I'm looking to develop a comprehensive listing of quality books on the Chinese sword arts. Anyone have any recommendations?

Bob
The only book I know of (in English) off the top of my head that deals specifically with Chinese weapons is

Ancient Chinese Weapons, Second Edition: The Martial Arts Guide
By Yang Jwing-Ming

And I have not yet read it so I do not know how good it is.

If it helps the Chinese Broadsword is called a Dao and the straight sword is a Jain.

I did see a couple weapons books in China but I do not remember the title (and I had to ask my wife to translate that) but they were written in Chinese.

There is an author that wrote a lot of books specifically about Chinese weapons but it appear that outside of Beijing they may be hard to find but again they are not in English.

Also I just thought of this "Chen Zhenglei" has written about Taiji sword in one of his books but it is not a book specifically about Chen taiji sword.

Hopefully someone else can help better than I, to be honest I would like to read a book on Chinese sword arts.

I have read two books on chinese swords, both from YMAA by Dr Yang Jwing-Ming. I am impressed with both of them.

Northan Shaolin Sword, and
Taiji Sword, Classical Yang Style.

I am eager to know about more books on the sword. Thanks for this thread.

The Art of Chinese Swordsmanship - A Manual of Taiji Jian by Zhang Yun
ISBN 0-8348-0412-3

and of course the classic

Taiji Sword and Other Writings by Chen Weiming - Translated by Barbara Davis
ISBN 1-55643-333-6

Both can be recommended

Very best wishes

Greetings All,
I would agree with all of the about mentioned books. I have them all. I would like to suggest these two:

Chinese Swordsmanship .The Yang Family Taiji Jian Tradition.
ISBN 0-9743999-4-9

A Practical Guide to Test Cutting for Historical Swordsmanship
ISBN 978-0-9743999-5-9

Both books are authored by Scott M. Rodell. This is a link to ordering information: http://www.sevenstarstrading.com/booksvideos/cuttingbook/

Get free shipping for the month of July by adding the word shizhan to your order form (in the coupon box).

Be well and practice often, Jon Palombi