Why are Chinese Swords not as Famous | Video Essay

[@linkdude55]

"whatever Jackie Chan wants to use" sums up his movies pretty well

[@rwbimbie5854]

English to Jackie Chan dictionary Chair : Weapon Stairs : Weapon 1/2 Ham Sammich : Weapon

[@mirradric]

wait... so jackie chan is in fact dugu qiubai.... lol

[@bruceesselman5568]

I loved that line

[@corbinholmes3752]

I would like the comment but it's at 69.

[@marcusgingell3585]

I laughed out loud at that :)

[@revolutionhk]

quite true. in Chinese fictions, it doesn't matter what weapon you use or not use, as long as you reach level 99 and max out all stats

[@kalsyphr5039]

Dark souls series in a nutshell

[@rabcor]

You're giving them too much credit, that's Japanese fiction. In chinese fictions it's all about finding the best drugs to get more qi.

[@PandaRaptorPawa]

@@rabcor but don't use too much cuz it'll fuck up your FoUNdaTiOn

[@Hyanuel]

as long as you can reach the dao, everything is possible

[@scrubby2]

@@Hyanuel this guy knows his Tao

[@tiexiaowang7939]

As someone who practices European swordsmanship and is Chinese, I would say that you are certainly right in that the Chinese don't care about swords. But I think I can explain why the Chinese don't care about swords. Firstly, I think the bigger question is why the Europeans and the Japanese care about swords. Despite personally practicing swordsmanship, I have to admit that the sword has no place in a battle when not paired with shields. Most often, swords are carried as a sidearm kinda like a modern pistol. There are exceptions like the European greatsword and the Japanese Odachi, but I am not aware of any Chinese equivalent to these (that aren't for cutting down a horse). The soldier's main weapon is usually a polearm--usually the spear but weapons like the guandao, naginata, or halberd also enjoyed varying degrees of popularity. The sword is famous as a status symbol than a weapon. It is more expensive and difficult to acquire than most polearms and is usually relegated to the nobility or warrior class. Both the Europeans and the Japanese had a warrior class that was greatly respected, so their symbol gained the same respect. The Chinese soldiers, however, are usually conscripted. They are not respected like their European and Japanese counterparts and the sword is not considered their symbol, so the sword does not gain the same respect in China, where the spear was considered the "king of weapons" due to its greater practicality. Lastly, Chinese culture does not penetrate as deeply in the west as Japanese culture does Edit: I am getting a lot of comments from commentators more familiar with Chinese history than I am that swords were also once a status symbol in China, but the association appears to have been lost so long ago that it doesn't translate into modern day

[@Foxxie0kun]

Guan Yu was basically a demigod that is still an example for people of honor and integrity as he never betrayed his comrades or those he believed in nor did he ever break an oath once he made it. Most other Three Kingdoms generals were also similarly "Larger than Life" as it were, with virtues and vices spread among them liberally, but also their varied mastery of strategy, tactics, certain weapons, and even diplomacy. Dynasty Warriors as a video game series may get repetitive and stale, but it inspired me to look into the characters in greater detail outside the games and oh boy I was not expecting to find literal shrines to Guan Yu that are still visited to this day.

[@datgio4951]

Pretty informative ngl, I’ll have to some research now

[@Diodidnothingwrong]

I’m glad someone pointed this out. I’m no weapon expert but the sword was a secondary weapon. Pole arms, axes, maces with shields were primary weapons. Swords were very incompetent when it came to puncturing/damaging the armor and killing the target. In Japan, they had pole arms, bows(they were masters in horse back archery, it’s actually insane) and I’m pretty sure they used a club called the kanabo

[@alroslee6931]

Nice explanation. Just like how its thought that knights only need swords, but in actual fact their essential weapons are like the polaxes and mace

[@Diodidnothingwrong]

Al Roslee indeed

[@johnsamu]

A sword has always been an "emergency sidearm" and pole weapons were the main weapon, even with the Samurai.

[@Mj-th7md]

And you know why? It was always about the RANGE capability of the weapon.

[@falkyrie5228]

But you don't see western heroes carrying rifles around, do you? They wield a pistol or - even better - a revolver. There is something about sidearms that makes them perfect for the "adventurer/hero" archetype.

[@falkyrie5228]

@@capofantasma97 Rambo doesn't carry around an M60, he used an M60 in *one* iconic scene.

[@slimjim7411]

@@Mj-th7md Actually it's more about rank and file combat but everyone likes to compare most of these war weapons as 2 guys fighting in the street. A spear gives range but in ranks once they get past the tip all you can do is drop it and draw your sword.

[@randallsanchez3161]

@@Mj-th7md Range is nice but armor is the big issue here. 1 handed weapons have a hard time penetrating any form of armor. Polearms on the other hand can cut, crush, or puncture armor much easier. This has been true for both Asia and Western nations. Knights used polearms and spears a LOT more often than 2 handed swords.

[@LucidLivingYT]

Chinese swords look a lot like "regular swords" if you will. The katana has a very distinctive look, making it easier to gain repute. Also, anime.

[@Rindsgulasch]

True that! Especially since 'our' cinema focuses on what we know historically: We know double-edged straight blades (european arming swords and long swords), one-handed curved swords (middle-eastern and napoleonic), spears, halberds, glaves. All the stuff the chinese also have. But the katana is a two-handed (!), short (!) sabre with a distinctive tip and sufficiently different guard and handle construction. Of course there are other weapons in all three of these cultures, but the katana is an analogue to 'knightly' weapons, and I mean it was similarly romanticized to the long sword the romantic era made 'knightly', not what men-at-arms actually used. Weapons like the guandao didn't fit the western romantic definition of a knightly weapon. Also, all the points this video made.

[@camrendavis6650]

What do you have to understand. China's history is extensive backwards as well as forwards when it comes to sword and bladed weapons. Remember where the Japanese got their sword design from. The Chinese have been designing Superior and stylish looking blades since before the Vikings and the Europeans. Look up the Zhanmadao, Miaodao and Tangdao

[@Rindsgulasch]

@@camrendavis6650 Nobody doubts that the chinese (or the realms existing in the space of modern china) were advanced compared to europe in several eras. What I was trying to say is that western cinema uses what western culture DOESN'T know. It doesn't matter who invented what, entertainment is the name of the game. If it is too similar, it won't do.

[@camrendavis6650]

@@Rindsgulasch I am sorry

[@animation1234111]

@@camrendavis6650 Superior is a stretch. The Zhanmadao was stylish for sure, but was more of a rough-and-ready foot soldier's weapon rather than a celebrated symbol of knightly prestige. The weapons that filled that niche (regular jian and dao) weren't *that* distinct, especially compared with the katana. Also the vikings *are* Europeans.

[@f1nger605]

While you were partying, I studied the blade. While you were studying the blade, I studied the folding chair.

[@arik4643]

Ah yes. Folding chair. According to stephen chow movies even the police can't charge you of it. It is a secret weapon

[@rowo175]

好折凳

[@SO-jc9bp]

In achient chineese mythology the folding chair was the greatest weapon of them all.

[@FrenchToast663]

tips fedora*

[@dylan8736]

I studied ladder.

[@dannybenhur6123]

Jackie Chan's ladder > Infinity Gauntlet

[@dannybenhur6123]

@Michal Arkadiusz Blaszczak Perfect....then there is no use of the gauntlet

[@ScreamBloodyGwar]

Michal Arkadiusz Blaszczak *two child policy **have as many children as you want as long as your rich enough to pay the fine and are ok with further overpopulating policy

[@sinoroman]

jackie chan should be in endgame

[@beepbeep7358]

@Michal Arkadiusz Blaszczak lol nice one

[@Countmacula666]

@Michal Arkadiusz Blaszczak Fuc that Joke. No need to make a Joke about Chinas policy. This tread all about a Jackie and Thanos Joke. Mfers always gotta ruin shit with unnecessary comments

[@MMALAB]

Perfect. When I was living in China studying martial arts I realized how rich their sword culture was. They were so amazing in sword making, they inspired all the neighboring countries in sword making, even the Japanese swords. Longyuan -now Longquan is a famous example, as it has produced for centuries some of the finest swords. I bought swords from there and still have them and enjoy them up to this day.

[@TheAyanamiRei]

Someone made the interesting point that in China the soldiers were Conscripts, and thus did NOT have a Warrior Class that gained Great Honor like in Japan & The West. Not only that, but from what I've seen, Chinese Media focused more on Hand 2 Hand & Martial Arts Weapons in general, compared to Japan which focuses far more on Swords by themselves.

[@egoamigo-1377]

@@TheAyanamiRei It’s also due to how Chinese society was structured. A warrior type class similar to how European knights or samurai did not exist due to chinas centralised government. If a similar warrior class did exist then it would’ve ended as chinas feudalism came to an end (during establishment of the Qin dynasty) which was a thousand years before the concept of knights or samurais existed. This pattern isn’t strictly a Chinese thing either. After European ended their feudalism they began to phase out knights for a larger centralised army and same goes for Japan during the Meiji restoration. But the most likely scenario as to why chinas swords isn’t as popular is simply because it isn’t as romanticised or their media isn’t as popular here in the west. Chinese tv shows don’t lack in sword action e.g Wuxia adaptations (smiling proud wanderer as an example) it’s just no one knows about it. People also seem to forget that warriors like knights or samurai who often are associated with swords (katana or king swords) are actually rarely used in history. They’re mostly a social status weapon if anything with the most common weapon used throughout all cultures being pole arms and later firearms. Personally pole arms are seriously underrepresented and I would like to see more of them considering how prevalent they are throughout history.

[@sauronthemighty3985]

@@TheAyanamiRei I think the Ming did have a hereditary warrior class, but this was not held in high regard. Also I think the Qing Bannermen might also count as a warrior class.

[@kkc2354]

I think it has something to do with gun vs sword. And the need to keep an open mind.

[@诡雅异俗]

@@egoamigo-1377 你的历史不够好，中国古代照样有军事贵族，比如汉朝的六郡良家子，唐朝的府兵，明朝的卫所，在王朝初年是拥有土地来履行军事义务的，但是没有类似于武士骑士那样封邦建国下的军事贵族

[@FrVitoBe]

i met jackie chan 1 time, he touched me and from that day on i became the ultimate weapon

[@donavonhoho]

The "sword" of destiny indeed.

[@bingbongjoel6581]

Yuniko Yato That’s a trash joke.

[@ZoeCuiM]

😂😂😂😂 this comment is so underrated

[@lm2193]

did u report police? since he 'touched' u.

[@brucechow1588]

Lol

[@MegaDocjoe]

The reason in my opinion is simple : European and japanese are more represented in entertainment media with swords and swordmen (the Ninja, the Knight, the Samurai) while the chinese are more represented with hand to hand combat and Kung-fu

[@Raoh_Shaya]

Metal Shinobi , i agree with this. The legendary knights of europe and the Noble samurai are represented alot. This is what most people grew up with. Chinese swordsmanship is amazing though.

