Review and testing of the Miao Dao by LK Chen Swords

[@FortuneFavoursTheBold]

Awesome cutting and analysis. I got one Miao Dao from SBG's store last year, and it seems to have similar characteristics as this one from LK Chen's offering. They've been making these in Longquan for a while now. The reason Miao Dao are in this form is that they were devised by Qi Jiguang (the author of several well known military treatises) who were a 16th century general assigned to crack down the raiders on the east coast. Some of the most fearsome among the raiders were disenfranchised ronins once serving the daimyos--powerful Japanese magnates now destroyed in the civil wars. The swords they carried were the infamous nodachi, and although the stereotypical tachi had been known to Chinese for centuries, these massive Japanese swords came as a shock to the Chinese martial and military traditions. Many military commanders, even essayists and poets wrote favorably about the nodachi commentating on its effectiveness in conjunction with the comtemporary Japanese swordsmanship. One of the most common observations at the time is that how the nodachi has a significant reach advantage over all Chinese swords (Ming dynasty jian and dao, generally in one-handed proportions), while still being much more maneuverable than Chinese two-handed armaments, such as the pikes, halberds and glaives. After capturing some of the nodachi from the raiders, Generally Qi designed the Miao Dao (originally named Chang Dao, meaning "long saber" or "long knife") specifically to be lighter and livelier than the nodachi while having comparable reach and cutting capacity. The construction methods and handling characteristics are a blend between Chinese swords and Japanese ones. Centuries later shortened version of Chang Dao were used in the Sino-Japanese Wars, and the military doctrines may have emphasized on the countering of Bayonets mounted on rifles (vs. spears).

[@Gam3B0y23r0]

Thanks for this comment! it is awesome read/info

[@Intranetusa]

Yeh, native Chinese empires such as the Qin and Han Dynasty had been using long two handed swords since the 200s BC, but when the Mongol Yuan Dynasty came around the 1200s AD, their invasion really did a number on the native Chinese empires and basically wiped out native development/use of long two handed swords. Thus, the post-Yuan Dynasty empires such as the Ming and Qing had to be significantly influenced by Japanese designs of long two handed swords.

[@rimroth5224]

How to find manuals in English ?

[@thescholar-general5975]

Doing one handed cuts with that long blade is impressive! Nice work!

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

After watching this channel for over a year I have concluded this man could easily cut tatami with a very blunt baseball bat! 😂 He's a damn good cutter & his vids are inspiring to watch!

[@LunarEclipsism1]

What a fascinating blade geometry, I've never seen anything quite like that! Reminds me of the cross-section of an Afghan Choora. All the reach of a Montante with the weight of a longsword, fabulous. One thing that the use-case you described and the illustrations brings to mind is that if you were in a position to restrain your opponent's spear shaft with your non-dominant hand, the weapon is still light and agile enough to finish the matter weilded single-handedly.

[@Mindful7Kung7Fu7]

Google nodachi :)

[@lmichael4307]

@@Mindful7Kung7Fu7 This is lighter and livelier than nodachi

[@kct5822]

I'm really glad you tested the Miao Dao with the book of Chinese Dao skills. You are really professional.

[@Matthew_Jensen]

It is fantastic to hear you talking on your channel. Your insights are helpful and interesting. I like the comparison to other large swords.

[@andrewhudson3723]

Excellent video. When I studied miao dao technique in Boston 25 years ago we were taught that the miao dao was an excellent defensive sword. If you were travelling across country the long blade would keep you safe from brigands. We never learned any single hand techniques.

[@dlatrexswords]

As always very impressive technique. Great extended review, and nice incorporation of the Ming text.

[@johnemmons9087]

What an impressive sword. And great swordsmanship.

[@ctrlaltdebug]

First review of one of these on KZbin!

[@elikeaton6497]

The one handed cuts are awesome! Nice work!

[@jananilcolonoscopu4034]

This was a high quality review, and fantastic one-handed cuts.

[@saberserpent1134]

Man, that miaodao looks amazing. I may buy one for my own collection. Just beautiful. Edit: LK sent me one to review, and allowed me to keep it! It doesn't cut quite as well as the Chaangdao, but it is MUCH lighter.

[@scottsswordstuff5663]

Your video helped encourage me to get my own. Even did my own video but not as good as yours. I am still learning making videos and backyard cutting. I need to watch more or yours for form tips.

[@erichusayn]

Nice. Been waiting to see someone with one of those. Weight is intriguing.

[@Naki728]

I remember reading on manuals from ancient china that sometimes the lower half is blunted or much less sharp so hands can grip on it for close combat, maybe that’s why the lower half is less sharp??

[@Mindful7Kung7Fu7]

Interesting, did you read it in chinese or do you have a PDF link? :)

[@Naki728]

I have read this in Chinese from a book which I can’t find anymore, it’s basically a history of the Chang Dao (Long Sabre), which is the ancient name for Miao Dao.

[@lmichael4307]

@@Naki728 It's true, Japanese sword fighting avoids slamming your blade against the opponent's blade over and over again, so the Chinese made the lower half blunt on purpose to do exactly that.

