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Liuyedao
Liuyedao
	A 17th–18th century liuyedao with gilt iron fittings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Traditional Chinese	柳葉刀
Simplified Chinese	柳叶刀
Literal meaning	willow leaf knife
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	liǔyèdāo
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	láuhyihpdōu
Jyutping	lau5 jip6 dou1

The liuyedao or "willow-leaf saber" is a type of dao that was commonly used as a military sidearm for both cavalry and infantry during the Ming and Qing dynasties. A descendant of the earlier Mongol sabre the liuyedao remained the most popular type of single handed sabre during the Ming dynasty, replacing the role of the jian as a issued weapon in the military.^[2] Many schools of Chinese martial arts originally trained with this weapon.^[2]

This weapon features a moderate curve along the length of the blade. This reduces thrusting ability (though it is still fairly effective at same) while increasing the power of cuts and slashes. The hilts are typically straight, but can be re-curved downward starting in the 18th century.^[3] It weighs from 2 to 3 lb (0.91 to 1.36 kg), and is 36 to 39 in (91 to 99 cm) long.

Many examples will often have a decorated collar at the throat of the blade called a tunkou, which are stylistic holdovers from the preceding designs.^[2]

References

Notes

^ Tom 2001, pp. 217–219.
^ ^a ^b ^c Tom 2005, pp. 77-78
^ Tom, Philip (2019). "Of Geese and Willows". Mandarin Mansion.

Sources

Tom, Philip M. W. (2001). "Some Notable Sabers of the Qing Dynasty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art". Metropolitan Museum Journal. 36: 11, 207–222. doi:10.2307/1513063. JSTOR 1513063. S2CID 191359442.
Tom, Philip with Scott M. Rodell (February 2005). "An Introduction to Chinese Single-Edged Hilt Weapons (Dao) and Their Use in the Ming and Qing Dynasties". Kung Fu Tai Chi, pp. 76–85