[@starguardlux2874]

Its a shame too, there are some really odd looking (and historical) sword designs.

[@fransthefox9682]

Yes but the ninja weren't swordsmen in real life.

[@MegaDocjoe]

@@Raoh_Shaya exactly!

[@MegaDocjoe]

@@fransthefox9682 I spoke about how they were represented in the entertainment Media, but in fact a ninja woud've neither carry a sword nor wear their signature black Outfit

[@oo8962]

In Chinese movies losing a weapon doesn't mean losing the battle. And I love that. I love how they use everything as a weapon.

[@michaeldeleon5093]

Bro. 😑 watch anime and get back at me.

[@jorgemurilo7779]

@Eduardo Sanchez eeeeeeeeeeeer... no, Katana no is for ALL combat they used SPEARS,Bows, GUNS etc. Samurai uses a katana mainly for status and in rare ocasions in one fight

[@jorgemurilo7779]

Sorry my english.

[@boodatruths159]

True, they care more about putting people in camps and organ harvesting them for being the wrong race.

[@outsidechambaz]

@@boodatruths159 That’s just the modern day corrupt chinese govt, you gotta separate that from the actual chinese culture

[@harrisashraff]

"Whatever Jackie Chan wants to use", Explains the philosophy.

[@pieterlindeque7798]

Spears are a very unpopular weapon in fiction and fantasy it seems but in reality spears were the absolute god melee weapon.

[@viniciuspaiva3889]

In kung fu we call the spear as the king of weapons. The "bo" staff and spear are my favourite weapons in chinese martial arts. The staff by its simplicity and for being versatile, and the spear for the elegance and subtlety power.

[@mamertvonn]

spears can easily be broken with an axe i think i once remember watching a vid explaining how spears, axe and swords are almost like rock, paper, scissors in medieval time

[@viniciuspaiva3889]

@@mamertvonn "easily broken"?! Dude, you must have some serious reflexes, huh? I think a spear trust goes in about 40 km/h, imagine this in a fight to the death scenario, it's not impossible, but is very difficult to brake a spear in this situation. Even if you parry the spear trust, the spear guy has to be much more weaker than you. And even if you brake the spear, you can use the broken pole to defend yourself.

[@mamertvonn]

yeah its long try thrusting it forward and the axe will just chop of the wood from your stick

[@mamertvonn]

look it up in yt i dont remember the yt channel but i remember him having long weird beard he talks about a lot of stuff like the pummel located in a swords handel or the history of fencing

[@RatteDrago]

The most legendary Chinese weapon? Jackie Chan's Ladder of The Some Place.

[@cbbblue8348]

Chairs

[@DarrenC_1024]

I'd expect Bruce Lee's nunchucks to made the list. Guess you are not old enough, lol.

[@radityoperwianto1339]

@@DarrenC_1024 you make me feel old, damn...

[@fermusle4032]

@@DarrenC_1024 it's just not as comical to say a phrase with that, that's it

[@turboshamu]

Actually it's the folding chairs

[@Yeong1990]

“Whatever Jackie Chan want to use.”.

[@hockeyh]

😂😂😂

[@decoysheep4148]

Jackie chan in a ladder factory and he wants no trouble. Can YOU beat him?

[@Hecticatia]

That’s my favorite type of sword

[@brytonwallis4817]

Chuck Norris’s chest hair.

[@east8891]

@@brytonwallis4817 Your comment is weird, but me like it.

[@deformedchad8616]

Japanese katana are cool and all, but it's so annoying how Hollywood defaults Chinese or any other Asian weapon to "Katana, or Shuriken" cuz it just looks stupid asf

[@youkik3248]

确实很傻

[@barbiebarbie1813]

The katana (And other Japanese swords) is also a type of ancient Chinese dao / sword. production process also comes from ancient Chinese technology. katana, It is a dao used by the ancient Chinese when they moved to Japan (ancient Japan before the 13th century was the history of the establishment of a regime in China). It is similar to the Chinese Tang dao 唐刀 and miao dao苗刀. NO Japanese and korean sword in history.

[@Fghutrgjuzfe356]

@@barbiebarbie1813 苗刀は日本刀を元に作られたらしいけど…🤔

[@NerfMaster000]

“The strongest character has reached a level so high that he ended up using everyday objects as his weapon of choice.” Later... “Whatever Jackie Chan wants to use.” Does that mean...?

[@minmean3016]

It’s not as weapon of choice but anything can be my sword.

[@HeliPotter2000]

Anything you do, like folding your shirt and pants can be count as kung fu, or can be adapted into kung fu.

[@BeastOrGod]

He is the reincarnation of the Loner who seeks defeat!

[@nickasp8928]

@@BeastOrGod I feel like I've read that title somewhere...is it a novel?

[@silentoccasion4359]

@@HeliPotter2000 Karate Kid?

[@alexandrelot2798]

To sum up. Japanese: the tool empowers the user, and it is the reward of his training. Chinese" the tool is empowered by the user, and also, the continuity and reward of his training. Both are right in their philosophies.

[@charlestsai3708]

Best comment !! By my opinion

[@otinandrew]

非常精辟

[@otinandrew]

@bad bad mc bad then how come a courntry that always invaded by others become a third large courntry in the world?

[@otinandrew]

@bad bad mc bad mandarin is not Chinese? 您真是无知

[@otinandrew]

@bad bad mc bad You know something about China. But there's much more that you don't know.

[@aaronbaron6468]

I once had a nightmare that I was stuck and being hunted by Jackie Chan in a ladder factory

[@angsern8455]

Aaron Baron why was he chasing you?

[@agentc7020]

Did you survive?

[@agentc7020]

Did you survive?

[@andersonrobotics5608]

@Bolaji Windapo he has better chance of survival if he stood next to the elephant's foot in the Reactor 4 Basement

[@newchangeunlisted_viewer5594]

Ah hell nah

[@jritchey267]

I would suggest two major factors. First, the katana benefited from the unique historical context of Japan as a nation that took immense pride in its "warrior heritage" despite an unusually long period of enforced peace. Second, in the era when major advances in and expansion of information sharing and mass entertainment were occurring, reasonably high quality katana were far more readily available than any other distinctive traditional weapon. The Edo period looms large in Japanese history. The warrior class were the undisputed dominant force in the culture, but without significant military engagements, that warrior culture as largely vestigial. Weapons which were more effective on the battlefield, such as spears, shields, and ranged weapons are wildly impractical and cumbersome in peacetime; but the katana is both distinctly martial and relatively easy to carry. Thus it took on a cult status as the embodiment of a peaceful nation's warrior heritage. The design, handling, and mythology of the katana was stabilized and codified to a degree few weapons outside Japan enjoyed. High quality katana were produced and preserved in amazing quantity compared to comparable weapons elsewhere that fell out of favor and/or were utilized to destruction. Thus after Japan's borders were forcefully opened (and particularly in the aftermath of WWII when katana were stolen and dispersed as spoils of war) decent quality katana were relatively common, while any other sword the average person encountered (particularly in the US which became so dominant in entertainment) was likely to be either a decorative/parade piece, a minimized sport weapon, or a poorly maintained--if not outright mangled--museum piece. In comparison, the katana took on a legendary status and an outsized dominance where swords were presented.

[@simonmatienchi]

This explains why Japanese kamikaze pilots carry swords into the mission

[@stanleychen7147]

Spot on

[@barbiebarbie1813]

Modern people have been brainwashed by Japanese propaganda. Because Japan and South Korea are assistants to the United States.

[@zhe8586]

Japanese martial arts and weapons have been popularized in the West since the end of WWII, because of the US occupation of Japan. Before that, the West knows Japanese swords just as little as other Asian swords.

[@barbiebarbie1813]

@@zhe8586 The katana (And other Japanese swords) is also a type of ancient Chinese dao / sword. production process also comes from ancient Chinese technology. katana, It is a dao used by the ancient Chinese when they moved to Japan (ancient Japan before the 13th century was the history of the establishment of a regime in China). It is similar to the Chinese Tang dao 唐刀 and miao dao苗刀.

[@CeeZeePeeZee]

"whatever Jackie Chan wants to use" is practically what 独孤求败 （loner who seeks defeats）highest attainable sword skill level seeks out any item can be a "sword" for him

[@AquaticMammalOnBicycle]

That was the greatest connection in the video.

[@Bamthis]

“Ascending above material objects is a sign of enlightenment...hence, the stick thing” this will be my quote of the month

[@daomickael7883]

People may misunderstand...

[@Bamthis]

@@daomickael7883 It already have been 5 months, my quote of the month has changed

[@stonefacewiththedrip3377]

@@Bamthis make it your quote of the month again

[@cultistlane7654]

"Spoiler alert: I don't think China cares much about swords." ...Brilliant.

[@airawolf4261]

I admire the balls on the guy for upfront honesty 😂

[@donaldmaxwell3171]

@@airawolf4261 dude, that's not honesty, mainly stupidity. The chinese had swords in museums that our modern technology cannot replicate. Early japanese swords are not katana but chinese style swords. They learned metalology from the chinese and slowly developed the katana. The problem with the chinese blacksmiths was that they keep their blacksmithing skill as a secret. They don't pass on knowledge like the japanese do. Now the chinese loss can't even make a decent sword other then props. Those ridiculous kung fu movies didn't help their popularity neither.

[@Takodachiii]

@@donaldmaxwell3171 but honestly speaking chinese hold other weapons such as spears and shields of a much higher regard than swords and being fluent and having many friends from and having been to china i can say with confidence that the chinese do not really care that much about swords favour much more elegant weaponry such as spears or simply martial arts, calling his statement stupidity is not entirely wrong nor right as his statement wasnt that wrong the chinese simply dont care as much about swords as other countries do

[@qs987]

@@Takodachiii swords are weapon of kings and generals so.......no

[@MultiGreatNinja]

qwedsa789654 tang doesn’t matter if people don’t care

[@Profile__1]

The hype and reasons for why katanas are so popular reminds me of the western view behind 1911 pistols. Don't get me wrong, they're great guns, but I feel like a lot of people hold it above ALL pistols no matter if other pistols have equal or even better aspects..

[@SparrowNoblePoland]

The popularity of katana's has to have something to do with movies and American's stealing a lot of them after WWII. In reality it's a limited weapon, in many ways. No hand protection, heavy for it's size, short for a two handed sword. It's actually not as good as many European swords, and in comparision to sabre it's completely inferior. Katana fighter has no chance against sabre in any duel.

[@mazireth]

A lack of exposure to historical Chinese fiction I think is one reason.

[@malik87breaker]

Christian Mills or in their culture. They are more subtle.

[@zuiwoshachang]

If you're interested, the Legend of the Condor Hero is a good place to start.

