Unique Bannerman's Duandao- Chinese Swords and Swordsmanship

[@puma0085]

That was a great video. Thanks for sharing this unique Duandao. Duandao is some interesting swords in general that have always been a bit underrated.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Thanks, my pleasure... Short Chinese swords, both dao & jian are indeed way to overlooked. They were quite common as side arms. Particularly during the turbulent times of the mid to late Qing period. I also find them quite interesting to train with as well, both in forms & free swordplay.

[@puma0085]

@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 I also think they are not interesting in a historical sense but it should also be very intriguing to practise with them . Fighting with short chinese blade also seems to be an art this overlooked. At least as far as I know most people just practise with longer weapons.

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

I think you were pretty spot on tbh. It seems like a hunting/casual wear type thing. You see similar things being done in Eastern & Western Europe as well as Persia etc.

[@bolverker_aka_ye]

A useful addition to the forum discussion.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Thanks my friend.

[@wrentuathadedanann6209]

Love that sword! The combination of different styles/cultures is very interesting.

[@mugenGRTC]

It's pretty cool, isn't it?!

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Going to get one? ;)

[@elshebactm6769]

🤠👍🏿

[@smrsevenstarstradingco.241]

Thanks!

[@mugenGRTC]

Thanks!

[@WhiteApeMA]

The fact that the hole in the guard did not carry over leads me to believe that perhaps this person thought of this on their own right, completely free of Japanese sword influence. The practicality of such a feature seems like it would have been hard to miss. Still though, very cool piece. And thanks for sharing it with us!

[@smrsevenstarstradingco.241]

Interesting thought, but the style, shape of, and construction the utility knife is entirely Japanese.

[@KF1]

Fascinating stuff. Could be that because the utility knife was inaccessible, it was more of sentimental or artistic value rather than meant to be used like the Japanese original, if there was one known. The matching convex motif and accurate fitment suggest the sword (or maybe just scabbard) was designed with this unique style in mind, rather than an afterthought. Also that blade could have been an appropriate weight for an older gentleman or someone, as you mentioned, often traveling by horse. (Or boat) Interesting piece of cross-cultural history. Thanks for sharing

[@brandonlind5700]

I’ve read before that Japanese swords were a common item brought to China by Japanese traders and smugglers as a sought after trade item.

[@mugenGRTC]

Interesting, do you have a citation?

[@MrGod47]

I think he might refers to the importation and smuggling of Japanese swords during Ming dynasty, it was very common in that period. But to be honest, Japanese swords themselves also have Chinese ancestry, many features we see on Japanese swords are actually originated in China, Japanese also imported a large amount of Chinese swords during Han to Tang dynasties. So it's really not too odd if there are similar features between CN swords and JP swords.

[@mugenGRTC]

@@MrGod47 Indeed. Many like to overlook that bit of history.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

@@MrGod47 It is ironic the number of people that think Japanese swords are amazing with near mystical cutting powers, but Chinese swords are junk, not realizing that the method employed by Japanese smiths originated in China.

[@JonseyWales]

I really look forward to these videos, they're absolutely fascinating and so well presented! BTW, those Foo dogs in the background are spectacular. 😍

[@mugenGRTC]

Thanks, we always enjoy hearing that.

[@ScottKenny1978]

Seems kinda like they missed the point (pardon the pun) about having a utility blade on a sword scabbard. Rather pointless to have a utility knife if you can't draw the utility knife without drawing the sword first.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Indeed, missed that one very important detail. But it is likely that the smith and his shop never made one, before or after, again. Out of the 3000 plus Chinese weapons I've handled, this is the only example with this sort of Japanese type knife I know of.

[@ericclayton6287]

There were Japanese pirate enclaves along the Chinese coast and all the way to the Philippines not to mention the intermediate kingdom, Korea.

[@Fadeing]

Could the "button" on the utility knife both be the pearl the dragon seeks along with for ease of pulling it out?

[@allengordon6929]

Wouldn't only the scabbard be unique? Scabnards can be reasonably interchangeable.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

You could say that, though the fittings are also fairly unique, not the standard as it were.

[@allengordon6929]

@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 is the sword hilt really that far out of the norm?

[@ReviveHF]

This is one of the main Chinese swords during the Ming and Qing Dynasty, it has sufficient armour penetration and if this sword failed to penetrate armour, it is still able creating concussion damage to the bones and flesh. More importantly, this weapon is a perfect balance between chopping and thrusting, if the users were given enough training, this is the ideal backup weapon for pikemen and musketeers. However, this weapon totally lost it's popularity during the mid 20th century propably due to the advent of ox tail sword and the increasingly well known Dadao. Because Chinese swords like this resembles too much like the Japanese Swords, so the Chinese Nationalist government during Second Sino Japanese War decided to make propaganda about the Dadao Squad (the unit which uses Dadao)to instill the morale to resist the Japanese invasion, so it became the symbol of the Chinese Resistance. Then from 1950s onwards, due to the proliferation of Japanese films in the global market, katana quickly associated with Japan, so the Chinese filmmakers decided to use Ox Tail Sword and the Jian to represent the Chinese swords in Wuxia genre. As time goes on Ox Tail Sword and Jian became anachronistic Chinese Swords in pop culture, so the Japanese influenced Chinese swords like this Duandao were largely forgotten. Thanks for rediscovering forgotten weapons like this.👍

[@adenyang4398]

I’m curious if anti-Qing/Manchu sentiment had any influence on this trend as well, since the curved dao had a strong presence for the identify of the Manchu nobles and the Qing ruling class. But what’s strange is that the Ming used curved dao just as much as the Qing did, and they were a result of the amalgamation of cultures leading up from the Song and Yuan eras..

