Liuyedao
柳叶刀 · liǔyèdāo
Literally: willow-leaf knife
A slightly curved Chinese one-handed sabre 91–99 cm long, the most widespread sabre under the Ming dynasty, which replaced the jian in the army.
Quick Facts
ChinaAbout the weapon
Liuyedao (柳叶刀), literally "willow-leaf knife", is one of the main types of Chinese sabre dao, with yanmaodao, piandao and niuweidao. It derives from an older Mongol sabre. Under Ming it stayed the most popular one-handed sabre and, as an issued weapon, took the jian's role; under Ming and Qing it served as a sidearm of cavalry and infantry. The blade curves slightly along its whole length, weakening the tip, though it stays fairly effective, and strengthens cuts and slashes. Hilts tend to be straight, and from the 18th century downward-curved ones appear too. On the blade's throat there is often a decorated collar, tunkou, left from older designs. The sabre weighs 0.91 to 1.36 kg and measures 91 to 99 cm. A number of Chinese martial arts schools trained originally with this weapon. In some museum pieces, classing them as liuyedao is disputed over blade shape.
Related weapons
- Variant of: Dao