[@remyd8767]

@@zuiwoshachang kinda of a big undertaking. I would propose The Book and the Sword as an easier start

[@lancevance6346]

If Hollywood would stop using asian historical elements as just tropes to attract the casual weeb audience , maybe they'd see there's more to it than just ninjas,samurai,katanas etc

[@2dhoes03]

I think one of the reason for that could be the fact that Japan is supposedly an ally of the west while China isn’t. Therefore, this could potentially cause a lack of exposure of Chinese culture in the western world.

[@TheSorrel]

The way she wins by getting her sword cut in half is some great storytelling on its own. I need to see that movie.

[@Arthur_CNW]

Oooh, you haven't seen Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Definitely do so! It's a fantastic movie ^_^

[@jaigerdeva3645]

It's a great movie, that fight scene is one of the best in history.

[@jim_jim1674]

She won by wit.

[@FrttMs]

@@Arthur_CNW I can't stand the wire work in it. All that running through tree tops stuff. Which is a shame, since I always hear how good a movie it actually is.

[@TK-pl9cu]

@@FrttMs it's part of the artistic element and it's not like they were trying to hide it

[@shogun2heroicvictories15]

I just love the fact Jackie Chan always gets his own catergory.

[@StanleyKubick1]

yes. well, there are martial arts movies and then there are jackie chan movies.

[@TheAyanamiRei]

That's because there's few Martial Artists in Film who are willing to LITERALLY put their life on the line like Jackie does. He's LITERALLY almost died multiple times on set. Then you add in the fact that he's MASTERED Improvised Weapons like Ladders, and it's obvious why. That's not even getting into how Jackie Chan frequently has his Villains working TOGETHER in careful choreographed moves, UNLIKE most films, where you see Villains just standing around waiting their turn OR doing moves in the background. Jackie depicts FAR more Realistic Group Fighting Scenes. He's honestly a Legend like no other.

[@gingermintrose]

I train with the Chinese "Jian" and had a sort of respected envy over the iconic status of the samurai sword. This video essay changed my perspective! But, of course, it is not the utility but the essence of the user itself - how revealing.

[@simplestrum]

The sword, as depicted in Chinese cinema, is just an extension of the warrior's martial arts ability. Usually, the warriors are depicted as skilled fighters even without the sword, as seen in numerous kung fu movies where unarmed combat is often the highlight. Therefore, the sword does not take center stage. The Japanese, however, places a huge emphasis on swords, both physically and spiritually, and is usually the showcase of the fight scenes in their cinema or cultural expressions of honor and hierarchy. What is most showcased in cinema is often what becomes popular culture.

[@knight1506]

more like Chinese sword are lame af

[@sonfoku73]

@@knight1506 LMAO never seen a dao huh?

[@thorsten8790]

@@knight1506 Katanas are very overrated they really aren't that good.

[@gendoruwo6322]

Not really. Even the japanese don't go so far as thinking the weapon is more important than the man. Some may do think like that. Not all, and not common. Consider the example of the duel between Miyamoto Musashi vs Sasaki Kojiro. Kojiro used his prized long katana, the 'laundry pole', a famous weapon uniquely his own. Musashi used a simple long oar. Musashi defeated and killed Kojiro. (turns out that 'spiritual power in weapons' is at worst hogwash, and at best, not that important...) The japanese may appreciate craftmanship more than the Chinese, I think, and that's about it.

[@Valorhammer]

It's because the Katana is highly symbolic in nature, Katanas are family heirloom, temple offerings, spiritual anchors, seals and all that. One must remember that Japan doesn't have the iron to make these weapons and always import (I'm assuming smuggle) such materials. Their process of making it into steel isn't exactly quick and easy neither. Then the steel folding process is quite ardurous often needing 2-3 smiths. Add to that when making these... there's always a Shinto ritual (I'm assuming this was gone later?). And you have a sword with notable strengths and weakness like any type of sword... but extravagantly steeped in tradition and spirituality. So with a sword like that, would you just say "Eh, it's a sword". Or would you, like how the Japanese have been doing so in the silver screen, go "IT. IS. A. SWORD!!!" You'd be thinking why would they use it then and have it have a chance to break? Well here comes in the Bow, Spear and Matchlock rifles, the actual primary weapons of Samurais. Oh there are other sword that serve the purpose of weapons too (that have similar design to Katanas).

[@rogerzhou2912]

"The loner who seeks defeat“ this guy is the most powerful swordsman in the novel, he has four swords in his life, The first sword "My first sword was so sharp, strong and fierce that none could withstand it. With it in hand, I strive for mastery by challenging all the heroes of the Northern Plains in my teenage years."[4] The second sword represented by a wooden tablet) "My second sword was violet in hue and flexible in motion. I used it in my 20s. With it, I have mistakenly wounded righteous men. It turned out to be a weapon of doom that caused me to feel remorseful endlessly. I cast it into a deep canyon." The third sword "My third sword was heavy and blunt. The uttermost cunning is based on simplicity. With it, I roamed all lands under Heaven unopposed in my 30s."[6] The fourth sword (represented by a wooden sword) "After the age of 40, I was no longer hampered by any weapon. Grass, trees, bamboos and rocks can all be my swords. Since then, I have developed my skills further, such that gradually I can win battles without reaching for weapons."

[@mikebussy3334]

Then I hit him with a barrage of ninja stars

[@mikebussy3334]

Poison ones!

[@HeroesHoshi]

@@mikebussy3334 It is uncommon to face weapons that you are not familiar with. By drawing parallels from other weapons (Poison Shurikens are like Poison needles stacked together), they adjust themselves accordingly.

[@mikebussy3334]

@@HeroesHoshi have you ever been hit by a poison ninja star?

[@tonger7018]

@@HeroesHoshi he is weeaboo lol

[@nelsonta00]

Japanese people: I need a better sword! Jackie Chan: I need Ikea!

[@internettroll2626]

King of furniture

[@jieyangxu2453]

lollllllll

[@1989-u3r]

Lol

[@C0ldIron]

I think he has said a few times that his favorite weapon is a stool.

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

My favorite scene is in a market. Flings a bowl of dry curry in a dude's face.

[@ShinnorVictor-er3dx]

In fact, the Japanese katana design is inspired by the Chinese Tang Dao, a type of sword from the Tang Dynasty, and you can use Google to search Tang sword, you will find the similarities between the Tang Dao and the katana

[@barbiebarbie1813]

The katana (And other Japanese swords) is also a type of ancient Chinese dao / sword. production process also comes from ancient Chinese technology. katana, It is a dao used by the ancient Chinese when they moved to Japan (ancient Japan before the 13th century was the history of the establishment of a regime in China). It is similar to the Chinese Tang dao 唐刀 and miao dao苗刀. NO Japanese sword in history.

[@dash-2112]

Nope. Katana has no relation with Tang Dao, a Mongolian Xianbei sword. The Tang Dao that looks somewhat like Katana is a fake. No such shape of Tang Dao ever existed.

[@dash-2112]

@@barbiebarbie1813 What a complete bullshit.

[@dash-2112]

Also Katana was nothing before Western metallurgy was introduced to Japan during the late 16th century. The 16th century was a time of complete change in Japan. Japanese castles also changed completely from the previous era as Western civilization was introduced during that period. The low-quality Chinese civilization has not influenced Japan.

[@byhyew]

Sword became a thing in Japan because it was a present often given out to foreign emissaries that visit the capital of Tang China. Tang China had so much impact for Japan that it treated everything Chinese from the era as somewhat holy. That's why they made copies of Tang designs: katana as a copy of Tang dao, Kimono as a copy of Tang dress, and even Kyoto as a copy of Tang's capital Chang'an, and even imported Buddhism and their writing from Tang China. Of course, they then made many changes and developed ingenious new methods of production to cope with the island's lack of resources.

[@memesfromdeepspace1075]

Monk " everything is ilusion" Jacky " everything is weapon"

[@madmalkavian3857]

Assassin: illusions are weapons

[@thevoicej2511]

Christian Mihalcin Stoner: weapons are illusions.

[@bravo9960]

Soviets : "we are weapon"

[@dennisebert8787]

Weapons are weapons

[@fendysusanto876]

Chuck Norris: you call that weapon?

[@joshuafelicilda5733]

"had reached a level so high, they end up using everyday objects as a weapon of choice." sounds like Jackie Chan

[@dannybenhur6123]

The strongest character whom we know by name and never met him...had reached a level so high, thay he ended up using everyday objects as his weapon of choice....the philosophy of Jackie Chan...

[@pacificdawn5999]

That is not Jackie Chan's philosophy. We have this concept before he was born.

[@zaiemrys5917]

Amen.

[@nETbKaH]

@@pacificdawn5999 or maybe this concept appeared retroactively with his birth

[@ezra-keto]

John Wick?

[@WingChunBoyz]

Dugu Qiubai.

[@trasen5626]

Honestly a shame because Jian are incredibly beautiful. Probably my favorite type of swords visually.

[@Zz7722zZ]

True, I have also come to love the Ming dynasty version of the jian. It is in my opinion, the best design for a side arm/civilian use weapon, with a good balance between cutting and thrusting, weight/balance, sufficient width and depth of the guard and a comfortable grip.

[@AzoreanProud]

It's a historical meme thing, swords aren't even the most used weapon in the middle times, not in Asia, not in Europe not anywhere.

[@rowo175]

Yeah spear is widely used

[@maira7804]

You're right, military uniforms incuded swords untill at least ww1 even if they were basically useless

[@theghosthero6173]

They were. They are the most common civilian weapons aside daggers and the most common military sidearm

[@ategabbysev2993]

@@theghosthero6173 not true swords are expensive to make due to crafting the only civilization where sword is the king of weapon is Roman because of their advance technology much of all culture spear is the main weapon

[@theghosthero6173]

@@ategabbysev2993 can you read? I said civilian weapons, most people aren't allowed to carry spears in town historically. I also said the most common SIDEARM.

[@nightskymusic1293]

Ya know that the Japanese and the Chinese have a similar philosophy in one way "If the wielder is weak, even the most powerful weapon is useless"

[@Foxxie0kun]

This is why if games allow a level 1 character to equip a high-end weapon it still won't save them most of the time. Not having the skills and active abilities really hurts your ability to fight, and if your stamina/mana is too low to supply your attacks with a high-end weapon you can enjoy waiting for it to regenerate. Some games let characters equip higher level weapons at a significant penalty to hit chance and damage, some games don't even let your mall ninja equip a real sword until after a dozen levels or so of the tutorial.

[@nightskymusic1293]

@@Foxxie0kun Yeah, true :/

[@romuloambay9624]

a swordsman could not just inherit and wield the sword of his elder if he is not mentally and physically fit to handle it. .incase an epic fight erupted between two skillful swordsmen with their respective legendary swords one will always emerge as winner but it doesnot mean the loser is a disgrace to his sword. .in combat dying or surviving is not the ultimate objective of a warrior; it is how one wielded his sword honorably and according to his fighting code. .

