II.
THE MEDIEVAL WEAPONS

 

2 - The Edged-Arms

 

 

THE SABRE

(ĐAO - 刀)

 

  

 

 

The Two Matched Sabres
« Song-Đao »
双刀

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         The « Two Matched Sabres - Song Ðao » (双 刀) is a weapon originating from the « SIngle Sabre - Đơn-Đao » (單 刀) but it is less fluently useful. However, on the plan of Pedagogy, the « Two Matched Sabres - Song Ðao » (双 刀) belongs to the category of Edged Arms really necessary to the formation of the Martial Student.

         The « Two Matched Sabres - Song Ðao » are divided into « Two Matched Sabres - Song Ðao » (双 刀 and « Two Short Matched Sabres - Song Đoản-Ðao » (双 短 刀).

              A) - « Two Matched Sabres - Song Ðao » (双 刀 including Two Catégories :

                  1. The Category of Two Matched Sabres having their own Scabbard or having no Scabbard ;

                  2. The Category of Two Matched Sabres having a same Scabbard.


               A1. The Categorie of Two Matched Sabres having their own Scabbard or having no Scabbard :

« Two Matched Sabres (双 刀) having no Scabbard
(Đại-Việt - 19th century)

(Photo Credit : ashokaarts.com)

« Two Matched Sabres (双 刀) having no Scabbard
(Thailand - 19th century)

(Crédit Photo : Gavin Nugent, swordsantiqueweapons.com)

               A2. The Categorie of Two Matched Sabres sharing the same Scabbard :

« Two Matched Sabres (双 刀) sharing the same Scabbard.
(China - 19th century)

(Crédit Photo : Gavin Nugent, swordsantiqueweapons.com)

« Two Matched Sabres (双 刀) sharing the same Scabbard.
(China - Re-Enactment for Training in Drill Halls)

(Photo Credit : ChinaTown Shop)

              B) - « Two Short Matched Sabres - Song Đoản-Ðao » (双 短 刀) including several Categories, but there are Two most usual :

                    1. The Categorie of Two Short Matched Sabres (Song-Đọan-Đao - 双 短 刀) without a Trigger Guard ;

                    2. The Categorie of Two Short Matched Sabres (Song-Đọan-Đao - 双 短 刀) owning a Trigger Guard.


               B1. The Categorie of Two Short Matched Sabres without a Trigger Guard :

« Two Short Matched Sabres - Song-Đoản-Ðao » ( 双 短 刀 )
without a Trigger Guard
(Circa 18th~19th centuries)

(Photo Credit : S.A.Weapons)

                 B2. The Categorie of Two Short Matched Sabres owning a Trigger Guard :
                        It is called Song-Đao Hồ-Điệp - 蝴 蝶 双 刀 - Two Butterflies Short Matched Sabres.

                        This Category of Two Short Matched Sabres includes several Kinds, in according to the Length and the Width of the Blade.

« Two Short Matched Sabres - Song-Đoản-Ðao » ( 双 短 刀 )
holding a Trigger Guard
called « Two Butterflies Matched Sabres - 蝴 蝶 双 刀 »,
still habitually called « Song Tô » by Vietnameses.
(China - Circa 20th~21th centuries)

(Photo Credit : Wing Lam Enterprises)

« Two Short Matched Sabres - Song-Đoản-Ðao » ( 双 短 刀 )
holding a Trigger Guard
« Two Butterflies Matched Sabres - Song-Ðao Hồ-Điệp »
(Đại-Việt - Circa 18th~19th centuries)

(Photo Credit : S.A.Weapons)

« Two Short Matched Sabres - Song-Đoản-Ðao » ( 双 短 刀 )
holding a Trigger Guard
called « Two Butterflies Matched Sabres - Song-Ðao Hồ-Điệp » ( 蝴 蝶 双 刀 ),
still named « Dragon Phoenix Two Short Matched Sabres » .
(Circa 19th~20th centuries)

(Photo Credit : S.A.Weapons)

« Two Short Matched Sabres - Song-Đoản-Ðao » ( 双 短 刀 )
holding a S-shaped Guard
« Two Butterflies Matched Sabres - Song-Ðao Hồ-Điệp » ( 蝴 蝶 双 刀 )
(Circa 19th~20th centuries)

(Photo Credit : S.A.Weapons)

 

 

(To be continued...)

 

Committee of VÕ-TRẬN-ĐẠI-VIỆT Bình-Định Sa-Long-Cương FRANCE Martial Arts Masters TRỊNH Quang Thắng.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Discussion about the Single Sabre

• Discussion about the Scimitar

• Discussion about the Sabre Wielding

 

 

 

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