Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video, I review the LK Chen White Arc Jian and the LK Chen Royal Arsenal Han Dao. These two swords also provide an excellent opportunity to analyze the historical context of how and why the Western Han dynasty chose to adopt the single-edged dao over the double-edged jian which impacted Chinese swords through the rest of history.
If you are interested in purchasing these blades. Please follow the links below:
lkchensword.com/white-arc
lkchensword.com/royal-arsenal
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:09 White Arc Han Jian
5:10 Royal Arsenal Han Dao
6:10 Why the switch to Dao?
6:36 Reason 1 - Economy
7:02 Reason 2 - Utility and Durability
9:37 Reason 3 - Use of the weapon
12:44 Can the Han Dao thrust?
14:40 Bottlepocalypse
16:51 Final Thoughts
Source Material:
Books:
龔劍. 中國刀劍史. 中華書局, 2021.
皇甫江. 刀剑鉴定. 福建美术出版社, 2011.
馬明達. 說劍叢橋. 中華書局, 2007.
Wagner, Donald B. Iron and Steel in Ancient China. Brill, 1993.
杨宽. 中国古代冶铁技术发展史. 上海人民出版社, 2004.
Images
Han Dynasty Weapons = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Han_dynasty
Flexing an ancient sword = kknews.cc/culture/89q92q.html
Tempered Martensite = mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/1/45/htm
Han Wudi = artstation.com/artwork/8lK8nq
Han Military Tomb Figurines = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Han_dynasty
Utility Knives = zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/20031902
Bamboo Slips = zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hant/%E5%B1%85%E5%BB%B6%E6%BC%A2%E7%B0%A1
Han Dynasty Weapon Rack = chinesemartialstudies.com/2022/02/06/a-life-in-stone-images-of-weapons-during-the-han-dynasty
Figure with Ring Pommel Dao = lkchensword.com/royal-arsenal
Tomb Figurines with large shields = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Han_dynasty
Image of Han Soldier = artstation.com/artwork/AqQXd5
In this video, I review the LK Chen White Arc Jian and the LK Chen Royal Arsenal Han Dao. These two swords also provide an excellent opportunity to analyze the historical context of how and why the Western Han dynasty chose to adopt the single-edged dao over the double-edged jian which impacted Chinese swords through the rest of history.
If you are interested in purchasing these blades. Please follow the links below:
lkchensword.com/white-arc
lkchensword.com/royal-arsenal
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:09 White Arc Han Jian
5:10 Royal Arsenal Han Dao
6:10 Why the switch to Dao?
6:36 Reason 1 - Economy
7:02 Reason 2 - Utility and Durability
9:37 Reason 3 - Use of the weapon
12:44 Can the Han Dao thrust?
14:40 Bottlepocalypse
16:51 Final Thoughts
Source Material:
Books:
龔劍. 中國刀劍史. 中華書局, 2021.
皇甫江. 刀剑鉴定. 福建美术出版社, 2011.
馬明達. 說劍叢橋. 中華書局, 2007.
Wagner, Donald B. Iron and Steel in Ancient China. Brill, 1993.
杨宽. 中国古代冶铁技术发展史. 上海人民出版社, 2004.
Images
Han Dynasty Weapons = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Han_dynasty
Flexing an ancient sword = kknews.cc/culture/89q92q.html
Tempered Martensite = mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/1/45/htm
Han Wudi = artstation.com/artwork/8lK8nq
Han Military Tomb Figurines = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Han_dynasty
Utility Knives = zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/20031902
Bamboo Slips = zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hant/%E5%B1%85%E5%BB%B6%E6%BC%A2%E7%B0%A1
Han Dynasty Weapon Rack = chinesemartialstudies.com/2022/02/06/a-life-in-stone-images-of-weapons-during-the-han-dynasty
Figure with Ring Pommel Dao = lkchensword.com/royal-arsenal
Tomb Figurines with large shields = en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_Han_dynasty
Image of Han Soldier = artstation.com/artwork/AqQXd5