[@magniwalterbutnotwaltermag1479]

*laffs in polearms*

[@lolsmo395]

*ancient chinese dud with auto crossbows* : HA. speak for yourself.

[@thatdudewelove8498]

World: we have swords and polearms as a weapon. China: I *am* a weapon.

[@daoyang223]

Basically. Watch any Donnie Yen film in the last ten years and he literally kills everyone by just simply boxing. Like I mean he doesn't even implement kicks 90% of the time. He will literally Mike Tyson you to death.

[@finding_aether]

@@daoyang223 interesting WingChun is made famous by Bruce Ler precisely because he says it doesn't work and he incorporated styles from Martial Arts around the world to invent his own style. Wimgchun is nice but I don't get the hype.

[@xaagripha7326]

I tried to wipe your picture off the screen.

[@ahmadoki1993]

nice

[@b.m.5068]

@Gabriel Amaral that's a shloka from Bhagvad Gita

[@sweatybotfn9982]

As someone who practiced WuShu in China for well over 10 years, the “Jian” (sword) is a weapon, among hundreds that surrounds the spirit of kung fu. The weapon is a support, it’s a part of martial art and not the center of it. A martial artist will master fighting before going on to the staff, than sword, then spear…

[@露透社]

中国要选择的武器太多，所以没有那一种武器多么被重视。不同需求用不同武器。同样中国人先是修心再修身，只要思想灵活任何物品都可以成为武器，武器只是配合人完成使命。就象拿金钱可以买任何东西，这是中国人思维。而日本武士垄断阶级，他们为保护利益必须看重武士刀。但资源匮乏，锻造技术不发达，只能更多选择武士刀。日本人思维就是金钱只能换金钱，范围太小。

[@EricLing64]

John Wick with a pencil vs Jackie Chan with an eraser?

[@SPSJ173]

Eric Ling Bruce Lee with his bare hands Chuck Norris' remaining chest hairs still quiver at the thought of it

[@scrubby2]

vs jason born with a pen.

[@kimin7633]

@@scrubby2 any person with a ak47?

[@allenhiu8205]

Chan would catch the pencil tip in the eraser and twist his wrist, breaking the point and making the pencil useless!

[@gwenwalravens8030]

vs a stormtrooper with a red shell

[@AccentedCinema]

CORRECTIONS: The proper name for the weapon used by Jet Li is "Three sectional staff" (Thanks to commentor Tom O'Brien) Commenter maartmaster points out that people knowing the word Katana and people not knowing the word "Jian" is not a fair comparism. Katana is one specific type of sword in a much larger category of swords. The proper comparism of words would be Jian vs Nihonto. Commenter Stephen Stokes points out that, technically, there is no equivalent word for sword in the Chinese language. Chinese people uses different words for straight double-edge blade (Jian) and curved single-edged blade (Dao).

[@agentspaniel4428]

We see 5 swords in that movie the American 1911 straight saber, the Jian, the Dao, the 9 ring saber, and the katana

[@qiankundanuoyi1]

And it's not called "Guan Dao". It's called a "Da Dao" because only if Guan Yu uses a "Da Dao" then can it be called a "Guan Dao".

[@carltomacruz9138]

Use the Mandarin name, man.

[@ouroseidal3773]

@@qiankundanuoyi1 the da dao is a completely different weapon though. The guan dao is a polearm and the da dao is a war sword

[@Drownedinblood]

@@qiankundanuoyi1 That's not true. Da Dao just means big knife and used to refer to two handed dao. My whole life that type of halberd is called a Guan dao, the guy made it famous enough.

[@jackhw6262]

NEVER start a fight with Jackie Chan in a Home Depot or Ikea

[@Eichro]

the greatest weapon is the object closest to jackie chan

[@mornfo7870]

Bruce Lee..... Bite if you must Poke eyeballs out if you must Kick balls if you must Win anyway you can Bruce Lee mastered The Art of war...LOL.

[@ethanchoi7036]

For Keanu Reeves... a pencil (sharpened is suggested)

[@ethanchoi7036]

@raserianfald suggested... not needed

[@lolmosse7276]

Neo: Guns, lots of guns. Jackie Chan: Chairs, lots of chairs.

[@howardteo8330]

In Chinese Novel / Cinema Culture there is a stereotype of weapons for different type of roles in the story. Swords / Jian : Usually carried by scholars. Shows refinement. Scholarly skills are swordsmanship, horse riding, chess, poems, music and education. Almost similar to knights and samurais. Sabre or Broadsword / Dao : Are carried by imperial troops and especially constables or sheriffs. Law enforcers. Some constables in the later Dynasties like Ming Dynasties carry a pair of Tongfa though. Staff / Gun : Carried by Monks. The idea of using staff is because it is perceived to be a less offensive weapon. Under the code of conduct, Monks have the right to defend but no right to kill. Spears / Chiang : Default weapon of the Imperial troops. Especially the Infantry and Calvary. There were alot of variations for spear though. Guan Dao was one of them. Staff mounted blades were popular because usually a one on one fight between leaders in a Warfield is usually done on a horseback. Arrows / Jian : Need no introduce. Long range weapons. The Chinese used stone loaded catapults too. The Yuan Dynasty which was a Mongolian rule over China, the Mongolians conquered China with a superior calvary. Their horses and archers were of better quality. Till the Kamikaze because they had no sailing experience. Flying Guillotine / Xie Di Zi : A weapon that remains as fiction. The idea only appeared in Qing Dynasty, the last dynasty where the rulers are Manchurian. A weapon used by private squad of hitmen hired by the Emperor or the imperial family. The story portrays the hitmen will store the decapitated skulls in their family temple. Their extinction happened because their presence became obselete after the imperial court started buying firearms.

[@Tareltonlives]

I wonder if there was a class division between the jian and dao

[@howardteo8330]

@@Tareltonlives there is somewhat of class division in a way that Jian usually represents refinement. Also represents nobility. Example the Emperor's personal weapon usually is a Jian. Unlike Dao which is meant for slashing, Jian is used like an Epee or a Rapier. Dao has a very rugged image. Also usually Jian is made of better materials. That's why usually Law Enforcers carry Dao as a mass issued weapon. But in Novels there are certain rare Dao of excellent quality. However users are very rugged people like King of pirates or Chief of mountain bandits.

[@bozhoujin5925]

Tareltonlives So Jian has to be crafted straight (which is not as easy as it seems since as it cools down it often shrinks and bends). It usually has edge on both sides. Whereas Dao is usually curved with only one-sided edge. In many cases the techniques in using a Jian is associated with the agility and speed of the user, hence many Jians are light-weighted. On the contrary Daos are more heavily weighted in most cases and associated with the power of the user. Just my understanding

[@ferexx]

@@Tareltonlives Jian is also known as the "gentleman's weapon" so there is indeed a sort of class division

[@sidekic1109]

Hehe, Gun Yes I know it's obviously not pronounced like that, but I think it's just a funny coincidence that the spelling is the same

[@rashadowens9517]

The sword of goujian is also another legendary Chinese blade as well😊

[@jakeli788]

Rites (禮) Music (樂) Archery (射) Charioteering (御) Calligraphy (書) Mathematics (數) Those are the skills a ancient Chinese noble have to master and we can see only archery , so sword isn't a favourite weapon in ancient china ,thus it's not as famous

[@张旭-u2t]

Sword is to Rites and higer nobles.

[@ajikoko8905]

Yes, agree with that, on the other hand japanese sword became famous because of the rebirth of bushido in ww2, they carried around a katana (even though the cheap version one, except the one owned by generals) everywhere and at every war, even some of their pilots brought one with them, while doing kamikaze. Us army won the war, brought themselves back katanas owned by those Japanese soldiers, that's why it's became famous. And bushido itself is reincarnated from japanese old philosophy of the way of sword (literally the meaning of bushido), as the Invincible Sword Saint 'Musashi Miyamoto' himself stated in his book Gorin no Sho, the way of the warrior is the way of 'pen and sword'.

[@milligun1841]

Good sword=noble

[@OcDmn]

Not even for japanese. The warriors are warring using bow and spears while sword was just a status symbol. Not until later when they romanticize sword that it becomes as popular as now. Tl;dr Japanese is good in selling their swords

[@Takodachiii]

China definitely hold their military and weapons at high regard but they care much more about their spears and longer range weapons rather than swords as well as that skill is considered more important than weapons

[@apex_xd8907]

"why use a sword when you got the strap?" - Sun Tzu, Art of War

[@alcorgarcia619]

😂🤣

[@llllllllIIIIIIIIIII]

;-;

[@武汉肺炎是正名]

There's one thing,he is right,sword is symbol of someone,in chinese history,the mostly used by army and people is knife but sword

[@bluespaceman7937]

Good saying.

[@震旦云龙]

First, in Chinese language, the definition of “sword” is actually kind of different than Japan and Europe. In Chinese, “剑（jian）” has to be a double-edged sword; in other words, the weapon such as Japanese katana will be defined as a sort of “刀（means blade or knife）” instead of a “sword” in Chinese view, because it only has one edged side. In Chinese history, Jian was widely used as a type of actual combat weapon in the frontline military from Zhou dynasty（1046BC-256BC）to Han dynasty（202BC-220AD）; but during the Han dynasty, its position was gradually being replace by “环首刀”, the Ring-pommel blade, a type of single-edged straight blade. After Han dynasty, Jian became more and more unpopular on the frontline battle field. In military, it was usually only used by some certain special units or high rank officers like generals during the later dynasties. And in Japan, the culture of katana worship is also mainly developed in the Edo period（1603-1868）. In the actual Sengoku period and earlier era, Japanese Samurais also prefer to use lance and bow rather than normal katana on the battle field. Edo period is a relatively peaceful era in Japanese history compare to earlier Sengoku period, large scale war is rare, and that is the time when katana become the symbol of Samurai identity. However, I think the more direct reason about “not being famous” is just because modern Japanese culture industry is developed much better than China, and have much higher influence on western world.

[@randyyeh7576]

Well, I think in Japanese culture, fightings are develop around the weapons. Whereas in Chinese, the weapons are developing around the fighting. In Chinese, we tend to see weapons accompanied martial arts such as Taiji or Wushu. But the martial arts are not developed around the weapons. In Japanese, martial art such as kendo is entirely developed around using sword.

[@jewellui]

I think because Samurais switched over to using guns from the bow and lance.

[@bboygenetics9882]

I agree with the last part, popularity is all based on culture. Westerners glorify the katana because the West is currently allies with Japan, however China is their rival. Why would the West want to glorify anything from their rivals?

[@jewellui]

@@bboygenetics9882 I think you are wrong, China has only been a rival in recent years. Prior to this, Japan was the main threat but the Katana has been popularised for a long time.

[@ungrave5231]

Doesn't Japanese also have 剣 (ken, double edged sword) vs 刀 (katana, single edged sword)?

