The ''hyeopdo'' was a

polearm A polearm or pole weapon is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, extending the user's effective range and striking power. Polearms are predominantly melee we ...

used in Korea. It was also called ''micheomdo'' (), which could be translated as "eyebrow sword" because the curved blade resembled an eyebrow.Ehwa University Press 2008, Sippalgi: Traditional Korean Martial Arts, Dr. B.K. Choi The first written reference to a hyeopdo is in a Korean martial arts manual from the 17th century called the ''Muyeyebobeon Yeoksokjip'' (무예예보번역속집).

Design

The design varied somewhat between makers, but usually the pole was about long and the blade was about long. The blade is single-edged. It closely resembles the

woldo The woldo (literally “moon blade”), was a Korean polearm that closely resembled the Chinese guandao (also known as ''yanyuedao''), though proportionally smaller. It was so named because of its curved blade. Its use and its methods were describ ...

("moon blade") and the Chinese

podao ''Podao'' or ''pudao'' () is a Chinese single-edged infantry weapon that is still used primarily for training in various Chinese martial arts. The blade of the weapon is shaped like a Chinese broadsword, but the weapon has a longer handle, usua ...

().

Use

The ''hyeopdo'' was considered an important weapon because of its effectiveness. In the

Muyedobotongji ''Muyedobot'ongji'' (; ''Muye Dobo Tong Ji'') was a Korean martial arts text written by , Pak Chega, and Paek Tongsu and published in four volumes in 1795. It was commissioned in 1790 by King Jeongjo (r. 1740–1810). It expanded on the eigh ...

, another martial arts manual, one form for use is given, called ''hyeopdo chongbo'' (협도총보, 挾刀總譜).

References

Traditional Korean weapons Korean swords Polearms {{Polearm-stub

Design

Use

See also

References