The Dadao is
also called a Chinese sabre, Chinese Big Knife, or Chinese Great Sword. This
heavy blade has served several purposes over the centuries in China. Some Shaolin monks
train in the use of this sword and some daring monks train to use both the
Dadao and the Jiujie Bian together. One way to describe the Dadao is that of a
machete on steroids.
The blade of
the Dadao is perfectly designed for chopping and was modeled after an agricultural tool for harvesting. The Dadao is considered a peasant's sword because it is a pretty simple and does not require a lot of training. The heavy blade
and long handle balances the sword so that it is not difficult to maneuver
despite its weight. Although it is not a light sword, it is not as
heavy as an axe. However, the broad blade is designed to cut with the same power as an axe. The
long handle allows for wielding with one or two hands.
The blade is
only about two feet in length and the handle is just over a foot. The entire
sword’s weight will vary from two pounds to close to four pounds depending on
the type of and quality of metal used to forge it. The blade widens at the tip
and curves slightly back to the wielder to increase the momentum of the tip. The width of the blade gives the Dadao
the strength and speed to chop through bone and leather armor with ease.
