Chinese Swords

While the earliest Chinese swords were actually made of stone, during the Shang Dynasty (1700 BC - 1027 BC), the development of bronze led to rudimentary metalsmithing. The weapons developed during this age weren’t elegant or beautiful by any means. It was only during the Zhou Dynasty (1045 BC - 256 BC) that short, one-handed, double edged swords made of bronze became common. Much later, two-handed steel blades were finally created during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD).

As sword making techniques became more refined, various sword styles also developed including the creation of the liuyedao, yanmaodao, and niuweidao swords — which are all dao swords. Browse the collection at Swords of Northshire to learn more about our Chinese sword selection.

Chinese Sword Styles and Selection

There are five weapons that every warrior learned to use in ancient China, including the spear, halberd, and staff. The Dao (sabre) and Jian (sword) complete this list, and each has its own unique shape, history, and uses.

Dao Blade

All dao swords have single edged blades that are usually curved. Dulling and thickening one side of the blade increases its reliability and ease of use. The dao swords were most often used by cavalry soldiers from horseback. Some historians believe that the dao influenced Japanese sword makers to create the katana and wakizashi style blades.

Jian Blade

Unlike the dao’s curved single edge, the jian blade is a straight, double edged sword. The first jian sword was mentioned in writing around the 7th century BCE. Historically, the one-handed version of jian swords have blades that vary between 18 and 31 inches with a weight of 1 to 2 pounds. Larger, two-handed versions of jian swords exist for use in several different Chinese martial arts.

Custom Battle Ready Swords For Sale

At Swords of Northshire, all of our custom weapons for sale are full tang, functional, and battle-ready. They can be sharpened and engraved to your specifications for use in the dojo, during ceremonies, and for decoration. Each sword is made to order by master swordsmiths who have spent years learning ancient Chinese and Japanese sword making techniques. 

Choose a sword from our collection to receive an expertly-crafted handmade blade today.