From ancient bronze weapons to modern steel blades, Chinese swords are backed by a long and rich history. Today, they can be seen in several wuxia films and are employed for training in many Chinese martial arts such as wushu and tai chi chuan. If you’re a student of a Chinese martial art who is looking for a durable Chinese sword to practice with, we have a great selection for you to choose from. We carry functional jian and tai chi swords that are ideal for training and sparring.
Not a martial arts practitioner but love swords? Our Chinese swords make excellent collectibles and fascinating wall ornaments as well. Transform a drab part of your home and add an eastern touch to your interiors instantly by displaying an intricate Chinese sword. We stock only high quality items that are available at competitive prices and supplied by reputable names in the industry.
Chinese swords have a lengthy history. Bronze daggers can be traced back to the Western Zhou period (1100-771 BC), though they were not commonly used until the Eastern Zhou period (770-256 BC). Bronze long swords emerged during the middle of the 3rd century BC, and later, iron and steel swords which were wrought and never cast. Iron swords from China found their way to Japan where they were used from the 3rd to 6th centuries AD, but by the middle of the Heian era they had been replaced by Korean and Japanese swords. The average Chinese sword was 70-100 cm long, though longer swords existed as well.
All Chinese swords can be categorized under two types: jian and dao. The dao is a single-edged cutting weapon, supposedly invented by the mythical emperor Sui Ren who created it by melting pure gold. The double-edged jian is also said to have legendary origins and possess supernatural powers such as changing into animal forms and scaring evil spirits away. Many Chinese swords allegedly had magical abilities like emitting sound or light.
The jian and the dao are two of the four major weapons in China. The former is known as “The Gentleman of Weapons” because it can help its owner’s status and is difficult to learn how to use. In the past, high quality jian were usually owned by the educated class who saw swordsmanship as a way to find their inner warrior. They were also used by test cutters who practiced their skills on caoren (“grass men”). While this practice was similar to the Japanese art of tameshigiri, it was never formalized to the same extent. Today, jian are used for training in several martial arts such as tai chi chuan where they are employed as tai chi swords. They also appear in wuxia films and fiction.
The dao is “The General of All Weapons”, often referred to as a broadsword in English because some variations have wide blades. At first it was not as preferred by the military as the jian, but it gained popularity among cavalrymen during the Han Dynasty due to its strength and effectiveness as a chopping weapon. Later it replaced the jian as a standard issue weapon for both cavalry and infantry. These days, the dao is also used for training in most Chinese martial arts schools. It is a versatile weapon as well as an effective conditioning implement.
