| Defence is a major preoccupation for any ruler - | | | | circulated. |
| from the rulers of way back in antiquity to | | | | Ring pommels, discontinued in the middle Tang |
| President Obama today. Times of war see | | | | period, was revived by Shenzong. Also, the |
| resources being drained toward a wasteful | | | | Zhanmadao - a horse-chopping sword - was |
| expense, as well as major scientific | | | | created to help soldiers fight against cavalry. |
| advancements as people try to find out why | | | | Sword blades were now imported from |
| things happen, and how to mitigate the injuries | | | | Damascus and Japan. |
| caused by bad things. | | | | Late in the Song period, Japan was invaded by |
| In the ancient Chinese dynasties, warfare was | | | | the Mongols. It was during this period that they |
| undoubtedly complex, but the complexities took a | | | | realized how much continental blades were |
| different form. While today we bomb strategic | | | | superior - though stouter and less fine - than their |
| locations, in those days swordsmen developed | | | | own blades. |
| ever-finer instruments and techniques. | | | | The Ming dynasty, ruling from the late fourteenth |
| Here is a quick run-through of the popular swords | | | | to the mid seventeenth century, saw China |
| and sword-making techniques in the Han, Song, | | | | importing Japanese Wodao swords on a mass |
| Qing and Ming dynasties. | | | | scale. Smiths came to prefer non-clay methods of |
| First, the Hans. The Han dynasty's rule spanned | | | | heat differential treatment, while the |
| from 206 BC to 220 AD. The early period of Han | | | | Damascus-native process of making twist-core |
| rule saw the rise of steel as the material | | | | steel reached China's wordsmiths. |
| preferred in swords. Both single-edged(dao) and | | | | The Japanese shinogi-zukuri - a ridged |
| double-edged(jian) swords now began to be made | | | | cross-section used in single-edged swords - |
| of steel, with bronze swords falling rapidly out of | | | | became popular once more, as the Chinese faced |
| favor. | | | | repeated attacks from Japanese pirates. The |
| The process of differential heat-treatment also | | | | 2-meter long changdao saber, modeled on the |
| took birth during Han rule. Sword blanks were | | | | Japanese pirate nodachi, also acquired prominence. |
| now forged and folded, with ring pommels being | | | | Overall, the Chinese art of sword-making declined, |
| introduced. | | | | only to be revived later on in the Qing dynasty. |
| In middle and late Han rule, this differential heat | | | | Under the Qings, handicrafts as well as |
| treatment process was developed further, and | | | | sword-making received a much-needed boost. |
| became the art of "refining". Swords were now | | | | The dao and its characteristics were standardized, |
| manufactured in layers, with the top, core and | | | | while a document on "Weapons Workmanship |
| bottom being made separately and then welded | | | | Standards" was also compiled. The niuweidao - the |
| together. At this point, China began to export | | | | oxtail single-edged sword - also made an |
| swords to Korea and Japan. | | | | appearance, but was used by civilians and not the |
| Fast-forward across nearly a century, and you | | | | military. |
| reach the Song dynasty in 960 AD. During the | | | | Today, swords of all these dynasties and more |
| reign of Song emperor Shenzong, swordcraft | | | | are available, though only as collectors' items. Each |
| reached new and unprecedented heights. | | | | sword has a unique historical motivation behind it; |
| Assessment bureaus were set up to determine | | | | the more you know, the more you want to |
| the quality of weapons, and a manual on quality | | | | know more. |
| control in weapon manufacture was written and | | | | |