), others resemble European cutlasses or falchions (Like the Liu Ye Dao and the Yan Ling Dao) and others are simply variations that returned from the Balkans or Turkey thanks to trade and migration. In fact, it is said that the Dao encompasses 18 types of sabers.
