The Chinese Bagua (also called Ba Gua or Baguadao or Shuang Shou Dao) is a fearsome broadsword with a massive blade geometry. This sword is used in a traditional Chinese Wushu (martial arts) sword style called Dao Baguazhang, where the practitioner performs artistic and intricate manoeuvres with the sword.
Even though the Bagua broadsword have long handles, they are not specifically designed for a two handed grip. Most of the time that these swords are handled, the practitioner uses only a single handed grip as seen in the image below.
Wushu with the Bagua requires that the practitioners body and the broadsword should move as one, when he walks, turns in large and small circles, tumbles or gyrates with the body, the broadsword must closely follow his every move. The youtube video below gives a good illustration of this art form
The Bagua or Tai Dao is amongst the largest broadswords in the world with blades as long as 4 feet long as the image below can testify, although 3½ feet is the usual length of a Bagau blade.
Below is shown a contemporary Bagua broadsword, this has a flexible spring steel blade that is dull with a blunt point for safe Dao Baguazhang practise. A large solid brass pommel adorns the end of the handle and acts as a counter balance. These swords normally have decorative solid wood scabbards, embellished with dragon designs, and ornate Chinese characters of the maker.
Surprisingly for such a large sword, they are usually very well balanced and easy to handle...well by the experts at least ! The blades on these contemporary Bagua's measure about 3 ft 4 ins long with a 1ft 4ins long handle, and they weigh around 5 - 6 lbs lbs or 9 lbs - 10 lbs when sheathed in their scabbards.
Long multi-colored tassels, scarves or sword knots may be attached to the pommel so that when the sword is wielded they flow majestically creating a colorful and eye catching spectacle. It must be remembered that these swords are used primarily in skilful displays, as they were throughout the centuries in China.
The handles of Bagua's are slanted, subtlety curving in the opposite direction of the blade which can improve handling in some methods of cut and thrust. Fine cord is usually wrapped around the wooden handle in the same decorative way as the Japanese samurai sword.
Overall these are big impressive swords but they are not as long as some European swords such as the Zweihänder, Landsknecht or Scottish Claymore that can exceed 6 foot in overall length ! The Chinese however, have always had a closer regard for stabbing and cutting weapons, than the Europeans. This stems from the times in Chinese history when firearms became totally banned and the Chinese had to rely on swords or martial arts as did the Japanese. No such thing occurred in Europe of course, and firearms were quickly adopted by the military and carried by civilians alike as in the days of the American Wild West.
Albert Einstein once stated that if the next war was fought with nuclear weapons then the one after that would be fought with sticks and stones...or moreover...we would be back to swords again.
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