Dadao 大刀 (Big Knife) - Chinese great sword

Category: Chinese Saber (Dao)

Length: Between 2 and 3 feet long

Special characteristics: Broad lightweight blade, top weighted blades to increase swing force.

Hilt: at least a hand and a half commonly 2 hands

History: Certain versions of the Dadao were used in military combat but were most common used by civilian militia groups and ninja type secret groups

There are many variations including the 9 ring and the 5 ring da dao.

Below: The dadao great sword antique from 1933

Cold steel is known for replicating many ancient swords and they did a great job with the Da Dao.

The unique base of the Dadao is specific to this sabers hilt

Below: the great wall of china. The Dadao (chinese great sword) was hailed as "defender of the great wall"

A young martial art student practises chinese kung fu with the 9 ring Da dao

Ming and Qing Dynasties boast the Dadao as being a proud part of their history

Chinese soldiers had guns and great swords in the second sino-japanese war. While fighting the Japanese around the 1930's

The Dadao was such a deadly close combat weapon that it generally only took one precise strike to kill the enemy.

The Da Dao was so popular amongst the chinese soldiers that they had a marching song were the great sword was the main thing

See all Martial arts weapons

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