What Is a Dao?

The term dao refers to a type of Chinese sword, usually used for slashing and chopping, with a single edge. It is a somewhat generic term in that it denotes a group of tools with the aforementioned characteristics, though in everyday language the word means knife. The dao is sometimes called a broadsword in English because of similarities amongst the two weapons, including the fact that some daos have wider blades.

From a martial arts perspective, many Chinese martial arts schools and styles, such as kung fu, continue to train to use the dao in combat.