Zhanmadao
| Zhanmadao (斬馬刀) | |
|---|---|
A zhanmadao "horse butchering dao" from a Qing dynasty illustration, 1766 | |
| Type | Infantry anti-cavalry saber |
| Place of origin | Han dynasty, China |
| Production history | |
| Variants | Possible changdao, miaodao, wodao, zanbatō |
| Specifications | |
| Length | Approx 200 cm (79 in)+ |
| Blade length | Approx 150 cm (59 in)+ |
| Blade type | Single edged, straight for most of the length, curving in the last third. |
| Hilt type | Two handed |
The zhanmadao (Chinese: 斬馬刀; pinyin: zhǎnmǎdāo; Jyutping: zaam2 maa5 dou1; lit. 'horse chopping 'sabre'/'dao'/'single-edged blade') was a single-bladed anti-cavalry Chinese sword. It originated during the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and was especially common in Song China (960–1279).