The ''zhanmadao'' () was a single-bladed anti-cavalry

Chinese sword Historically, Chinese swords are classified into two types, the '' jian'' and the '' dao''. A ''Jian'' is a straight, double-edged sword mainly used for stabbing; the term has been commonly translated into the English language as a longsword. M ...

. It originated during the

Han dynasty The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...

(206 BC – 220 AD) and was especially common in

Song China The Song dynasty ( ) was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Ten Kingdoms, ending ...

(960–1279).

General characteristics

The ''zhanmadao'' is a single-edged

sabre A sabre or saber ( ) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the Early Modern warfare, early modern and Napoleonic period, Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such a ...

with a long broad blade, and a long handle suitable for two-handed use. It was used as an anti-

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

weapon, dating from

Emperor Cheng of Han Emperor Cheng of Han, personal name Liu Ao (劉驁; 51 BC – 17 April 7 BC), was an emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty ruling from 33 until 7 BC. He succeeded his father, Emperor Yuan. Under Emperor Cheng, the Han dynasty continued its growing ...

, made to slice through a horse's legs. This is mentioned in the ''

Wujing Zongyao The ''Wujing Zongyao'' (), sometimes rendered in English as the ''Complete Essentials for the Military Classics'', is a Chinese military compendium written from around 1040 to 1044. The book was compiled during the Northern Song dynasty by Ze ...

'', a Song military manual from 1072. It featured prominently against the Jin armies in campaigns between 1129 and 1141. The earliest variant of the ''zhanmadao'' is called '' zhanmajian'' (), literally "horse beheading ''

jian The ''jian'' (Mandarin Chinese: , , English approximation: , Cantonese: ) is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the ''jian'' date to the 7th century BCE, during the S ...

''". The ''zhanmajian'' existed during the

, so called because it was supposedly able to cut off a horse's head. The difference between the two is that ''zhanmajian'' is double-edged whereas the ''zhanmadao'' is single-edged, which persists with the meaning of ''jian'' and ''dao''. Another suggestion is that the ''zhanmajian'' was an execution tool used on special occasions rather than a military weapon. Surviving examples include a sword that might resemble a

nagamaki The is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihontō'') with an extra long handle, used by the samurai class of feudal Japan.Friday 2004, p. 88. History It is possible that nagamaki were first produced during the Heian period (794 to ...

in construction; it had a wrapped handle long making it easy to grip with two hands with a blade that was long and straight, with a slight curve in the last half.

Similar weapons

Possible variations of these Chinese swords were the

changdao The ''changdao'' ( zh, t=長刀, s=长刀, first=t, p=chángdāo, l=long sword) was a two-handed, single-edged Chinese swords, Chinese sword. The term has been translated as "long saber," "saber-staff," or "long-handled saber." During the Ming ...

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...

and

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

wodao The ''wodao'' () is a Chinese sword from the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty. It is typically long and slender, but heavy, with a curved back and sharp blade. It bears a strong resemblance to the Tang sword, ''zhanmadao'', ''tachi'' or '' ōdachi'' ...

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

, as well as

miaodao The ''miaodao'' (苗刀) is a Chinese two-handed '' dao'' or saber, with a narrow blade, long hilt, and an overall length of or longer. The name means "sprout saber", presumably referring to a likeness between the weapon and a newly sprouted p ...

of the

Republican Era Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

References

Citations

General and cited references

* {{Swords by region Chinese swords Horses in China

General characteristics

Similar weapons

See also

References

Citations

General and cited references