- Nandao
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Nandao Chinese 南刀 Literal meaning "Southern Broadsword" Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin nándāo Cantonese (Yue) - Jyutping naam4 dou1 - IPA [na̭ːmtóu] Nandao is a kind of sword that is nowadays used mostly in contemporary Chinese wushu exercises and forms. It is the southern variation of the "northern broadsword", or Beidao. Its blade bears some resemblance to the butterfly sword, also a southern Chinese single-bladed weapon; the main difference is the size, and the fact that the butterfly swords have D-shaped knuckle guards. The main difference with the beidao is that the nandao is mostly used two-handed due to its larger amount of weight, and it has a large metal crossguard useful in deflecting blows and hooking the opponent's weapon; also, although it is single-edged, the nandao is not curved like the northern broadsword.
The differentiation between beidao and nandao appear to be rather modern. There are no historical references to the term and few antique weapons have been found with a shape that resembles a "nandao".Therefore, it can never have been a major form as widely used as niuweidao, yanmaodao, liuyedao and the Butterfly swords.
See also
Main Taolu Events Sparring Related Types of Chinese weapons Short Swords Long Swords Polearms Guandao 關刀 · Ge (Dagger-Axe) 戈 · Gun 棍 · Ji 戟 · Nangun 南棍 · Podao 朴刀 · Qiang 槍 · Hongyingqiang 紅纓槍 · Yueya Chan (Monk's Spade) 月牙鏟Roped/Chained Liuxing Chui (Meteor Hammer) 流星錘 · Sheng Biao (Rope Dart) 繩鏢 · Jiujie bian (nine section whip) 九節鞭 · Sanjie Gun 三節棍 · Shuangjie Gun 雙節棍Projectile Handheld Chui 錘 · Emeici 峨嵋刺 · Lujiao Dao (Deer Horn Knives) 鹿角刀 · Hook Sword 鉤 · Ji Lian 鷄鐮 · Fenghuo Lun 風火輪This article related to weaponry is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.