[@KevTarot]

1. The person exists when the blade exists. 劍在人在 2. The blade merges with the person using it. 人劍合一 3. The blade exists in the heart. 劍在心中 4. No blade exists. 劍不在 5. Heaven and the person as one 天人合一

[@oman115]

In real battles, soldiers from every country used the same weapon: spears.

[@DarkTheFailure]

Until gun

[@michaelterrell5061]

Actually that’s not true. There was a lot of variation, for instance the mongols, Japanese, and Koreans were known for there bow and arrow prowess, while China was known for its lance.

[@stevemarcosunny3916]

@@michaelterrell5061 nope ... China was known for “Chu ko nu” , where it could fire arrow repeatedly.

[@michaelterrell5061]

@@stevemarcosunny3916 China was almost exclusively known for its use of pole arms. Yes it had that weapon but they weren’t known for it.

[@canismajoris6733]

Romans who exclusively used swords for the majority of their history. Lots of classical and dark age civilizations used swords over spears.

[@cycadaacolyte6349]

Often in European and Japanese early periods, the sword was a sign of wealth. You could arm a half dozen men with spears or axes for what it took to make a single sword.

[@flysmask]

Well, in Chinese culture it was a Junzi (gentleman) thing to have a sword at the waist. It was supposed to mean that the man was both accomplished in academia and in martial arts. But mostly it's just a tool for wealthy scholars to '装逼＇.

[@kanahan281]

@@flysmask to what

[@IpSamuel]

Mal Tech the word @flysmask used means "to be pretentious", as chinese swords similar to other cultures' counterparts are still fairly expensive and also a sign of wealth with ornated hilt and sheath. The more commoners' weapon of choice would be the Dao, which was more like a cutlass and often made with much cheaper materials.

[@stylesheetra9411]

And you dont want arm people with swords, considering how useless they were

[@gemreivews]

Agreed. Vikings had alot of makeshift equipment but they were earning for the best sword. It's a status symbol. O conceal carry and so do my friends. We do criticize each other for our guns. The glock guys likes to shit on the other guys that don't carry glocks. In the US a 1911 (45 acp) is the excalibur weapon. Rifles are considered war weapons. Pistols are self defense weapons so it's very personal.

[@distantmoon]

Everyone thinking they're smart by just stating "mADe iN cHiNA LUL". They forget that Chinese-made products only really took on this quality after the 1950s whereas we're talking about swords that relate to Imperial China. Fact of the matter is, Chinese swords were far superior to the katana due to superior Chinese metallurgy, but eventually were phased out due to crossbows, gunpowder, and polearms being far more useful, especially in relation to fighting northern invaders like the Mongols. The reason why Chinese swords are not more famous is not only because they are less exotic in shape (a quality only really seen in swords in the late Ming and onwards) but also because of the lack of cultural export after the CCP took over and the fact that China had evolved beyond from using swords in warfare as long as 1500 years ago. Swords really are as basic as it gets.

[@distantmoon]

@ERRATAS 0202 🤡

[@Liliquan]

@ERRATAS 0202 Your brain must be a least 80% mush.

[@ChromeMan04]

Lol Chinese were still using swords until the Anglo-Sino wars

[@distantmoon]

@@ChromeMan04 Virtually every civilization bad a basic blade type weapon. Using them does not mean it’s the only weapon you have nor does it mean that they aren’t effective. Why do you think bayonets were the standard issue infantry weapon for so long? You also going to casually forget about cannons and fire lances which the Chinese used more than 1000 years earlier also?

[@ChromeMan04]

@@distantmoon Chinese didn’t even use gunpowder which is odd because it’s their own invention. The British whooped them because the Qing dynasty’s army was composed of farmers and artisans with no formal military training. All they did was use swords, bows and picks.

[@starbomber]

You know, this made me think of something, when you talked about how Buddhists think of the world as an illusion. There's a running theme in the manga One Piece that there's these Excellent Swords in the world. These master-grade swords are really strong, but it's only in the hands of a true master that their true potential is realized. The character Zoro however, has a lot of seemingly Buddhist ideals and thoughts. Zoro basically doesn't believe in swords, even though he needs high grade swords for his ridiculous fighting style. (A running gag in the show early on is he keeps breaking his swords because he's too strong, or rather, he's too focused on strength, he thinks at first 'If I can just become this strong, I can cut through that') Which might explain why Zoro continues to pick up cursed swords. Noone else wants them, and usually thinks of them as well, cursed. But Zoro is not superstitious enough to believe in an unlucky sword. I think he sometimes mentions that he can 'feel' that a sword has good quality, or maybe even that it's strange, but his whole swordsmanship philosophy arcs back to that Buddhist idea that the world is an illusion. It isn't until later in the series that he starts to figure it out.

[@Zen-sx5io]

Interesting.

[@daoyang223]

Give Jackie Chan a wicker stool and he'll destroy a gang of triads. Teach Jackie Chan how to make wicker furniture and he'll rid all evil

[@spacetacos7574]

The ikea of mass destruction

[@Gundamortal]

This is a very interesting video 😏so basically in Chinese mythology ✨the weapon does not make the warrior the warrior makes the weapon✨

[@alvinshaw33]

No. Three black smith makes the weapon.

[@RyanLesNOVAL]

precisely

[@kaimengquek1952]

A good sword can make a novice powerful. A good sword will make a strong warrior as if adding wings to a tiger.. But only benevolence makes a person invincible.

[@yvrelna]

@@kaimengquek1952 A good sword will just hurt the bearer in the hands of a novice.

[@Rorschachqp]

That’s what Thulsa Doom says

[@aotoda486]

I haven't watched the video, but my guess is China was simply never as militaristic (as Japan for example) in the early modern period when sword culture was flourishing around the world as a result of rapid advancements in metallurgy. While French musketeers were flinging Rapiers into the Spanish, and the Japanese Samurai clashed their katanas during the Sengoku Jidai, China's main military focus (actually sort of throughout its _entire_ history) was of course repelling the Mongols, against whom, famously on horseback, non-polearm weapons without reach were simply peripheral in combat. By the time the occasional Chinese foreign conflict (which was still just a form of proxy war) was sparked once more over Korea, the age of the sword had passed, and the next big thing was of course the cannon. I reckon this is the same reason early Chinese gunpowder weapons were never really as famous as early Turkish gunpowder weapons for example, or even the Chinese invention of gunpowder itself, to begin with. They simply didn't really have anyone to use such powerful, in this case, _siege_ weapons against (when the Mongols didn't have much in the way of permanent structures to be destroyed). Perhaps this is why polearms seem to be relatively more popular in Chinese media. Something easier the stab the mounted Mongols with, where in Japan the incredibly rough terrain severely limited the use of cavalry and relegated the polearm to its default role as a cheap weapon for the peasant armies. But this is all of course basically speculation.

[@滑稽部部长]

This video interprets this issue from the philosophical and cultural perspectives. Of course, your analysis from the military perspective also makes sense. Around 700 BC, the Chinese used bronze swords as weapons. By 400 BC, people used polearms Ge to fight on horse-drawn chariots. Sword gradually became a ceremonial prop, as a symbol of identity and morality. In 200 BC, breakthroughs were made in iron smelting technology, and iron shields and armor were able to equip troops on a large scale. Sword's weak armor-breaking ability made the soldiers not choose it, and other countries only had armor made of plant fiber soaked in oil very late. Ordinary Japanese samurai used grass to weave armor for a long time, so the samurai sword can play a role. With the development of tactics, Chinese generals used combat formations to make the coordinated use of a variety of long weapons more effective. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2XZpX1rdrCpgKc Stop motion animation-Chinese soldiers fighting formation

[@pezz_pezzer]

"...and whatever Jacky Chan wants to use." lol, that was brilliant and funny.

[@m4x927]

*Jackie

[@littlepanda1027]

In ancient China, poets and litterateurs were far more respected than militarists. Sword was a symbol of Junzi(person of noble character) in most times. Also, Jian is just a general name. There are many different kinds of swords (not a single famous sword like Ganjinag, Taike)in China. The most famous one is named 龍泉寶劍(Dragon Spring Sword). If you are really interested in Chinese sword or Jian,and perhaps Wuxia, you may watch a well-known Chinese anime series called Qin's Moon/Legend of Qin(秦時明月).

[@holdenkimura5034]

Meanwhile, in Japan the Samurai and Daimyo classes ruled for hundreds of years under the Shogunate, placing higher value in Japanese warriors and their signature weapon of choice: the Katana.

[@ZerogunRivale]

Are we seriously going to pretend that Sun Tzu didn't come from China and that China didn't fall into warring regions at a rather constant rate?

[@holdenkimura5034]

@@ZerogunRivale But there wasn't an entire ruling class of warlords that survived into peacetime like in Japan.

[@kaptenlemper]

@@holdenkimura5034 the katana wasn't even a defining attribute of samurai culture until the relatively peaceful era under the Tokugawa bakufu. It was only when the warriors were forced to demobilize and turn into administrators that they began to inflate the properties of the katana as a status symbol.

[@eyesnapples6167]

@GiganX13 So what ?

[@제규형]

It's as you said. Everybody knows what a katana is, and everyone goes bonkers over how sharp it was and how cool it is, but I think other Asian weaponry are just as great in fiction. Chinese, Mongolian, Korean, etc etc. I hope more light sheds on them in the future.

[@Jose.AFT.Saddul]

I think culture helps as well. The Japanese culture treat the katana. The same way Americans treat guns.

[@l.n.3372]

@@Jose.AFT.Saddul That's slightly insulting. Many Americans don't like guns. It's not part of their culture the same way the Japanese katana is.

[@Jose.AFT.Saddul]

@@l.n.3372 most Americans I’ve encountered love guns. America was a nations founded by Guns. That’s why the founding fathers protected the rights of its citizens to rebel with guns in the constitution. But I acknowledge that there are Americans that hate the gun the same way that there are pacifist in Japan that hate weapons in general. If you were offended I’m very sorry. Not my intention.

[@l.n.3372]

@@Jose.AFT.Saddul There's a huge difference between what the founding fathers said 250 years ago and what the NRA currently does to hold America metaphorically hostage even when the majority of the public in polls say they want stricter gun control. And it also depends on who you claim to be talking to when you say this - because the lack of gun control is a major issue in this country and I wouldn't want you to get the wrong impression from a biased person. But I accept that you didn't mean to be offensive by the comment, so no worries.

[@what-oy8il]

@@l.n.3372 minority doesn't represent the majority.

[@satnamo]

Weapon is just a sticky thing.

