Very well done. I have no problem with the duality of researching and building a picture of the highest probability reality of the Three Kingdoms period on the one hand while simultaneously preserving the legends and myths of the novel. It isn't even a solid fact that Luo Guanzhong wrote the thing. All reputable sources simply say it was attributed to him. The novel is a work of historical "faction" that is in some ways similar to the Horatio Hornblower and Richard Sharpe series. In those, real history is a backdrop for fictional characters and adjustments are made as necessary for good stories. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in my opinion, is more fact-based and uses people and events with historical provenance for the skeleton of the story. The novel is really more about using the heroes (and anti-heroes like Cao Cao and Lu Bu) to teach lessons about culture and humanity. Greed and pride, loyalty and treachery, selflessness and selfishness, heroism and cowardice are all shown in the framework of a crumbling and divided empire with all the inherent paranoia and fear-driven evil against the noble and honorable intents of the heroes who are trying to preserve the Han dynasty. The novel was supposedly published right at the end of the Yuan dynasty of the Mongols and the beginning of the Ming dynasty that restored Han rule. What better timing for a story about the greatness of Han character as portrayed by the larger than life protagonists? The real or most probable weapons of the heroes absolutely have their place in history and martial arts. So do the ones we have from the novel. They represent the heart of the intent of the story and removing them devalues the intent of the novel to uplift the Han by using larger than life images of the heroes. The weapons are all part of that. Plus, who doesn't like the Guan Dao?

I think it's likely that Zhang Fei's serpent spear was not the name of his spear but his spear style when fighting. He may have used a spear style so well it looked as flexible as a snake and could strike as fast as one as well.

Great video. I will add that the Han Dynasty did have a glaive-like weapons that may have resembled the Guan Dao/Green Dragon Crescent Blade. This is seen in the metal remains of a glaive-like weapon (that almost looks like an Egyptian Khopesh) and depictions of some other glaive-like weapons in some tomb carvings. So it's possible that Guan Yu could've used a weapon that may not have resembled the traditional Guan Dao, but still sort of resembled a glaive.

What an informative episode. Great editing and pacing as well. I didn’t know anything covered in this episode so it was awesome to learn.

There definitely comes a point as time goes on being into this kinda stuff, where it's like, stage 1: "omg! Guan Dao! Named after Guan Yu the legend!" Stage 2: "Everything I thought was based on a bunch of ancient lore and propaganda. Boo-hoo..." And finally Stage 3: Acknowledging the lore, the historical reality, and learning to appreciate them both while knowing the difference. But man, when you first dive in, you see historical texts and depictions that look something like what you practice and it can be so exciting! Just learn not to be too disappointed when it turns out it was a page out of an old romance novel. Haha! Great video, Sifu!

guanyu's dao can be a single-edged sha with narrow straight blade like han dao, I don't think a double-edged polearm will be called a dao in legands, now zhangfei's snake spear i suspect might be a sha with tip broke off and he's like oh thats more badass and kept it that way

Bonjour Sifu 🙏🏼 merci pour cette superbe vidéo passionnante 🙏🏼 Bon week-end

Guan Yu is actually supposed to have made up a pair of Dadao for himself. These were his main go tos. Yes, curved blades have existed in Chinese weaponry for some time. Straight blades, regardless of how they are termed, are employed in a totally different manner to that of a single-edges sabre type.

loved the video!! thanks for sharing it with us

Awesome bit of context! I love the balancing of traditional cultural depictions and their place against archeological and historical evidence and acknowledging the need and place for both. Also, it's damn cool to see someone actually doing cutting with Chinese weapons! It certainly is not like the Chinese martial arts that I have been around.

This is such an awesome episode!

Ooh ooh! I know some of the blades! I asked you to review them a long time ago.

Great video!!! 👍👍🙏🙏🙏 I’m training Shaolin staff with a 2m 16kg yoga bar. Eventually I’ll have a 2.5m kuan dao made… aiming for 20-25kg….. 💪💪🙏🙏🙏

Loving this series.

Amazing knowledge (and analysis/theories). Don't know how you know so much about ancient Chinese stuff but two thumbs up!

Very interesting indeed. I just checked wiki also, weapon like naginata which is bit similar like a Ta Dao, appeared from historic references only during the 10th or 11th century. Makes me really wondering what Guan Yu really used as his long blade weapon.

when you grew up playing dynasty warriors as a kid in elementary. early development of han dynasty history love grew deep within

Well Lu Bu, Guan Yu, Zhang Gei is a General, these type of officer doesnt necesary use what their soldiers use, just like what Patton carry Not to mention as a General, swordsmith use to made weapon that are "custom made" or "special order"

You may have overlooked the possibility of them using customized weapons. Something built on the mold of experiences and personal preference. They had the money and connections.

Their legend make those weapon famous and have it own name

Well, since similar weapons already existed in that time then they could always have just had them customized since they are generals after all. Maybe Guan Yu wanted a curved blade for better slashing and Zhang Fei wanted to do more damage to a body with a zigzag blade.

Nice!

The curved Dao is used differently - more like the Japanese naginata.

I would to know what short saber looks like.

I think technically what you should say is it is not known that either design of these weapons had been made by this time due to the fact that most historical artifacts do not actually exist most things were re-purposed and even weapons to famous warriors have been lost like to my knowledge no one knows where the sort of Joan of arc is and no one knows where the sort of Genghis Khan is these are famous weapons wielded by insanely famous people but you can’t get them and you can’t see them simply because they were lost the time which is What happens to most objects

Given guan yu's size and the weight of his guan dao and back then most of these people were farmers and have a cleaving arm of a wreckcing ball...you cant block a single strike from his guan dao. He'll just cleave it through.

Wait it ISN'T called the frost fair blade

MA CHAO SPEAR 😁😁😁

It exist in Han dynasty era, but it special made by blacksmith, not standart weapon. Green dragon crescent blade and snake spear are real in Han era, not myth.

🤠👍🏿

|> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> That means not that they used customized tools. Especially china is known for people with all kind of strange weapons. I would add to MY han Dao a bit a guard for stabbing ... And a bit heavier. And I'm martial artist ... |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |>