View source for Miaodao

{{Short description|Chinese two-handed sword}}
{{about|the Chinese sword|the Chinese Buddhist abbess|Miaodao (abbess)}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Chinese words and phrases]]}}
[[File:Miaodau1.JPG|thumb|''Miaodao'' in its scabbard]]
[[File:Miaodau2.JPG|thumb|upright|''Miaodao'' blade]]
The '''''miaodao''''' (苗刀) is a Chinese two-handed ''[[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]]'' or [[saber]], with a narrow blade, long [[hilt]], and an overall length of {{convert|1.2|m|abbr=on}} or longer. The name means "sprout saber", presumably referring to a likeness between the weapon and a newly sprouted plant. An early reference, in Jin Yiming's ''Single Defense-Saber'', makes a connection between the ''miaodao'' and the [[Qing dynasty|Qing-era]] ''[[wodao]]'', as well as mentioning both single and two-handed versions of the ''miaodao'', suggesting that the name originally described the shape only, without any connotations of size. While the ''miaodao'' is a recent weapon, the name has come to be applied to a variety of earlier Chinese long sabers, such as the ''[[zhanmadao]]'' and ''[[changdao]]''. Along with the ''[[Dao (Chinese sword)|dadao]]'', ''miaodao'' were used by some Chinese troops during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]].

While the ''miaodao'' is rarely practiced in modern Chinese martial arts, some schools of [[Piguaquan]] and [[Tongbeiquan]] (in the Guo Changsheng lineage) and [[Xingyiquan]] train with the weapon. The ''miaodao'' is also often mistakenly claimed to have been one of the weapons taught at the Central Military Academy in Nanjing; the weapon in question was actually a European-style officer's saber, though some later schools may have based ''miaodao'' techniques on this form.

Despite being written the same way (苗), the "miao" of ''miaodao'' should not be confused with the [[Miao people|Miao ethnic group]], who are not associated with this weapon.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Wang Zhihai MiaoDao.jpg|Wang Zhihai performing with a ''miaodao''
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Chinese sword]]
*[[Dao (Chinese sword)]]
*[[Japanese sword]]
*[[Katana]]

==References==
* Dekker, Peter (2016), “Chinese long sabers of the Qing dynasty”, Mandarin Mansion [https://www.mandarinmansion.com/article/chinese-long-sabers-qing-dynasty]
* Duan Ping (段平), Zheng Shouzhi (郑守志) et al. Wushu Cidian (武术词典) Wushu Dictionary. Renmin Tiyu Chubanshe, 2007. {{ISBN|978-7-5009-3001-3}}.
* Ma Mingda (马明达), Shuo jian cong gao (说剑丛稿), {{ISBN|7-311-01632-0}} .
* Rovere, Dennis with Chow Hon Huen (2008). ''The Xingyi Quan of the Chinese Army: Huang Bo Nien's Xingyi Fist and Weapon Instruction''. Blue Snake Books. {{ISBN|978-1-58394-257-4}}.
* Tom, Philip (February 2005). "An Introduction to Chinese Single-Edged Hilt Weapons (Dao) and Their Use in the Ming and Qing Dynasties". ''Kung Fu Tai Chi'', p.&nbsp;85.
* Jin Yiming (金一明) (1932), ''Single Defense-Saber'' (單戒刀), New Asia Press, translated by Paul Brennan 2015 [https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2015/09/19/single-defense-saber-dan-jie-dao/]
*Yang Jwing-Ming (楊俊敏) (2023). ''Ancient Chinese Weapons: A Martial Arts Guide''. YMAA Publication Center. {{ISBN|978-1-5943-9975-6}}.

==External links==
*[http://cookdingskitchen.blogspot.co.il/2014/10/the-brilliance-of-chinese-longsword.html A comprehensive article about the miaodao]
*  https://web.archive.org/web/20081103074622/http://www.freewebs.com/jingangbashi/miaodaointro.htm

{{Chinese weapons}}
{{Swords by region}}
{{WWIIChineseInfantryWeapons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miaodao}}
[[Category:Chinese swords]]
[[Category:World War II infantry weapons of China]]
[[Category:Single-edged swords]]

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