[@Lo-tf6qt]

Most antique nihonto have this feature as well (the ones that still have their original polish at least) where the blade from the habaki upwards for about 3-5cm the edge is blunt. These days most modern repro katana and antiques that are re-polished/sharpened don't have this feature anymore and I'm not entirely sure why

[@KF1]

Hey Phil. Erik here. Want to apologise for exploding at you about the old S.W.O.R.D.S game shenanigans. I was mad at Donnie, not your fault and you didn't deserve my haranguing. Was also going through some really tough personal times, total lack of composure on my part. Probably long in the past for you and not an issue, but still, my bad. Still enjoy your videos and wish you the best.

[@herminator250]

Thanks for sharing! That's such a beautiful sword and now I want one!

[@jorgecaceres2536]

In fact this sword is designed to face the katana. With this sword, General Qi Jiguang was able to defeat the Japanese pirates on the Chinese coast.

[@satnamo]

This Miao Dao is good. What is good ? An increase in power- Power itself. Will Zur Macht

[@panoctic]

such beauty thanks for the showcase this sword

[@jakemake142]

I’m going to save my money and buy one myself 😊

[@Blakelysworld358]

Love the video this may be something I'm looking for!

[@FlyingAxblade_D20]

Thanks for sharing!

[@captainfantastic7643]

great video thank you

[@merlin1464]

How would you say this sword would hold up against a longsword?

[@DarkwarriorJ]

One of the things I like about these long straight single-edged swords is that half-swording with them makes much more obvious sense, and in their manuals there's a lot of blocks which utilize hand-on-spine from the looks of it. I'm otherwise heavily biased towards double-edged straight swords like the jian and longsword, but I can't help but think that being single-edged is actually considerably more versatile as long as it's straight enough.

[@Wirrn]

I saw a comment from someone on reddit who had this that the scabbard didn't fit very well, did you have any problems with that or the fittings? It was most likely just a duff order but thought I'd ask

[@Phil.Martin]

The scabbard fit well on this one. Not overly tight, as I found the Song Dao to be, but not loose either.

[@Wirrn]

@@Phil.Martin Cheers, he probably just got unlucky then.

[@thatoneguypatrickbateman]

Any Zhannhu mains here

[@finestrecarmelo5738]

magnificent

[@elmonte5lim]

Helluva thing.

[@rimroth5224]

Where to find miao dao manuals?

[@Stephen_Curtin]

Nice review. Are you sure that the Chinese manual that you reference is showing us a one on one duel? The way I read it, it was talking about sword vs spear on the battlefield.

[@Phil.Martin]

Right. The intent of that comment was that the techniques described are for a one-on-one fight, rather than dealing with multiple attackers. If I were writing out that statement, "duel" would be in quotes, because yes it is occurring on a battlefield, with one person wielding the saber taking on one soldier wielding a spear.

[@Stephen_Curtin]

@@Phil.Martin ah ok I get you.

[@DarkwarriorJ]

In its preamble, it is also only talking about sword vs spear in the context of spear being really, really hard to beat; so if these techniques can give you a fighting hope against spear then you can improv with them against anything else!

[@arthurchadwell9267]

Looks like a super -kitana

[@raypang8400]

Miao Dao is at Ming dynasty inspired by Japanese katana for the purpose of fighting against katana. Katana is quick and extremely sharp that gave Ming army headaches. So, they developed this blade with longer reach and light, quick but powerful strike to counter the katana. It is not specifically for fighting against spear but can be used as a spear due to the long handle and long blade for thrusting. Your blade looks like the archer version that is shorter and does not have a section of unsharpened edge near the handle which is an extra length of handle. Nice cutting and good review anyway

[@christianvaixco196]

👋NO!... katana "Japanese" designer of long two handed sword, comes from ZHANMADAO! Chinese, Han dynasty. Ming dynasty reproduced design of Zhanmadao.

[@ELVendedor5000]

How are the fittings attached to the scabbard? Is it glued or nailed on? It looks a little loose.

[@raphlvlogs271]

was it's design inspired by Mongolic sabres?

[@forestmanzpedia]

According to legends (there are different variations about this topic) lawless samurais and pirates from Japan attacked and raided the shores of China. They wielded nodachis, naginatas and nagemakis, which are all long weapons. When the Chinese managed to defeat some, they took the nodachi, analysed it, made a better version out of it, the Miao Dao you see in the video, developed their own fighting art style how to use it and used this sword to counter the samurais and pirates.

[@YAOZII]

Simply put, Chinese invented Miaodao from katana in order to beat katanas and it worked lol... the main difference is the blade is straighter like tang daos so its better for thrusting, and it's very long to give you the reach of a short spear.

[@pedrohenriquemendesmachado7416]

In which store can I buy this sword: Miao Dao from Brazil?...can you pay with our banknote: Real?.

[@Phil.Martin]

lkchensword.com/

[@MobsterYEAR]

"Oi WHAT UP SWORDMAN HOMIE IT IS VERY SIMILAR 2 A RYAN SWORD NODACHI EXCEPT"!!...aarrmm???..."OF COURSE DAH WEIGHT WHICH IS A LITTLE HEAVIER AND LONGER WID A CURVED BLADE YUH"!!..

[@thangvlog2588]

vietnam helo

[@kingof-bunz6506]

I have this sword as well and it reminds me a little less like a rapier but more like a wearable spear that can cut someone in half although there are many rapier techniques that can be used with this I’m actually looking into extending the handle so the sword may be used as a wearable glaive and couched in the armpit