Editing Dao (Chinese sword) (section)

== Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties ==
[[File:Chinese swords Sui Dynasty about 600 found near Luoyang.jpg|thumb|320px|Two [[Sui dynasty]] ''zhibeidao'' with ring-shaped pommels.]]

As in the preceding dynasties, [[Tang dynasty]] ''dao'' were straight along the entire length of the blade. Single-handed {{Transliteration|zh|peidao}} ("belt ''dao''") were the most common sidearm in the Tang dynasty. These became known as ''hengdao'' ("horizontal ''dao''" or "cross ''dao''") from the preceding [[Sui dynasty]] onward. Two-handed ''[[changdao]]'' ("long ''dao''") or {{Transliteration|zh|modao}} were also used in the Tang, with some units specializing in their use.{{sfn|Lorge|2011|p=103}}

During the [[Song dynasty]], one form of infantry dao was the ''shoudao'', a chopping weapon with a clip point. While some illustrations show them as straight, the 11th century Song military encyclopedia the ''[[Wujing Zongyao]]'' depicts them with curved blades&nbsp;– possibly an influence from the [[steppe]] tribes of [[Central Asia]], who would conquer parts of China during the Song period. Also dating from the Song are the [[falchion]]-like ''dadao'',<ref>{{harvnb|Tom|Rodell|2005|p=84}}</ref> the long, two-handed ''[[zhanmadao]]'',<ref>{{harvnb|Hanson|2004}}</ref> and the long-handled, similarly two-handed ''buzhandao'' (步戰刀).