[@sicksour7791]

tarkin did not skimp on extraterrestrial cultural studies at the imperial officers academy.

[@johnthiam2446]

Ming Dynasty sword were similar design and shapes but with longer blades. Duandao is special sword used in the qing dynasty for urban close quarter combat.

[@johnthiam2446]

@@adenyang4398 curved sword were used by Chinese since the Song dynasty. While ming dynasty u would see almost all curved sword there were some rural southern special units still using straight swords. Some were double edge similar to the song dynasty.

[@allengordon6929]

@@adenyang4398 qing weapons and armor are almost identical to ming weapons and armor anyways

[@chancedean5341]

Aside from the craving for a duan dao I now have and can’t do anything about ( they seem so fun!), might there be any updates on that jian from fire and iron? I only ask because it’s been a while to sit when you’ve sparked my curiosity so deeply.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

A totally understandable craving... It has been quite a busy year. The Online Academy of Chinese Swordsmanship continues to grow. And In-Person Seminars are back. But I haven't forgotten and plan to do the Test Cutting Part 2 of that Jian Review this Autumn.

[@ScottKenny1978]

That's exactly the size dao I want! Are there any companies making such blades? Also, I was having a different association with "Bannerman". There was a huge military surplus dealer in New York by the name of Bannerman. I was wondering if that blade had somehow wandered through that organization's possession... 🤦

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

I don't know of a forge currently making a duandao, but I think Art of Fire & Iron would custom make one for you. By Bannerman, I was specifically referring to the Manchu Bannermen of the Qing Dynasty.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 must be time to pester LKChen to made some duandao! I did finally catch on that you meant Manchu bannermen, but I think it took me 3 minutes... 🤦🤦🤦

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

@@ScottKenny1978 You might want to shop around. Several people I personally know, had problems with their LKC Swords. They ended up being replaced, but an edge that is so soft it rolls... Fittings held in place with plastic bags... Just reporting what I heard directly from friends who purchased his swords.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 I've been very happy with my Flying Phoenix Han jian.

[@agoogleaccount2861]

Maybe it's modelled after the musket era sword with bayonet in sheath

[@thekaxmax]

a byknife, cool to see

[@themaveric416]

Europe, especially Germans did this allot called a byknife

[@MrGod47]

Indeed really interesting and unique antique, I've never seen this type of short dao before. And very informative, educational video as always, thanks for your sharing. But frankly speaking, besides the small utility knife maybe adopted from Japanese sword, the whole sword still looks very obviously Chinese to me (in positive manner, no any disrespectful meaning, and I know Chinese swords and Japanese swords often had inter-influences), from scabbard, grip, decoration, to the blade itself, all look distinctively Chinese. The curvature and blade shape also apparently are not Japanese style, at least from the video I saw, it's still very much like a short willow leaf dao (短柳葉刀).

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

Quite right, everything about this Duandao is 100% stylistically Chinese in every sense from the fittings, to hilting, to blade form. The addition of the utility knife is what makes this piece unique.

[@manderin9806]

Wow very pretty! Very Arabian, very Tachi, maybe Mongul? Very cool thank you kindly for the presentation.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

It certainly has foreign influences, but is 100% Qing Chinese.

[@manderin9806]

@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 Wow then must of been ceremonial or rank marker like you said, maybe based off someone like you said who witnessed for exp. The Japanses Tea Ceremoney and saw the value of the Wakadashi but still needed it to operate as a Duandao with a Tachi flare. Though the utility knife and the style does pull my mind to the Russian & Ottoman empires. Thank you kindly for your response.

[@MrGod47]

Pretty sword indeed, but to be honest it doesn't look like Arabian sword nor Tahci nor Mongul sword, it looks like a typical short Chinese willow leaf dao(柳葉刀) with an adopted feature from Japanese sword.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

@@manderin9806 In some ways, we can think of duandao, or their straight cousins, the duanjian, as like the Japanese wakizashi in that it was carried as a means of defense in places where a long sword wouldn't work well. On the other hand, the Chinese and Manchus who did carry swords due to their rank, didn't carry them all time, in the way those of samurai rank did.

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

@@MrGod47 You are spot on. Blade wise, there is nothing particularly unique about this duandao. I have even encountered that scalloping at the tip on other duandao.

[@na7973]

Ming dynasty sword ⚔️ black guard Ming

[@scottm.rodellgrtc2969]

There's no real chance that this dao is Ming.