[@tintonbagustriyoko8676]

Why chinese sword not as famous, because they don't have anime

[@ardiwicaksono295]

Nope. Chinese make some anime too. Maybe in Ten years... They Will dominate

[@camrendavis6650]

They have their own cartoons called Donghua. They even have their own comics called Manhua

[@ruedelta]

@@camrendavis6650 Those are just the Chinese pronunciations of those words. Donghua (Chinese) = Douga (Japanese), and Manhua (Chinese) = Manhwa (Korean) = Manga (Japanese). In China, they tend to call cartoons (Donghua) and anime (Dongman) separate things, as well as Japanese anime (Dongman) and Chinese anime (Guoman). And yes, Chinese anime have been growing as of late.

[@camrendavis6650]

@@ruedelta I see.......

[@pigboykool]

Check out "Rakshasa Street", you will like it.

[@Nerscylliac]

I can't speak for everyone, but When I think about Japanese fighting, I think swords, katana's, samurai, etc When I think about chinese fighting, I think about monks, hand-tohand, brutal fights of fists, epic battles with masters of many different weapons. Personally, I think that japanese swords are as popular as they are because the katana (and few variations of that basically boil down to different lengtsh of such) is an icon that represents an entire era in japanese hystory. many hundreds of years were spent with katana's as the common weapon by novice and master alike. Whereas in chinese media fighters (ala musou games) are depicted being skilled in many different weapons.

[@Nerscylliac]

@@jacobhuskinson3854 you're entitled to your own opinion. Though that said I'm not really talking about the peasants here- we all know that Chinese hystory, any hystory, really, is no where near as glorified and epic as it's made out to be in fiction and stories.

[@mitonaarea5856]

Japanese fighting is much more than swords, katana´s, and samurai.. Just like you said, Japanese monks also were fighters. And there are many more japanese weapons. And also the okinawan weapons are kite good. kzbin.info/www/bejne/inbLfmyHa7FmoK8 This is a good video about japanese weapons.

[@yogadgsix]

When i think chinese fighting with weapon, i just think they use long stick like kungfu in boboho film

[@definitivamenteno-malo7919]

@Mister Guy Except it wasn't. The Katana was the status symbol carried during periods of "piece", where no wars where happening, but mostly personal brawls and they began to practice sword combat for duels in a more sportship way to show off.

[@aceric1646]

@Mister Guy glaive would be a closer fit then halberd

[@FieryCheeze]

Pre-Qin Chinese kingdoms had a large emphasis on mounted or chariot warfare, where pole arms and bows were the main weapons. Qin armies simply changed the paradigm to giving those same weapons to footsoldiers. The sword was a secondary weapon. Imperial China (Qin - Qing) had no real concept of a warrior class such as the feudal knight or the samurai. Warfare was supposed to be part of what a scholarly gentleman in China studied. To be a general in Imperial China was to be considered the least educated of the scholarly gentlemen, as you weren't fit for duty at court or as some provincial governor/official. There many examples of well-made Chinese swords, the most famous is probably the Goujian, over 2000 yrs old but basically good as new, despite being buried for most of that time. Others come to us from artwork and relics ... "recovered" from China. Being good at war is not considered a virtue in an Imperial Chinese gentleman so the tools of war are not emphasized as greatly. There is another important point: who are the Chinese fighting for? When the Chinese go to war, it's rarely about personal honor or stake (as opposed to knights or samurai). Usually, generals are dispatched with troops at the command of the Emperor. They have gained honor by receiving and then carrying out the command of the Emperor. They don't gain honor by fighting personally the way knights and samurai believe of themselves. The Three Kingdoms era is the only one where personal duels are explicitly mentioned, to my knowledge. The story goes that when the Mongols attempted to invade Japan (with lots of Chinese auxiliaries), samurai challenged them to single combat honor duels. The Mongols and Chinese, either not understanding or not caring, began firing their artillery, much to the samurais' disgust. True or not, it matches the Chinese way of war. Massed formations and use of technology. Swords are the weapons of individual warriors, being personal defense weapons for close use. The pikes, halberds, bows, repeating crossbows and, later, muskets of Imperial armies are what Chinese infantry formations used. Both the Mongol and Manchu dynasties employed Chinese engineers to operate their cannon and siege machines because they were the best in Asia. Chinese cavalry used lances and bows. That's not to say the sword doesn't have symbolism in Chinese - both the jian and dao have tons of it. The Miaodao and Dadao have the distinction of being used in combat up until the end of Chinese Civil War. They even made a song about using the dadao to cut down Japanese troops. But aside from a limited number of Sinologists, who have limited access to both PRC and ROC archives, western media does not like to portray Asians outside of their stereotypes. Chinese men are either martial artists or extremely effeminate. Chinese women are either tiger moms or sex objects. Chinese media is all propaganda bunk these days, including the stuff from the Hong Kong film industry. And almost none of the "historical" films are actually depicting correct arms and armor. As another commenter pointed out, the Cultural Revolution killed a lot of the societal knowledge on Imperial China so modern Sinologists have to work with existing, accessible archival material or interpret work done by western scholars prior to the formation of the PRC. TL;DR - No warrior class, being a soldier not very prestigious job, honor comes from serving Emperor, military emphasized mass formations and weapons which suit it, sword is a tool for personal defense (not offense), all media has no idea what chinese arms and armor are because of the stereotypes they created.

[@1steelcobra]

The "1v1 me bro" thing seems highly suspect. The sword was just a last-ditch sidearm for the Samurai up until the post Sengoku Shogunate era. Before that samurai were primarily cavalry archers, and spears were more commonly used on foot. And if you actually study the Sengoku era, there really wasn't any of that "honorable warfare" crap either. Where we get the whole mythology of the katana as a super powerful weapon of honor is from when the Samurai had been retired from constant warfare to be bureaucrats, and the only symbol left that they were allowed to prove they were "warriors" was the daisho, or being allowed daily carry of the katana and wakizashi. So it wasn't actually the samurai of war who fetishized the sword, but the ones who lived in a peaceful era.

[@blackguitarmaker1925]

1steelcobra good point. We typically only see the romanticized view of the katana as a sword from the gods but people forget (conveniently?) that samurai were not top officials until way later in their history. They were the better trained and armored (sometimes?) soldiers of the armies and status was gifted as a reward. This is my opinion and don’t have references to back it up though. Lol

[@1steelcobra]

If you look into their mythology as well, the big "excalibur" grade sword isn't even a katana. Ame no murakumo no tsurugi, later renamed kusanagi, is depicted as a fairly standard one-handed double edged straight sword.

[@marcst3199]

A sword was also the side arm of the knights, the lance was more practical on horse. Also the spear was the most common weapon in medival Europe too, it's easier and cheaper to produce, and it's far easier to use

[@Tiger74147]

Swords were always sidearms, but you make a good point that there wasn't a "warrior class" for which a sword would be a distinct indicator of status

[@MoonlitMedows]

What a fantastic channel, so glad I found this! You are doing a great job!

[@Andres33AU]

I'll probably botch this retelling, but I remember reading something about Confucius and the Art of War, saying how every weapon had an advantage and a disadvantage depending on the situation, and no one weapon was better than the other. Also how the weapon in the end is only as good as its user, and to never underestimate your opponent. I also read a part where he was to fight someone, and his opponent was ready, with a sword, and got his ass beat by a wooden training sword. Expect the unexpected!

[@enkaphalin1111]

Never bring a sword to a polearm fight

[@withclarity1197]

Never bring a polearm to a gun fight

[@Andres33AU]

@CreepyGlider Yes, I must have gotten confused, lol.

[@Kitajima2]

Nice Big Brother reference. Lol and Julie Chen is of Chinese descent

[@Mirro18]

to be fair we got the whole thing in Japanese as well with the most famous warrior of theirs being Miyamoto Musashi who fought his most famous fight with an oar

[@werewolf4358]

"And whatever Jackie Chan wants to use" Laughed at that.

[@MichaelHarto]

Chinese: a great sword is useless without skillful user. Japanese: a sword so great, you don't need much skill to use. 'Murica: pew pew pew

[@Concetta20]

😂

[@benjaminbelmonte7192]

Lol

[@spartanx9293]

Actually one of our generals did make a pretty good Calvary sword

[@Imsusie1213]

Not in the single movie, not in single literature or any other form, not even once the Japanese had a message saying you don't need much skill if you have a good sword.

[@MichaelHarto]

@@Imsusie1213 it's a fucking joke

[@d-culture927]

I think swords might have such a place in the history of theatre, film and tv because they are simply more practical and dramatic in performance. Swords allow for more theatrical slashing and swinging movements, do not get in the way of other actors and sets like a spear or other long weapons would and allow actors to draw in much closer to each other in a duel, heightening dramatic tension.

[@shannont6764]

"whatever jackie chan wanna use" that got me good

[@angkaien704]

your videos are... insanely good. I feel myself looking at everyday human behaviour, news and basic life with a more refreshing perspective! I am so grateful to have found your channel.

[@GrubKiller436]

It's very interesting. I appreciate that Chinese directors use a bunch of different kinds of weapons for us to watch. It's nice like that.

[@tomimn2233]

I love how the chinese cinema focuses on the diversity of weapons, making a master of weapons to be far more formidable than a master of the sword. ... unlike in Anime, where the guy with the ball and chain, throwing stars, shields and spear, bow and arrow will almost always lose to the swordmaster.

[@Kitajima2]

Funny bc Japan has way more practical "weaponless" martial arts than China does. You don't see Kung Fu used in MMA. Btw I'm a hafu (just to disclose my potential bias) and I love China and Kung Fu, but I've seen comments about Chinese martial philosophy vs Japanese martial philosophy that are untrue and not based in historic fact. My take is that China had more variety in weapons (due to Japan's lack of access to quality metal), but less training in what to do if you are disarmed or at a disadvantage

[@bobcamer7235]

@@Kitajima2 I love the way chinese martial arts looks on screen more than anything else

[@tuantani8480]

David Kitajima Bending the topic into your ego i see

[@calligraphy4244]

I mean, I don’t think you can classify Kung Fu as a single martial art.

[@MrWillypanda88]

@@Kitajima2 I respectfully disagree, trapping, a common term in MMA came from Wing Chun through JKD, and has since become important part of mixed martial arts. Anderson Silva uses it. Striking and kicking from Kenpo that went into MMA also came from Shaolin Kenpo that got passes through Japan and be assimilated into their fighting style. Sure there are many fake martial artist nowadays, if you're to ask some backwater Karate sensei that never truly fight trained fighter, he will probably performs more or less the same. But remember there are also Sanda fighters, Jackie Chen, Donnie Yen and Jet Li, those guys probably knows how to fight. But China, again, being a closeted country was not part of those worldwide event. They didn't participate in world boxing, nor part of any MMA organization, as much as they also didn't partake in Google, Facebook, etc. All I'm saying is, their mistake is not participating in those things (for political reason), if they are, I truly believe their best fighters probably will came out. Am not saying Kungfu is the best waaaa waaa, but I also don't want to look down on it because of reason stated above. Just remember, when China enters the Olympic, they are one of the top 3 with USA and Russia, to dismiss them just because you haven't seen them fight in a tourney seems like a logical fallacy. Instead we should encourage them to participate in those MMA events, who knows maybe 10 years from know we will have a champ from there, at that point, will you still think Kungfu is bad?

