is this a historic chinese weapon?
- Thread starter jarrod
- Start date
Isn't it a dadao?
Hnag on, I'll ask the Tinternet ...
http://www.learn-chinese-martial-arts.com/martial-arts-swords.html
Hnag on, I'll ask the Tinternet ...
http://www.learn-chinese-martial-arts.com/martial-arts-swords.html
It is indeed a Dadao.
It is a weapon I wish I could get some instruction on using.
It is a weapon I wish I could get some instruction on using.
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
agreed a dadao a 2 handed dadow actually
- Thread Starter
- #6
sukerkin, thanks, outstanding link as well. i've done relatively little research on CMAs & the variety of weapons is a little daunting.
does anyone know if there is a particular style that specializes in dadao?
jf
does anyone know if there is a particular style that specializes in dadao?
jf
Steel Tiger
Senior Master
It is most definitely an historic Chinese weapon, but it is not a sophisticated one. It is a weapon of cheap and nasty manufacture (nothing wrong with that, so were the sten and PPsH 41 smgs) and is generally associated with levy or militia troops. The dadao came to greater prominence during the 1930s during the Sino-Japanese War.
Given the nature of troops its was normally associated with one has to speculate that it was not a weapon to which sophisticated and complex methods were attached. I figure training included basic techniques which could be taught to a levied soldier as quickly as possible.
Given the nature of troops its was normally associated with one has to speculate that it was not a weapon to which sophisticated and complex methods were attached. I figure training included basic techniques which could be taught to a levied soldier as quickly as possible.
Only place I've seen Da Dao set in that fashion is in Wah Lum... Two Handed Army sword I think is the name of the set. Not terribly flashy but looks like a solid, no frills training routine. Given the area where Wah Lum came from & there were a lot of MA-ist fighting the Japanese, I can see where somebody learned it from somebody who taught it to somebody who passed it to a 3rd cousin on the mother's side, etc.... right after they used it to fight the japanese in a guerilla type action in China.
Some of the more famous CMA people that faught & yep, killed, the Japanese during the occupation & subsequent WW2 period in the army ...
Lao Fat Man - Ying Jow Pai
Chan Tai San - Lama Pai/Choy Li Fut Kuen
Hung Ju Sing - Hung Fut Pai
I know there's others, but these are ones that talked openly or were mentioned by others as fight the Japanese occupation forces in the South & using CMA as a weapon in it. Lau Fat Man was supposed to be in charge of a brigade known as the "Big Knives" or something along that referring to the DaDao they each carried. Their whole idea was to close as rapidly as possible against the Japanese & break out the blades.
Some of the more famous CMA people that faught & yep, killed, the Japanese during the occupation & subsequent WW2 period in the army ...
Lao Fat Man - Ying Jow Pai
Chan Tai San - Lama Pai/Choy Li Fut Kuen
Hung Ju Sing - Hung Fut Pai
I know there's others, but these are ones that talked openly or were mentioned by others as fight the Japanese occupation forces in the South & using CMA as a weapon in it. Lau Fat Man was supposed to be in charge of a brigade known as the "Big Knives" or something along that referring to the DaDao they each carried. Their whole idea was to close as rapidly as possible against the Japanese & break out the blades.
New article link courtesy of a member at another board...
http://www.dragonslist.com/discussion/lounge/22686-article-chinese-big-saber-units.html
http://www.dragonslist.com/discussion/lounge/22686-article-chinese-big-saber-units.html
Got my copy of that issue (Vol. 2 No. 14) of Classical Fighting Arts yesterday. It's a good article. In it the authors mention 2 Republican-era martial arts manuals for the dadao, Slashing Saber Practice by Yin Yu Zhan and Xingyi Fist and Weapons Instruction by Huang Bo Nien. They mention a number of Republican-era military manuals, including Xingyi Fist and Weapons instructions were translated by Dennis Rovere and Chow Hon Huen.
fyn
fyn
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
I will have to pick that up.
Note: Historically Xingyiquan has a whole lot of weapons in its repertoire and it was the chosen CMA of the Chinese military at one time.
bostonbomber
Orange Belt
Looks like a Nandao (or Southern Sword) to me. I agree looks very cool and aggressive.
Nandao is a current invent by the PRC Wushu machine for the Nan Quan division to have a bladed weapon "special" for them.
Go look at old Southern CMA schools & most blade work is done with Butterfly swords, daggers & a plain ol' dao.
bostonbomber
Orange Belt
If we're both right then that answers the original question - it is not historic.
Indeed
Lau Fat Man also published a book on this weapon.
It is called the Da Dao Shu. The only copy I know to exist publicly is owned by the Lau Family (Lilly & Gini).
I only have a photo of the cover and one of the pages.
It is called the Da Dao Shu. The only copy I know to exist publicly is owned by the Lau Family (Lilly & Gini).
I only have a photo of the cover and one of the pages.
