Chinese Sword Fighting Styles and Their History
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Some martial artists develop their sword fighting skills with a specific type of Chinese sword. Chinese swordsmanship centers on the straight sword jian and the curved dao. However, various martial arts systems focus on specific weapons and have different fighting applications, training methods, and styles.
Let’s explore how Chinese sword fighting varies from system to system, including the types of swords used in each.
Types of Chinese Sword Fighting
In Chinese martial arts, sword fighting involves the historically accurate use of Chinese swords—the double-edged, straight sword jian; the single-edged, curved dao; and their subtypes. Many martial artists learn sword fighting based on ancient martial arts manuals, focusing on a specific type of sword.
1. Long Saber Fighting
The Chinese long saber or miao dao (sprout saber) required both hands to wield it. It was widely used in the late Ming dynasty when China was defending itself against pirate raids. These Japanese pirates or wokou, consisted of former samurai who wielded their extremely long sword odachi. As a result, Ming general Qi Jiguang ordered the manufacture of long sabers to fight against these weapons.
Today, the Chinese long saber or miao dao is taught in various systems of Chinese martial arts. In historical texts, it is known as wodao, meaning bandit-lair saber. The martial arts manual Geng Yu Sheng Ji (耕余剩技) by Cheng Zongyou teaches the two-handed use of the long saber, including its stances and techniques.
2. Straight Sword Fighting
The Chinese straight sword jian served as a self-defense sidearm of civilian elites. In the late Qing dynasty, many served as practice swords used by martial artists, though there were also actual fighting weapons used by military officers.
The ancient Chinese military book Wu Bei Zhi (武備志) teaches the use of the two-handed long straight sword. Interestingly, the two-handed, straight sword techniques were also taught to the Koreans when Korea faced invasion from the Japanese samurai.
3. Dadao Sword Fighting
The dadao sword or Chinese war sword was popularized by the 29th Route Army, who fought the Japanese at the Marco Polo Bridge incident. Efficient for slashing through soft targets, it was ideal in the era of firearm warfare as soldiers wore minimum protection. Although the name dadao applied to various Chinese weapons, it most often refers to the iconic post-Qing military saber.
Today, the dadao serves as an inspiration to martial artists in terms of sword fighting techniques. Some martial artists practice the techniques solo or against an opponent.
4. Sword and Shield Fighting
The sword-and-shield fighting was part of the Mandarin Duck Formation invented by general Qi Jiguang to defeat the Japanese pirates. These pirates were former samurai skilled in sword fighting, so the formation allowed the Chinese forces to win based on tactics rather than individual skills. Also, the shield was made of rattan which could block and trap the incoming blade.
To defeat the invading Japanese pirates, the Chinese soldiers used swords and shields to defend at the front while other soldiers used the wolf brush to disable Japanese swords. Shield-bearers only carried a single-handed sword with a short reach, complementing longer polearms and wolf brushes of other soldiers.
Different Chinese Sword Fighting Styles
There are different forms of Chinese sword art and sword fighting styles. Most martial artists train with both jian and dao to get the unique advantages of each. Each weapon follows different principles, fighting applications, and sword training methods.
1. Qingping Jian
The Qingping jian is a stand-alone Chinese sword system that focuses on the straight sword, the jian. It reflects the ancient standards of Chinese swordsmanship, though its forms were constructed not earlier than the 1800s. The system was designed to cope with sudden changes and has a unique style, incorporating force with grace.
The Qingping jian became famous because its movements are beautiful to watch, and its techniques are practical for actual sword fighting. However, it is the longest and has the most movements of all the well-known sword methods. There are 365 techniques, so learning one technique a day would take a practitioner one year to learn the whole thing.
2. Wudang Sword
Originating from Wudang Mountain, Wudang martial arts have several branches, with some focusing on sword techniques. In Wudang Sword, the techniques are performed with the straight sword jian. The Wudang Sword of Dan Pai originally focused on the skill of improvisation in sword fighting.
Traditionally, an improvised solo practice form utilized all the techniques in the system in a free-flowing manner. Some practitioners also use throwing daggers—fei jian or flying sword—to attack enemies from a distance.
3. Taijiquan
The taijiquan, also spelled tai chi chuan or tai chi, incorporates Chinese swords in some of its forms. Its defining feature is the use of minimal force and more refined skills, contrary to forceful, powerful chops used in other martial arts styles.
The taiji jian (tai chi sword) and taiji dao are specially designed weapons used by taijiquan practitioners and follow taijiquan principles. Practitioners also practice them against different weapons. Still, the skill and principles of taiji jian and taiji dao are very similar.
4. Wing Chun Kung Fu
Wing Chun is among the most popular forms of kung fu and it emphasizes technique over strength. The butterfly swords or butterfly knives are among the primary weapons in the system. These short swords were initially developed at the Shaolin monastery.
Butterfly swords can utilize the techniques of a basic, empty-hand system. In the late 1830s, the Chinese militiamen used them as chopping weapons in close-quarters combat. Today, Wing Chun’s butterfly sword technique remains the style’s most prized skill.
Chinese Swordsmanship vs. Japanese Swordsmanship
During the time of the wokou raids, Japanese swordsmanship which utilized two-handed techniques proved to be superior to Chinese swordsmanship. Back then, Chinese swords were shorter and were wielded with one hand, resulting in lesser power, speed, and reach.
Also, Japanese swords were of higher quality than swords issued to Chinese soldiers. In response, the Chinese forces later utilized long sabers to fight against the Japanese swords. However, they heavily relied on using spears, polearms, and tactical formations to defeat Japanese swordsmanship.