[@graycard668]

Swords. Spears. Thread an needles. And what ever jacky chan has in hand at the moment. Bro you killed me.

[@sallylee4924]

"Whatever Jackie Chan wants to use" That was actually a really good summary! The ultimate achievement in kung fu (as depicted in fiction) is the ability to use anything for weapons. The best swordsman is never that guy who tows his sword around, but some unarmed person who just breaks a branch off a tree (sometimes with flowers still on it) and proceed to beat up everyone else with the tree branch (without disturbing the flowers on it).

[@masydoda2546]

Chinese cultural weapon of choice: polearm. Chinese political weapon of choice: Strong arm. Interesting.

[@goldsilvervscrisiscollapse4320]

I believe that this is the political weapon of choice of all nations, particularly America... Or have you been asleep the last few decades when millions were killed in Vietnam and Iraq

[@sofjanmustopoh7232]

🤣

[@drakke125Channel]

the use of spears/polearms is universal across middle east and in western medieval culture. It's popular to use longer sticks and swords in Ireland/Scotland such as the bastard swords and highlander weapons.

[@AlfredEiji]

The polearm is the weapon of choice in any army. Intuitive to use and long reach. But as a weapon for the ordinary soldier, it doesn’t quite capture the grandeur of individual exceptionalism.

[@alfredwan8574]

@@AlfredEiji why ordinary soldier want to capture the grandeur of individual exceptionalism? want to get headshot?

[@tobiasaberg8659]

Honestly. It's because the sword was never a sign of status like it was in europe and japan. In europe the sword was the traditional weapon of the nobility (because it was expensive to make a good sword until the late middle ages) while in japan the two swords were the sign of the samurai class (again, it was expensive to make a good sword). China on the other hand organized their society differently, and as such the sword never had the same cultural signficance. It was never a way of separating the social elite from the rest.

[@Grahf0]

Well put.

[@gendoruwo6322]

indeed. metal ore is plentiful in china, thus swords and other metal weapons are common.

[@1steelcobra]

It must be noted that the sword had little symbolic presence for the samurai until they had basically been retired from warfare to be bureaucrats in the Tokugawa Shogunate. Skilled archery was a far greater talent to have before that. It's kind of like if modern soldiers who'd never seen war open carrying a pistol were acting as if it were the greatest weapon of warfare.

[@yqisq6966]

Makes so much sense

[@midshipman8654]

Tobias Åberg that’s a little simplistic. There was many reasons why the sword was valued all over old world civilizations, from japan and china, fo India, the Middle East and Europe. I don’t want to go on a rant on the variety of reasons, but the one that I think is most important pretty much anywhere is a swords unique ability to be worn pretty much anywhere. It’s the only prevalent purpose built weapon (so excluding knives and axes which can be multi use, or specificity war implements) that one can wear anywhere and still be modestly equipt. This means that it could be worn in court or just out in town. Therefore it’s the thing you build the closest relation too, you don’t bring a spear or bow wherever you go but a sword you can. In this way it’s an implement of just not offense but also defense giving it a more noble quality than a purely wartime instrument. These reasons gave it a high social standing, symbolizing, and increased romanticism.

[@siegbraud4658]

And I just learned that Katana was influenced by Tang Dao which was invented during Sui dynasty.

[@jebronlames4559]

Basically the sword is just a tool, what matters is the skill of the user

[@arx3516]

As long as the blade is serviceable, yes.

[@junjun1684]

对的。中国人并不是很看重兵器带来的加成，更注重自身的实力。中国武侠文化里还有一个其他文化没有的概念：内功。

[@gamingthisera6339]

Took alot of time to learn everytime you used different weapon

[@Ichigo90]

“And whatever Jackie Chan wants to use.” This line was brilliant.

[@aimanmarzuqi4804]

Probably because the Katana is just a really cool looking weapon, not matter its effectiveness in actual combat.

[@daoyang223]

I feel like even in Japanese films, animes, and shorts, they have constructed and deconstructed the Katana. Romanticized and realistic. They've done it all and I love it.

[@shugoshinshade7069]

The katana was a deadly weapon back in the days, but ppl stopped using it when it became illegal at a time. If they don't train with it, it's basically useless since it can easily break from a swing by an inexperienced wielder. Btw the blacksmiths went forging cooking knifes after they weren't allowed to make katana s

[@depingchen330]

HanEnder Eh, while your comment is mostly true, it’s also applicable to most weapons, including all the other types of swords The thing is, the katana can be effective at cutting, but so can many other swords, & the curve would only give marginal improvement to the cutting area & honestly, a weapon that easily breaks from an inexperienced wielder’s swing just isn’t a very good weapon in my opinion

[@centraltension8790]

@@depingchen330 I second that motion, though to be quite fair katanas are a sidearm due to its reach in a battlefield and the material they used to make the sword was crap (Pig Iron) that is why they had to fold it to be effective at cutting and it served its purpose well because ancient japan's armor wasnt on par with europe's.

[@012-g1b]

I love how you explain the philosophies behind different cultures, great video!

[@direklester926]

As a film maker doing sword fight, Japanese sword technique is easier to learn for inexperienced actor compare to the complex body flow of Chinese sword especially Jian

[@SamChaneyProductions]

True, or at least it seems that way on the surface, and film viewers won't be able to appreciate the difference between improper or proper Japanese sword technique, since it's more sutble

[@leusmaximusx]

not so much, chineses sword is easy too, because it promotes piercing than cutting just imagine ways of doing this from form to form body & last sword position., due to the thinness of a sword,

[@brightfart4011]

I'm Chinese, in our view, only a coward complains that he lost the battle because he didn't have a good sword. The real master does not need the legendary sword. The real master has a sword in his heart but no sword in his hand. To such state, a falling petal or a branch can be swords. In Japan the sharpest is the katana, In China the sharpest is the master's soul.

[@mellowmike9415]

After WW2, the US and Japan gained a cultural link many other countries don't have. We import japanese cars and technologies, and have also adopted words, foods, etc. For this reason katanas have become more famous than any other asian sword. It is not the fault of any country, it is evidence of the link between the U.S. and Japan. That's my hypothesis. Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.

[@ramani.a.8138]

Mellow Mike I have heard in a doctors the same !

[@fearedjames]

Basically, no. The reason why Japanese traditional shit is popular in the west descends from one really fucking successful novel called Shogun, that lead to a massive rise in Traditional Japanese culture popularity. Combine this with a damn fine catalogue of Samurai movies that movie buffs loved, and generally really early amazing works from brilliant directors like Akira Kurosawa (quality China still hasn't even gotten too), and it's pretty understandable why anything associated to Samurai mythos are more popular then Chinese anything.

[@obsidianstatue]

@@fearedjames it has everything to do with soft power, japanese anime and games naturally promote their culture, Chinese culture lacks this avenue of advertisement to the West. but there are some very good Chinese fantasy dramas emerging recently that expands on the Wuxia genre.

[@yuehan6711]

Rainbow Dashtruction Nah, there’s more evidence than entertainment. Take food for example, universal ingredients in Asian cuisine are always called by their Japanese name in the West.

[@fearedjames]

@@yuehan6711 Japanese words are far easier to pronounce for English speakers than Chinese words.

[@TangEhuang]

Just like the famous wuxia novel series, The Little Li Flying Dagger. His dagger was forged from ordinary steel and iron, unlike other fictional weapons that were forged from special types of materials. But its wielder, Li, is so skilful that he uses this dagger and beats everyone in the novel by throwing.

[@kemsat-n6h]

I don’t really think of China when I think cool swords, but I do when I think cool weapons.

[@archivesofarda986]

Im probably ignorant but "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" is still the best Chinese movie I have ever seen. Its just such a masterpiece that simply refuses to age. Still the best sword choreography in cinema history

[@lebowskiunderachiever3591]

Still near the top of my list . Crouching Tiger is mesmerizing . Was also glad to see Fearless represented here also

[@kinglouiev9530]

The Jian is the double edged Sword, Spear or Dagger. The Dao is the single edged Saber, Glaive or Knife. The Changdao is a Dao while the Europe’s Zweihander is a Jian.

[@EzeHSK]

There's also the shuang shou jian

[@kinglouiev9530]

darkwing dook Not unless if ya remove it from the shaft. Now ya got a staff & a dagger.

[@Kydino]

Zweihander is just a fancy way of saying two handed sword and I don't think it's military and cultural use is just interchangeable like that.

[@kinglouiev9530]

Kyriolexical Dino I’m just comparing the Changdao a 7ft piece of metal to the Zweihander another 7ft piece of metal. One is clearly a Dao while the other even though it’s not made in China is a Jian by definition.

[@kinglouiev9530]

Kyriolexical Dino you’re not wrong though. A Chinese Jain isn’t a Byzantine Spatha

[@XaliberDeathlock]

Part of the reason perhaps because during Edo period in Japan, swordsmanship (kenjutsu) becomes one of the virtue a samurai has to master. Even though in actual combat samurai don't use sword that much, the relative peace of three-centuries-long Edo period has stagnated the samurai class into civil servants that romanticize the warrior culture. Along with the invented term of samurai spirit (bushido), during that period sword becomes something that symbolizes that warrior culture, and can be seen decorated plenty of samurai houses. Samurai also brings them anywhere they go as status symbol. They're also allowed to murder anyone who disrespect them (kiri sute gomen) at that exact time and place with the sword. Also during that time, a number of people were so obsessed with a perfectly made sword that random sword-killing (tsujigiri) became rampant in big cities. It's a case of people trying out newly forged sword to test the sharpness of the blade by slicing anyone they passed by, usually at night. Samurai class themselves also has this habit of testing a blade's sharpness when they're tasked to execute people (usually criminals who are sentenced to death). A lot of post-war Japan entertainment took a lot of inspiration from samurai culture during this period, since they had plenty of archives about. Part of it because the fascist Imperial Japan treasured that part of history as a tool of propaganda. So yeah. I guess that contributes a lot on why the sword persists in popular imagination.

[@robohippy]

Well, i studied Wing Chun for some years, and we did a little sword work. There are two distinct types of Chinese swords. The one most that gets the most screen coverage is the double edged sword, which my teacher said was more for dueling, and the curved saber type, which was more for battle. That may explain some of it. Interesting that Korea, which was constantly between China and Japan, seemed to favor the Katana.

[@SerpentCommando]

Chinese swords are straight, with two blades, representing the integrity of a gentleman according to Confucian beliefs. Therefore, we often see it appear more as a political or status symbol.

[@barbiebarbie1813]

The katana (And other Japanese swords) is also a type of ancient Chinese dao / sword. production process also comes from ancient Chinese technology. katana, It is a dao used by the ancient Chinese when they moved to Japan (ancient Japan before the 13th century was the history of the establishment of a regime in China). It is similar to the Chinese Tang dao 唐刀 and miao dao苗刀. NO Japanese and korean sword in history.

