Editing Dao (Chinese sword) (section)

=== Other types ===
Besides these four major types of dao, the ''duandao'' or "short dao" was also used, this being a compact weapon generally in the shape of a ''liuyedao''.<ref>{{harvnb|Tom|Rodell|2005|pp=80, 84}}</ref> The ''dadao'' saw continued use, and during the Ming dynasty the large two-handed ''[[Changdao (sword)|changdao]]'' and {{Transliteration|zh|[[zhanmadao]]}} were used both against the cavalry of the northern steppes and the ''[[wokou]]'' ([[pirate]]s) of the southeast coast; these latter weapons (sometimes under different names) would continue to see limited use during the Qing period.<ref>{{harvnb|Tom|Rodell|2005|p=85}}</ref> Also, during the Qing, there appeared weapons such as the ''[[nandao]]'', regional variants in the name or shape of some of the above dao, and more obscure variants such as the "nine ringed broadsword", these last likely invented for street demonstrations and theatrical performances rather than for use as weapons. The word ''dao'' is also used in the names of several polearms that feature a single-edged blade, such as the ''[[pudao]]'' and {{Transliteration|zh|[[guandao]]}}.

The Chinese [[qiang (spear)|spear]] and dao (''liuyedao'' and ''yanmaodao'') were commonly issued to infantry due to the expense of and relatively greater amount of training required for the effective use of the Chinese straight sword, or ''[[jian]]''. Dao can often be depicted in period artwork worn by officers and infantry.

During the Yuan dynasty and after, some aesthetic features of [[Persian people|Persian]], [[Indian people|Indian]], and [[Turkic peoples|Turkish]] swords would appear on dao. These could include intricate carvings on the blade and "rolling pearls": small metal balls that would roll along [[fuller (weapon)|fuller]]-like grooves in the blade.<ref>{{harvnb|Tom|2001|pp=209, 218}}</ref>