Dao ( sword ) Dao is a category of single - edge Chinese sword primarily used for slashing and chopping ( saber s ) , often called a " broadsword " in English translation because some varieties have wide blades . In China , the dao is known as one of the four major weapons , along with the " gun " ( stick or staff ) , " qiang " ( spear ) , and the " jian " ( sword ) , and referred to as " The General of All Weapons " . Dao is actually a generic word used to denote any member of a family of single - edged , broad - bladed cutting or slicing tools , but in common , everyday usage means knife . The weapon , also known as " dan dao " ( 單刀 , " single knife " ) when just one is used , is thereby thought to be an adaptation of the kitchen knives common to Chinese cuisine . " Dao " also appears in the names of such polearms as the " pudao " and " guan dao " , due to the knife - like shape of their blades . General characteristics . While dao have varied greatly over the centuries , most single - handed dao of the Ming period and later , and the modern swords that are based ( sometimes loosely ) on them share a number of characteristics . Dao blades are moderately curved and single - edged , though often with few inches of the back edge sharpened as well ; the moderate curve allows them to be reasonably effective in the thrust . Hilt s are sometimes canted , curving in the opposite direction as the blade which improves handling in some forms of cuts and thrusts . Cord is usually wrapped over the wood of the handle . Hilts may also be pierced like those of " jian " ( straight - bladed Chinese sword ) for the addition of lanyard s , though modern swords for performances will often have tassels or scarves instead . Guards are typically disc - shaped often with a cupped shape to prevent rainwater from getting into the sheath , and to prevent blood from dripping down to the handle , making it more difficult to grip . Sometimes guards are thinner pieces of metal with an s - curve , the lower limb of the curve protecting the user ' s knuckles ; very rarely they may have guards like those of the " jian " . Other variations to the basic pattern include the large " bagua dao " and the long handled " pudao " . Early history . The earliest dao date from the Shang Dynasty in China ' s Bronze Age , and are known as " zhibei dao " ( 直背刀 ) - straight backed knives . As the name implies , these were straight - bladed or slightly curved weapons with a single edge . Originally bronze , these weapons were made of iron or steel by the time of the late Warring States period as metallurgical knowledge became sufficiently advanced to control the carbon content . It is also speculated that iron swords existed before this time , but were simply not preserved . Originally less common as a military weapon than the " jian " - the straight , double - edged blade of China - the dao became popular with cavalry during the Han dynasty due to its sturdiness , superiority as a chopping weapon , and relative ease of use - it was generally said that it takes a week to attain competence with a dao / saber , a month to attain competence with a " qiang " / spear , and a year to attain competence with a " jian " / straight sword . Soon after dao began to be issued to infantry , beginning the replacement of the " jian " as a standard - issue weapon . During the Tang Dynasty , dao were exported to both Korea and Japan , influencing the swordsmithing of both nations . The blades of Tang era dao are reminiscent of the Japanese chokuto or the popular image of the perhaps - mythical ninjato . During the Song Dynasty , one form of infantry dao was the " shoudao " , a chopping weapon with a clip point . While some illustrations show them as straight , the 11th century Song military encyclopedia Wujing Zongyao depicts them with curved blades - possibly an influence from the steppe tribes of Central Asia , who would conquer parts of China during the Song period . Also dating from the Song are the falchion - like " dadao " , the long , two - handed " zhanmadao " , and the long - handled , similarly two - handed " buzhandao " ( 步战刀 ) . Yuan , Ming and Qing . With the Mongol invasion of China in the early 13th century and the formation of the Yuan dynasty , the curved steppe curved saber became a greater influence on Chinese sword designs . Sabers had been used by Turkic , Tungusic , and other steppe peoples of Central Asia since at least the 8th century CE , and it was a favored weapon among the Mongol aristocracy . Its effectiveness for mounted warfare and popularity among soldiers across the entirety of the Mongol empire had lasting effects . In China , Mongol influence lasted long after the collapse of the Yuan dynasty at the hands of the Ming , continuing through both the Ming and the Qing dynasties ( the latter itself founded by a steppe people , the Manchu ) , furthering the popularity of the dao and spawning a variety of new blades . Blades with greater curvature became popular , and these new styles are collectively referred to as " pei dao " . During the mid - Ming these new sabers would completely replace the " jian " as a military - issue weapon . The four main types of " pei dao " are : Besides these four major types of dao , the " duan dao " or " short dao " was also used , this being a compact weapon generally in the shape of a " liuye dao " . The " dadao " saw continued use , and during the Ming dynasty the large two - handed " changdao " and " zhanmadao " were used both against the cavalry of the northern steppes and the " wokou " ( pirates ) of the southeast coast ; these latter weapons ( sometimes under different names ) would continue to see limited use during the Qing period . Also during the Qing there appear weapons such as the " nandao " , regional variants in name or shape of some of the above dao , and more obscure variants such as the " nine ringed broadsword , " these last likely invented for street demonstrations and theatrical performances rather than for use as weapons . The Chinese spear and dao ( " liuyedao " and " yanmaodao " ) were commonly issued to infantry due to the expense of and relatively greater amount of training required for the effective use of Chinese straight sword , or " jian " . Dao can often be seen depicted in period artwork worn by officers and infantry . During the Yuan dynasty and after , some aesthetic features of Persia n , Indian , and Turkish swords would appear on dao . These could include intricate carvings on the blade and " rolling pearls " : small metal balls that would roll along fuller - like grooves in the blade . Recent history . Some of the blades from the Qing Dynasty lived on and even had descendants see military action in the 20th century . The " dadao " was used by some Chinese militia units against Japan ese invaders in the Second Sino - Japanese War , as was the " miao dao " , a descendant of the " changdao " . These were used during planned ambushes on Japanese troops because the Chinese military and patriotic resistance groups often had a shortage of firearms . Most Chinese martial arts schools still train extensively with the dao , seeing it as a powerful conditioning tool and a versatile weapon , with self defense techniques transferable to similarly sized objects more commonly found in the modern world , such as canes , baseball or cricket bats , for example . There are also schools that teach double broadsword " shuang dao " 雙刀 , forms and fencing , one dao for each hand . One measure of the proper length of the sword should be from the hilt in your hand and the tip of the blade at the brow and in some schools , the height of shoulder . Alternatively , the length of the sword should be from the middle of the throat along the length of the outstretched arm . There are also significantly larger versions of dao used for training in some Baguazhang and Taijiquan schools .