The Grand Daddy of the Katana #shorts

[Butter_Warrior]

You see the Katana is curved for your enemies displeasure.
-Senji Muramasa.

[guguyao]

Dao actually means single-edge blade in Chinese, which is used to refer to knives and all single edge swords.

[MartinGreywolf]

Here's a fun fact: you find this exact type of blade (i.e. tang heng dao) in mid-Avar period graves (located in eastern Europe), and it transitions to actually curved sabers by late Avar period.

There is... a massive lack of research on the central Eurasian nomads (they kinda didn't fit into USSR-approved theory of how history all converges into communism), but from what little bits there are that I've seen, these sabers were probably first seen in the Altai Turks region and spread both east and west from there.

You at least start to see them at about the same time in Tang China and Avar Pannonia, so their point of origin was likely between the two.

[Hakarishmoovin]

"Ah, a straight sword. I haven't used this since the Heian era"

[aztecklover]

Also one the sword that is passed down via japans royal family is also a straight sword😊

[davidsparrow-mp]

Just saw my buddy at 13 stripes, hope to see you next month.

About 3 years ago I got into history through YouTube.
You were one of the original 4 that drew me in. Love your style and information.
Good luck to you and yours.

[nhienleminhhue]

It's kinda a lot more complicated then that. Dao means it only has one edge sharpened while a Qian (sword) has both edges sharpened.

[Definitely_not_Andrew_Yoshiaki]

For those curious, that Tang Heng Dao, is listed as one of the many objects preserved in the Shoso-in, which is one of the most fascinating structures you can see in Nara, Japan.

Shoso-in is actually the Imperial repository and is under the Imperial Household Agency, and for over 1200 years, the building has been used to house, protect, and preserve important artifacts that belong to the Imperial House. I've had the chance to see it this January and the damn thing is incredible. It's protected 24/7, and while they don't let people in, they do provide photographs of some of the things that are preserved in there and the quality of those things will shock you, swords, mirrors, instruments, vases, brushes and silk cords which were used for ceremonies from the 700s and they look either slightly used if not brand new. The wood of the building contracts depending on the season and this has prevented moisture from entering, thus working to preserve everything.

If that sword is in there... that means that thing has Imperial, national, and Japanese historical significance, and it very may well be THE primary sword that influenced other designs to follow.

[ricardodemarco]

Technically, the katana has two daddies. One being this one, and the other being the warabite, the curved blade from the Emishi that the Yamato people made longer and longer until they got the tachi.

[veleriphon]

The curved katana is from heat treating two, dissimilar steels. High carbon steel outer shell that can be hardened a lot to hold an edge, and a low carbon core that can flex. Pretty ingenious.

[wraithofwrite]

And here I thought Leonardo's swords were Hollywood bull

[Suit_and_tie_reptile_guy]

I just realized why im Irritated by katana people. If you are talking to a European sword guy about swords you can call any sword a sword and he'll get you're talking about a sword.
But if when talk about swords to katana people and you call a sword a sword they get all pissy because you didn't distinguish the fact that the wicasutbingoshi sword is different from the suntounobingchilling sword despite the fact that its only difference is that one if the black smiths had a slightly longer toe nail than the other.

[danc]

I would've loved to see the Teng Heng Dao made on Forged In Fire. Imagine them trying to recreate that.

[solracstormhunter]

As a rule of thumb, in every region of the world, ancient swords were straight and double-edged, and later with better craftmanship & technology, they became single bladed and curved. 🤔⚔️

[dougkeyes]

The blades only do so as in their curve. When they cool it's also an effect of the metal itself

[dylanvilkofsky]

They started off straight and after some time the curve was added to add extra cutting and slashing damage

[johnpaulnotjean_st]

Hey mate. Quick question, di you think there are any battle that made a huge difference in ww2 that arnt as well known they should be?

[benbroussard]

I’ve always wondered if someone or some idiot would attempt to attach their sword to a ballista or something similar.

[dontebullard]

Is that what Leonardo actually uses? It makes more sense than saying he uses a katana.

[seanpoore]

Grand daddy of most single edged cutting swords in asia.