Single-edged sword, da dao, with long slender steel blade up-curving to the point. Wooden grip bound with wicker covered in red lacquer surmounted by an ovoid steel pommel covered with black lacquer. The steel guard is ovoid in shape and painted in black lacquer. Steel ring mounted on top grip just below guard also painted in black lacquer.
Swords of this type were made in the Ming dynasty, 1368-1644, to imitate the Japanese two-handed sword with long slender single-edged curved blade. See Zhou Wei (1957), 'Zhongguo bing qi shi gao', Beijing. pp. 262-263.
fighting