[@titoxullman]

4:47 "Winning a sword fight with a stick" or in Ip Man, "winning a sword fight with a feather duster"

[@ChriSX13]

and smacking you like he's the mother of a naughty child while he's at it

[@thecapacitor1395]

1:30 Maybe the king just killed the husband because it was such a badly forged brittle sword made from cast iron instead?

[@mdexterc2894]

Lindybeige!!!

[@patrickpitz1879]

it wasn't even forged, if the footage were accurate, that's a cast sword.

[@thevoicej2511]

I noticed that too!

[@thecapacitor1395]

@@patrickpitz1879 Yeah xD

[@callmeWeiGe]

It was more than 2000 years ago. People only knew how to make bronze weapons. That couple was probably the first few people in China who found out how to make iron swords. That's why their swords were legendary. Also their swords were not brittle at all because according to Chinese history a good sword in those early ages takes 10 years to make. They just keep hammering them for many many years.

[@Agorante]

We know about the Japanese katana because of two words - Akira Kurasawa. I used to live in San Francisco on the edge of Chinatown. I went to the movie theaters in Chinatown and saw what we would later call Kung Fu films. I would walk down from Russian hill where I lived. As it happened I also developed a taste for Japanese food. I used to regularly eat at a little restaurant called - as I remember - the Hisago (?). It was named in some publication as the best inexpensive restaurant in the United States. So I would often drive out to Japan-town to eat dinner and see Samurai movies too. In those days that was the only place in town where Samurai films played. I saw lots of Kung Fu films before anyone knew anything about Bruce Lee. But of course Lee was vastly better than anyone I had ever seen before. He was a revelation. I also saw a lot of Japanese karate movies but Toshiro Mifune never caught on doing unarmed combat. He was no Bruce Lee. Similarly none of the Chinese sword fighting films - and there were many - ever caught on the way the Samurai films did - especially the films of Kurosawa (e.g. Yojimbo and Sanjuro). A lot of the subsequent popular cultural dominance of the Japanese in swordmanship and the Chinese in unarmed combat stems simply from the respective attributes and abilities of the two founding movie stars - Bruce Lee and Toshiro Mifune. And the two founding film makers - Bruce Lee and Akira Kurasawa.

[@Vitorruy1]

wow that's so cool, you make me nostalgic

[@Agorante]

@Mister Guy Magic swords are common in Western sword mythology. There is of course Excalibur the sword in the stone that Arthur magically designated him as the true king, there is also prince Valiant's "Singing Sword". Many kings and heroes carried named swords. Of course the Japanese had sword myths and legends just as Europe did. That's not the point. The Tokugawa Shogunate was an despotic regime that ruled Japan for about three hundred years. One of the techniques that the shogunate used to control the population was planned primitivism. Japan became isolated and they destroyed roads, bridges, and carriages. pre-Tokugawa Samurai were mounted archers. Other pre-Tokugawa Samurai used spears. And of course the three shoguns that brought about the end of Japan's endless civil wars had achieved military dominance through the use of firearms which they had gotten from the Dutch. Tokugawa abolished the spear, the bow and the gun. These were of course weapons of war and his shogunate abolished war. He introduced the cult of the sword. Swords in Japan were, as they also were in the West, side arms. Swords alone are not much good on the battlefield. A sword with armor and a shield is a battle field weapon (think Romans) but a sword without a shield is a side arm weapon for gentlemen. So since around the year 1600 to when Perry and the black ships came in the nineteenth century Japan had almost no contact with the outside world and no wars. Japanese swords and swordsmen were not very good. The swords were poor because Japan has lousy iron ore deposits. Sweden has good iron ore, Michigan has good iron ore. Japan doesn't. But more importantly they cut themselves off of cultural exchanges. During this period China had a early blast furnace. They could melt their iron ore completely. No one in Japan knew how to do this. In India they had invented wootz steel. Ingots of this superior steel from India traveled west to the Middle East where the Muslims made swords with true spring steel. Meanwhile the Japanese made the short, heavy and stiff Katana and related swords. These swords were compromised by Japan's lack of good ore and lack of good sword making technology. The folding technique was a way to purify the the bloom of slag if you couldn't get the ore hot enough to melt. The whole mystical process of making a Samurai sword was an improvisation - a way to make a sword without proper materials or technology. Very clever but an anachronism. The Samurai were also second rate swordsmen. In the Middle Ages gentlemen in England, France, Germany, Spain and elsewhere dueled regularly, They settled disputes with the sword so they kept in practice. But dueling died out early in the Tokugawa shogunate. In the West there was trial by combat and private duels. In Japan there was Hara-Kiri. The Daimyo would tell the disputants who was in the right and order the unfavored man to kill himself. Remember also Musashi Miyamoto was early in the seventeenth century. By the nineteenth century most Samurai never fought a duel. They might chop down an unarmed peasant but not a duel against an armed opponent.

[@kingkylie9655]

u said what everyone here is saying, japanese film exportation

[@Agorante]

@@kingkylie9655 Not so long ago say about the time I went to college, before we landed on the moon and Jack Kennedy sneaked out of the White House to catch the first James Bond movie, few in America knew much or cared much about Japanese swordsmanship or Chinese fighting styles. A few years later and all this had changed. It was because of the movies - specifically the movies of Bruce Lee and Toshiro Mifune. There had been some interest before in Japanese bare handed fighting. I can remember as a kid in the fifties of seeing Arthur Godfrey doing "judo chops" on TV. But very few knew anything about Chinese unarmed combat. In 1954 the movies were full of "Knights in Shining Armor". We saw lots of sword fighting on the big screen, but none of it was by the Japanese. That was my simple point.

[@Bladebrent]

Swords are so common in basically every form of fiction I usually give credit to anything where a protagonist uses a weapon that ISNT a sword. Not a "Sword but its also this other thing," just a straight up axe, or a spear. Its to the point where I've seen games and shows that give EVERYONE swords even when there isnt a narrative reason too; everyone uses swords because the writer thinks swords are cool. Im not saying Swords are bad; I just like seeing different weapons sometimes. So its interesting to hear that in China, it might be the other way around where people prefer Spears, or just other weapon variety. Interestingly, theres a fighting game called Koihime Enbu Ryo Rai Rai (based on another property Im fairly certain) and its definitely the reverse; theres actually far more spear users than characters using swords or daggers. Its the only game I've seen that favors spears so heavily and that might be because the property is distinctly Chinese despite (I assume) being a Japanese made game.

[@horsenuggets1018]

4:01 when you finally get the "wooden sword" in Skyrim

[@teohyc]

Actually there are some famous Chinese swords. Many who read Jin Yong (Louis Cha) novels will be able to name a few swords from the novels.

[@ducngo3077]

Yes, I was wondering why The Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber was not mentioned at all.

[@gohjohan]

@@ducngo3077, too many variations, I think. That series has been made too many times. That's my opinion. Hong Kong's 1980s TVB version is still the best

[@ducngo3077]

@@gohjohan well, they can refer to the novels which are one and only... or reference to a tv version that they think best represents their point... regardless, it should be mentioned at least since it’s a whole arc just about two blades and the symbols of those two blades

[@yhumicamasis4854]

famous? why no one knows that?

[@xiangli803]

@@ducngo3077 and in that story, the secretes hidden inside are more important than the weapon itself.

[@chettonex]

4:00 Kenshin does get stonger in the original story. His new sword isnt depicted as stronger, but to match his new strengh (that is to protect others). His blade was broken on the first duel because he was using a sword meant for killing and not to protect others. On that same arc the villan also uses a sword forged by the same blacksmith and it is as strong as his.

[@l.n.3372]

Rurouni Kenshin fan here. Technically, his new sakabatou is actually considered better too. The first version is the "shadow" of it. While the true sakabatou was dedicated to a temple instead. Kenshin gains access to the true sakabatou when he's ready to accept himself as a Rurouni - he doesn't want to lose himself as the hitokiri anymore. The new sakabatou is symbolic of his choice to stay Rurouni and never lose control again/never descend into the hitokiri again. So while it's technically a better sakabatou, it's also symbolic of the series themes and messages about the vow to never kill again. Also, the sword broken by Seta was also a sakabatou. It broke because Seta was confident in himself while Kenshin was doubting himself, fearing that he couldn't win against Shishio if he didn't regress back to the hitokiri. Kenshin had doubts so his sword broke to metaphorically show that he's doubting himself. His new sakabatou doesn't break because Kenshin understands himself as the Rurouni. He beats Seta and now Seta has a broken sword because Seta has mentally broken upon learning that Shishio has taught him a foundation of corruption and cruelty. Seta has lost his worldview and has doubts, so Kenshin wins their second duel.

[@Barreloffish]

In simple term, the first sword Kenshin used is considered a "replica" while the second sword is the real one.

[@lux_iao]

man this manga. This series. I miss it so much.

[@drunkpekka4284]

Kenshin fan here. This is inaccurate. Kenshin received a sakabato when he told the Arai Shakku [the swordsmith] he will swear off killing. That sakabato served him well for years until his vow is tested. Arai Shakku improved his technique of forging, creating a sword for "peace", thus allowing Kenshin to replace his old sakabato with a superior one.

[@PikaCheeks]

Rurouni Kenshin Fan here lol. I think the symbolism and meaning of Kenshin's Sakabato is open to interpretation, Kenshin invites open discussion on what the sword means to viewers. For me I believe the point of Kenshin's first Sakabato was yes it's the shadow/replica version of the real Sakabato. The blacksmith who made it wanted to test Kenshin's will and oath and he predicted Kenshin will face hardships with the Sakabato, so he purposely gave Kenshin the lesser version of it and Kenshin is so powerful and lethal that he's handicapping himself in order to protect others, including villains. Kenshin could had easily killed all his villains but he chooses the path with the most resistance. As Kenshin's past catches up to him, stronger foes and villains challenge him and eventually his sword will break, thus testing his will. Would Kenshin continue being a pacifist despite having the symbol and tool of his oath broken? Is his will broken when the sword is broken? Kenshin decided to keep going despite that and stayed strong to his oath. That is when he finally recieves the true version of the Sakabato, now that his he is 200% sure of his will. The real Sakabato represents Kenshin's undying determination to keep his oath and protect others. Why does Kenshin have an edge at all if he doesn't want to kill people? Because 1. that's too easy, 2 he was trained and taught the way of killing, the Sakabato is a mean to not completely declaw himself, he wants to recreate himself and turn his killing ways in a way that could save people and 3 he wants that killing intent that he had to look back at him because he feels extremely guilty and regretful of the past that he knows he can't change, it's a reminder of the reality he's gone through.

[@gjfwang]

Because Chinese used the king of weapons, the spear/polearm.