Chinese Dao as the common ancestor of SE Asian Dha / Darb

[Mark]

It is tempting to draw an etymological link between the Chinese 'dao,' the Tai 'dahb/daab' and the Bama 'dha,' and even the Kachin 'dao.' They all seem to mean more-or-less the same thing, which is basically 'blade,' or 'curved blade.' A problem, or rather obstacle, that I have in addressing that question is not knowing the actual intonation of the various words. My Western ear would have a hard time with the subtlies, as well.

While I think it very likely that the dha/dahb in some form came from Yunnan (specifically Nan Zhao), I don't see a strong connection with the Chinese dao in its various forms. Not only are details such as the handle shape and presence of a guard different, the balance is quite different as well, the dao having a POB farther out along the blade than the typical dha, and much farther out than that of the typical dahb. Dao also lack the graceful curve of the dha and dahb. Where the influence is most clearly seen (not surprisingly) is in Vietnam, where Chinese influence was strongest. Even there, however, one sees two distinct types of sabre, one clearly a variation of the dao (even called "dao"), and the other seemingly more closely related to the dahb ("dai dao"). It is interesting (at least for non-linguist me) to speculate whether the "dai dao" is a "Tai dao," from the point of view of the Vietnamese. IN any event, it is found in southern Vietnam (Cochin) rather than northern Vietnam (Tonkin). Cochin was historically more linked to the rest of SEA than Tonkin, which at one point was actually a Chinese province. There is also a Vietnamese version of the jian (the kiem), which is not seen at all in other parts of continental SEA. My expectation would be to see both dao-related and jian-related swords if there were a Chinese influence, as one sees in Vietnam. The absence of the jian style says to me that Chinese, by which I mean Han Chinese, influence in most of continental SEA was limited.

I have not yet found any clear evidence of what a Yunnan/Nan Zhao style dao might look like, though I have seen a few dha provenanced from Yunnan that resemble a certain style of Shan dha, with their own decorative details.

[~Alaung_Hpaya~]

Thanks Mark


I'm wondering about common origin I guess rather than actual derivation from Dao post Tang dynasty ( 618 - 907 AD ) or even Song . It certainly would be of interest to me if anyone can ( literally ) dig up swords from Nan Zhao .

[Mark]

Originally Posted by ~Alaung_Hpaya~

Thanks Mark


I'm wondering about common origin I guess rather than actual derivation from Dao post Tang dynasty ( 618 - 907 AD ) or even Song . It certainly would be of interest to me if anyone can ( literally ) dig up swords from Nan Zhao .

A common origin is an intesting idea. Philip has researched this area extensively, so maybe he can comment. The early bronze swords seem to have been double edged, while daggers were both curved and single-edged. One early iron sword was the single-edged ring-hilted sword (the ancestor of the nihon-to). According to Antonio's article in the History of Steel catalogue, by the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279 AD), both straight (jian) and curved (dao) swords existed. No mention as to where the dao developed, though. Unfortunately, in the catalogue collection there is a huge jump in time, from Han dynasty (260 BC - 220 AD) to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), completely skipping the Tang, for instance.

The one book on the art of Nan Zhao that I have found does not show any weapons.