Great River Taoist Center Forums

Peter, did you ever study the very early source Zhouyli 周禮, Chap. 40 Kaogongji 考工記, Taoshi 桃氏, blocks 7/8? There we find sword proportions between handle and blade of 1 : 3, 1 : 4 and also 1 : 5. The weights mentioned there could range from 1250 g up to 1800 g, the lengths of swords between 40 cm t...

I have to wonder how the convex blades that he's making are coping with cutting, I've read your comments about it and I'm distinctly interested. Also how they compare to Zheng Qu's octagonal blades. I think the most important factor in cutting is not whether there is a ridge or not but the shape an...

I agree with all Nik's points. It is definitely a modern reproduction. Especially obvious is the style of fittings which is totally off. There is also a lack of convincing wear on the scabbard and fittings. The ray-skin is not worked in the traditional way and has too high a polish on it. It is prob...

There is a lot of confusion about these sizes indeed! It doesn't really help that there were so many different long two-handed sabers in China history. One Qing text mentions no less than five quite similar long sabers, ranging from about 120 cm to no less than 170 cm in length. One wonders whether ...

Old jian of some quality usually had a reasonably well-defined to well-defined ridge but with bulge leading to the edge, kind of a hybrid between the styles you show here. Convex without a spine is seen from time to time but this is mostly to be attributed to quick field-polishing jobs rather than o...

I am not much into protective gear for test-cutting and have never felt at risk when cutting targets, soft or hard. It is all about carefully visualizing the movement before executing, and using only cuts that are already programmed in one's system. Also, make sure to always prepare to stop the swor...

Anyway, Chinese pierced ironwork is by no means limited to Southern China or the Ming period, but I do have the idea that openwork can be a hint that something might be Ming. I would be interested in how true this is. The nanban style as we know it seems to have originated during the Ming period, a...

I would go with both Josh and Nik's statements as well. These were made in pretty large numbers at around the turn of the century so it is at best late 19th and more probably early 20th century. These are almost always full-length jian and looking at the fuller running off the tip and the awkward wa...

Hi, I'm not familiar with Xian at all, I've spent 18 months in China but failed to go there, can you believe that? It's definitely on the list for a next trip. As far as my knowledge goes, swords can be best found in Beijing, on occasion in Shanghai, and there are also Hong Kong shops that have the ...

Thanks for this detailed explanation. Very interesting. Has there been done any research as to why the patterning on older swords looks deeper and more subtle? Is it the age that does something with the steel, or had it to do with steels / methods used that changed over time? As for looking at the g...

Hi Nik, No, twist-core generally only refers to the technique of bars of laminated steel being heated and twisted, and welded together into a blade. It doesn't necessarily have an inserted hardened edge section -though it often does- but they come in a variety of constructions. A small group of twis...

Hi, This is a military liuyedao of the end of the Qing. They are rather common indeed, they turn up on ebay frequently. Most of these were taken out of Beijing during the summer of 1900 at the time of the boxer uprising. Although they generally come complete and in good condition, their workmanship ...

My thoughts, although never tried would see one dao logde in the shield and with prayer enter through and strike an arm. Even it is did not strike an arm and became lodged as I hoped it would, I think you would be close enough to deliver a crippling blow with the other as you could then easily slip...

Thanks! Both. I gave one to Scott Rodell, when we've done tests on another he might write a little review on them. The one for Graham is a trade deal. I can make them to order and I have another finished example lying around that is for sale. They are not cheap, as it takes such a long time to make ...

Thanks for the compliments! As for thrusting, the shield is indeed a lot more vulnerable for the thrust than the cut. We will be sure to also test thrusting and see how that goes. Unfortunately I don't have those long hudiedao at hand but a jian tip will probably do. As for doing damage, there are a...