http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t97038.htmlTypes of Korean swords
Historically there are about fifteen kinds of Korean swords some more well known, other lesser known.
Elements of the Korean sword include: gumjip or scabbard, most often of lacquer; hyuljo or blood groove; hwando magi or collar; ho in or collar; kodungior hand guard; gummagi or , gumjaroo or ,
As well there are: practice wooden swords or mok guem, steel swords shin guem and other 20th century innovations.
The list would include:
Sword = Gum (or Kum)
GUM @ KUM Elements Part
+Gumjip = Scabbard
+Hyuljo = Blood Groove
+Hwando Magi @ Ho In = Collar
+Kodungi @ Kodungior = Hand Guard
+Haidong = Herculoy
• Ye Do(鋭刀) sword is curved, single edged, a two-handed sabre similar to those used in China in the Ming through Chi'ing dynasties.
• Kum(剣) sword is wide-bladed, heavy, and long.
• Haidong Jingum(海東剣) sword are heavy swords, and can be used to cut bamboo, mats or even tree branches.
• Jingum a less noble sword similar to the above.
• Samgakdo( 三角刀) sword. The samgakdo, also known as triangular sword, is designed for jipdan or mat cutting practice and should NEVER be used on hard targets such as bamboo.
• Ssang Soo Do(双手刀) is a Two-handed sword from China..
• Ssang Do(双剣) are a kind of long knife or knives.
• Samjeongdo(三正刀) the sword given to newly promoted Korean military generals each year by the Ministry of National Defense.
• Wol-do(月刀) is a polearm Zanbato from China.
• Hyup-do(侠刀) is again a variant polearm.
• For martial arts students learning sword forms or gumpup practice wood swords or moggum are most often used; then those made out of carbonized bamboo or Juk-to; lastly compression sponge, single or double-edged, with or without blood grooves. Combinations of sword and knife fighting would use plastic blades.
* Long Sword = Sang Soo Do @ Ssang Gum "Double Swords"
* Japanese Sword = Wae Gum
* Short Sword = Dan Gum
* Knife = Kal Gum
* Short Sword or Knife = Dan Do
* Real Sword = Jingum
* Blunt (rebated) Sword (Imitation Sword @ Practice Steel Sword) = Kagum @ Gagum @ Gumbup @ Gumpup @ Shingum
* Wooden Sword = Mogum or Mok-gum
* Spear = Chang
* Battle Axe = Do Kki
* Halberd (Moon Knife) = Wol Do
* Short Staff = Dan Bong
* Middle Staff = Jung Bong
* Long Staff = Jang Bong
* Flail = Jul Bong
* Three Sectioned Staff = Sam Jul Bong
* Archery = Gung Sool
* Bow and Arrow = Gung Si
* Weol Do Ahd = Kwan (Guan) Dao (China)
Sword
San Soo Do = was a straight sword with a 50-inch-long blade, with the actual cutting edge approximately 39 inches long. It was one of the most common Korean military swords and laid the foundation for many modern weapons.
Ssang Gum = means "Double Swords" and refers to a set of matched blaes. Its smaller brother was the Wae Gum, a set of mid-sized swords that were larger than daggers but shorter than the full sized Ssang gum. The Wae Gum were popular within Korea's royal palace and court, since they could be easily concealed within a robe.While the average soldier might use a San Soo Do and Ssang Gum, those who relied entirely upon their sword for battlefield defense preferred the Ah Do. Strictly a military weapon, it had a groove running the length of its 39 inch long blade for added strength. Both edges were sharpened near the tip, and the main cutting edge was sharpened its entire length.
Hyup Do = weighed approximately 5 pounds and measured some 51 inches in length. Its curved single-edged blade was suitable only for the strongest of men.
Je Dok Gum = was another military sword that gained popularity in Korea during Japan's first invasion attempt in 1592. At the time China was an ally of Korea, and some scholars argue that the Chinese warriors who helped the Koreans ward off the Japanese took the Je Dok Gum back to China, where it influenced the development of Chinese swords.
Ye Do @ Yeoh Do = the last notable military sword was the Yeoh Do. It had a slightly curved 39-inch-long blade and a 35-inch-long handle. As such, the bearer of this blade certainly had enough leverage to cut through just about any object.
Jeong Gum = refers to a sword that was used with a linear motion.
Yeok Gum = refers to a sword that was used in an inverted position (with the cutting edgeup).
Jang Ssang Gum = refers to a set of long swords that were used together; and dan.
Ssang Gum = refers to a set of short swords that were used together.
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Sat Aug 14, 2010 5:03 am