Facts About Chinese Sword Fighting
Sword fighting skills can be developed with different types of swords. Some Chinese swords were designed by the military for war while others were developed by martial artists to make special skills possible.
- The sword fighting skills using the dao are among the most efficient in combat
The dao was among the most commonly used weapons in the Chinese army. The basic dao skills are easy to teach, learn, and use, making them the most useful in battlefield combat. Generally, the infantry used the short dao, while the cavalry utilized both the short dao and long-handled dao. Also, the taiji dao skills were designed to defend against spears.
- Many of the ancient swordsmanship skills on jian have been lost
Since the Jin dynasty, from 265 to 420 CE, the straight sword jian had not been used as a battlefield weapon. Its use as a self-defense weapon was only revived during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.
As a result, many ancient jian skills have been lost, and the modern practice of jian is limited to single routines which are part of a martial school curriculum. Also, various straight sword forms that emerged from overall martial systems are more prevalent than stand-alone sword systems.
- Sword fighting utilizes various parts of the sword and different skills
In taijiquan, the basic skills of taiji dao include using the saber blade, the guard, the handle, and the pommel ring in sword fighting. Other skills involve transferring the weapon from one hand to the other and more. The empty-hand skills are also practical, usually for grabbing the opponent’s weapons.
- The regular dao should not be confused with the taiji dao
The taiji dao is a specialized sword used exclusively in the taijiquan to improve sword skill practice. Still, it is not uncommon today that many practitioners use a regular dao to practice the taiji dao form. Some of them were oxtail saber (niuweidao), goose-feather saber (yanlingdao), and willow-leaf saber (liuyedao). Most of these have shorter blades and handles than the taiji dao, and using them may hinder some techniques.
- The taiji dao differs from the regular dao in form practice
The unique shape of the taiji dao allows the execution of some techniques. Unlike the regular dao, also called saber or broadsword, the taiji dao has a slender shape and should not be used with great force. The latter also has an S-shaped hand guard that allows one to develop some skills not possible with a regular dao, such as hooking the opponent’s weapon. The ring pommel of a taiji dao also allows easier control of the weapon.
- The taiji dao allows one or two-handed use
The handle of a taiji dao is longer than that of a regular dao, so some sword skills require two-handed grips. In fact, the taiji dao form includes some hidden two-handed gripping skills. Still, the thirteen-posture form, the main focus of dao training, is mainly executed with only one hand holding the weapon.
- Taijiquan practitioners train in single- or double-sword skills
In traditional taijiquan, only one dao is used, often referred to as the dan dao (single-dao skills). Still, some practitioners developed shuang dao (double-dao skills), in which each hand holds one sword, and the weapons are used in a coordinated way. Some groups also combine the single dao practice with the practice of other weapons, such as a whip, a shield, or hidden weapons.
- Some martial arts masters incorporated Japanese sword skills into Chinese sword practice
During the Ming dynasty, martial arts master Cheng Chongdou studied the traditional Chinese dao and then learned Japanese sword skills. In his book A Selection of Single-Sword Skills, he incorporated many Japanese sword skills into the traditional Chinese sword practice. Most of these dao postures are still used today in many martial arts groups.
- Wushu is a modern Chinese sport focusing on skill and fighting techniques
The term wushu (武术) means martial technique. It is sometimes called kung fu, and both terms generally refer to Chinese martial arts. While it has a long history, the International Wushu Federation was established in 1990 to regulate many types of Chinese martial arts under the wushu category.
Today, the main disciplines of wushu include choreographed routines (taolu) and full-contact combat (sanda). The former includes bare-handed taijiquan, taiji jian—a tai chi with a straight sword jian—and daoshu, which utilizes a broadsword. On the other hand, sanda is the fighting form of wushu.
History of Chinese Sword Fighting
Chinese swords had many variations throughout history and martial artists utilized the weapons that were available during their time. The straight sword jian was initially more common than the curved dao, as it was easier to manufacture, though the latter eventually became the widely used battlefield weapon.
In Han Dynasty
During the Han dynasty, from 206 BCE to 220 CE, swordsmanship became highly respected and popular. Sword fighting in the form of duels was common among martial artists to settle disputes. Swordsmen also made their living based on their fencing skills.
Some swordsmen served as warriors camped on the border where Han troops dealt with invasions. Sword fighting techniques also formed routine sets which were often performed as dances by ones who were not experts in martial arts.
In Ming Dynasty
By the Ming dynasty, from 1368 to 1644, sword fighting became a practical battlefield skill and self-defense. The single-edged, curved dao served as the close combat weapon of the Chinese military. The basic dao skills were easy to learn and use under extreme conditions, so they were most useful for battlefield combat.
Still, Ming general Qi Jiguang believed that the success of his army on the battlefield depended on its ability to function as a group instead of the skill level of one soldier in an army. So, he organized his army into fighting groups, where each soldier mastered only a few skills that complemented those of other soldiers within the group.
In Qing Dynasty
During the Qing dynasty, from 1644 to 1912, sword fighting skills using the dao became more refined and the military incorporated them into their training systems. The Qing military also used different types of dao of various sizes. However, the widespread use of firearms eventually diminished the importance of swords and martial arts training in the army.
Conclusion
Many martial arts practitioners hone their sword fighting skills using different types of Chinese swords. However, Chinese swordsmanship today is largely based on the martial artists’ specialization in a single sword routine rather than an overall martial arts system. There are also many martial arts schools that revive the historically accurate Chinese sword fighting skills, from solo forms to partnered drills and free swordplay.
