Editing Chinese sword (section)

==Ming-Qing sword types==
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|[[File:Double Sword with Scabbard MET 36.25.1487a c 001 Apr2017 brightened.jpg|100px]]
|[[Butterfly sword]]
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|Sometimes called butterfly knives in English. It was originally from southern China, though it has seen use in the north. It is usually wielded in pairs and has a short dao (single-edged blade), with a length approximately that of the forearm. This allows for easy concealment within the sleeves or inside boots and for greater manoeuvrability to spin and rotate in close-quarters fighting.
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|[[Changdao (sword)|Changdao]]
|[[Ming dynasty]]
|A type of anti-[[cavalry]] sword used in China during the Ming dynasty. Sometimes called ''[[miao dao]]'' (a similar but more recent weapon), the blade greatly resembles a Japanese [[ōdachi]] in form. 
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|[[File:Dadao 3D.jpg|100px]]
|Dadao
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|Also known as the Chinese great sword. Based on agricultural knives, dadao have broad blades generally between two and three feet long, long [[hilt]]s meant for "hand and a half" or two-handed use, and naturally a weight-forward balance.
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|[[File:Double_Hook_Swords.jpg|100px]]
|[[Hook sword]]
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|The ''hook sword'' is an exotic Chinese weapon traditionally associated with [[Chinese martial arts#Northern styles|Northern styles of Chinese martial arts]], but now often practised by [[Chinese martial arts#Southern styles|Southern styles]] as well. 
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|[[File:Sword with Scabbard MET DP119025 brightened 2x3.jpg|100px]]
|[[Jian]]
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|The ''jian'' is a double-edged straight sword used in China for the last 2,500 years. The first Chinese sources that mention the ''jian'' date to the 7th century BC during the [[Spring and Autumn period]];<ref>Ebrey, ''Cambridge Illustrated History of China'', 41.</ref> one of the earliest specimens being the [[Sword of Goujian]].
Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (17.7 to 31.5&nbsp;inches) in length. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimeter (28-inch) blade-length would be in a range of approximately 700 to 900&nbsp;grams (1.5 to 2 pounds). There are also larger two-handed versions used for training by many styles of [[Chinese martial arts]].

In Chinese folklore, it is known as the "Gentleman of Weapons" and is considered one of the four major weapons, along with the [[Gun (staff)|''gun'' (staff)]], [[Qiang (spear)|''qiang'' (spear)]], and the [[Dao (Chinese sword)|''dao'']]. 
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|[[File:Sword_with_Scabbard_MET_21123_-_cropped.jpg|100px]]
|[[Liuyedao]]
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|The ''liuye dao'', or "willow leaf saber", is a type of [[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]] that was commonly used as a military sidearm for both cavalry and [[infantry]] during the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] dynasties. 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.
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|[[File:Miaodau2.JPG|100px]] 
|[[Miaodao]]
|[[Republic of China (1912–49)|Republican era]]
|A Chinese two-handed [[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]] or saber of the Republican era, with a narrow blade of up to {{convert|1.2|m|abbr=on}} or more and a long [[hilt]]. The name means "sprout saber", presumably referring to a likeness between the weapon and a newly sprouted plant. While the miaodao is a recent weapon, the name has come to be applied to a variety of earlier Chinese long sabers, such as the [[zhanmadao]] and [[Changdao (sword)|changdao]]. Along with the dadao, miaodao were used by some Chinese troops during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]].
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|[[Nandao]]
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|''Nandao'' is a kind of sword that is nowadays used mostly in contemporary [[wushu (sport)|wushu]] exercises and forms. It is the southern variation of the "northern broadsword", or [[Dao (Chinese sword)|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 are always used in pairs
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|[[File:Saber with Scabbard and Belt Hook (清 腰刀) MET DP-834-001.jpg|100px]]
|[[Niuweidao]]
|Late [[Qing dynasty]]
|A type of Chinese saber ([[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]]) of the late Qing dynasty. It was primarily a civilian weapon, as imperial troops were never issued it.
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|[[Piandao]]
|Late [[Ming dynasty]]
|A type of Chinese [[sabre]] ([[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]]) used during the late Ming dynasty. A deeply curved dao meant for slashing and draw-cutting, it bore a strong resemblance to the [[shamshir]] and [[scimitar]]. A fairly uncommon weapon, it was used by skirmishers in conjunction with a shield.
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|[[Wodao]]
|[[Ming dynasty]]
|A Chinese sword from the Ming dynasty. Apparently influenced by Japanese sword design, it bears a strong resemblance to a [[tachi]] or [[ōdachi]] in form: extant examples show a handle approximately {{convert|25.5|cm|abbr=on}} long, with a gently curved blade {{convert|80|cm|abbr=on}} long.
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|[[Yanmaodao]]
|Late Ming&mdash;Qing dynasties
|The ''yanmao dao'', or "goose quill saber", is a type of [[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]] made in large numbers as a standard military weapon from the late Ming dynasty through the end of the Qing dynasty. It is similar to the earlier zhibei dao, is largely straight, with a curve appearing at the center of percussion near the blade's tip. This allows for thrusting attacks and overall handling similar to that of the [[jian]], while preserving much of the dao's strengths in cutting and slashing. 
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|[[Zhanmadao]]
|[[Song dynasty]]
|A single-edged, broad-bladed sword with a long handle suitable for two-handed use. Dating to 1072, it was used as an anti-cavalry weapon.
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|This list is incomplete. There are many more types of both [[jian]] and [[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]]
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