Hole in the blade of Chinese dao

Neil · 31st March 2011, 03:58 PM

I thought I would post this old illustration I pulled from a Chinese web site. I am not sure how old the drawing is exactly, but the site was about the Boxer Uprising. I thought it was interesting because it has a ring in the blade hole, and there is a non-ring pommel on the sword.

Neil · 18th May 2011, 02:39 PM

I am still interested in others thoughts and or evidence related to the use of the blade holes in various forms of Chinese dao. I have also posted some pictures of a couple guan dao head (偃月刀 yan yue dao) that have the feature in question. Although I have yet to see a period guan dao example with a tassel adornment attached to the hole/ring, it is standard on modern Chinese martial art practice pieces. This combined with the other evidence I have available at this point suggests to me that these various dao blade holes are more ornamentation related than utility. Any thoughts?

Gavin Nugent · 18th May 2011, 07:21 PM

Niel,

My thoughts are ornamental on the polearms, though in motion and martial use the tassle which sits in this hole may have a martial application like the tassle on the Jian, but you'd have to ask practicioners of the Yan Yue Dao to confirm this.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hinese+halberd

http://thomaschen.freewebspace.com/photo4.html

Gav

Neil · 19th May 2011, 04:02 AM

Thanks for your input Gavin, and the links too. Here is a picture of a tasseled guan dao head from the Thomas Chen site linked above (Thank you Mr. Chen).

Ren Ren · 6th June 2011, 08:12 PM

The Vietnamese carry methode

(pic. 18)

josh stout · 6th June 2011, 11:55 PM

Hey Ren Ren,

Welcome to the forum. Nice post. What amazingly useful looking resource did the illustration come from?

I had often seen reference to the hole for suspension, but it is nice to see an example from a period text. It seems the blade hole is quite versatile.
Josh

Ren Ren · 7th June 2011, 09:31 PM

Hey Josh!

Thanks for kind words!

As far as I know, the illustration has got to the Internet from the book "Connaissance du Viet-Nam" by P. Huard & M. Durand

Ren Ren

P.S. Excuse my English, I use the electronic translator

31st March 2011, 03:58 PM	#1
Neil Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 116	I thought I would post this old illustration I pulled from a Chinese web site. I am not sure how old the drawing is exactly, but the site was about the Boxer Uprising. I thought it was interesting because it has a ring in the blade hole, and there is a non-ring pommel on the sword. Attached Images

18th May 2011, 02:39 PM	#2
Neil Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 116	I am still interested in others thoughts and or evidence related to the use of the blade holes in various forms of Chinese dao. I have also posted some pictures of a couple guan dao head (偃月刀 yan yue dao) that have the feature in question. Although I have yet to see a period guan dao example with a tassel adornment attached to the hole/ring, it is standard on modern Chinese martial art practice pieces. This combined with the other evidence I have available at this point suggests to me that these various dao blade holes are more ornamentation related than utility. Any thoughts? Attached Images

19th May 2011, 04:02 AM	#4
Neil Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 116	Thanks for your input Gavin, and the links too. Here is a picture of a tasseled guan dao head from the Thomas Chen site linked above (Thank you Mr. Chen). Attached Images

6th June 2011, 08:12 PM	#5
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 379	The Vietnamese carry methode (pic. 18) Attached Images

18th May 2011, 07:21 PM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Niel, My thoughts are ornamental on the polearms, though in motion and martial use the tassle which sits in this hole may have a martial application like the tassle on the Jian, but you'd have to ask practicioners of the Yan Yue Dao to confirm this. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hinese+halberd http://thomaschen.freewebspace.com/photo4.html Gav

6th June 2011, 11:55 PM	#6
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	Hey Ren Ren, Welcome to the forum. Nice post. What amazingly useful looking resource did the illustration come from? I had often seen reference to the hole for suspension, but it is nice to see an example from a period text. It seems the blade hole is quite versatile. Josh

7th June 2011, 09:31 PM	#7
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 379	Hey Josh! Thanks for kind words! As far as I know, the illustration has got to the Internet from the book "Connaissance du Viet-Nam" by P. Huard & M. Durand Ren Ren P.S. Excuse my English, I use the electronic translator