What Are the Rings on the Chinese Broadsword For?

The Chinese broadsword was a common weapon in the era of sword combat, and continues to be used by martial arts enthusiasts. Some Chinese broadswords were constructed with a number of rings along the spine. Some of the esoteric uses of the rings on the sword spine have been lost over time; however, many martial arts practitioners still train with the more common uses of the rings in mind. The most common reasons for adding rings to the spine of the broad sword were to create noise, to intensify the damage of a wound and to trap and damage the opponent's weapon.

  1. Rings as Noise Makers

    • One of the primary uses for the rings on a Chinese broadsword was to create noise. The sound could both intimidate and distract an opponent during battle. The rings add air resistance to the weapon, making strikes sound stronger and fiercer. The metallic clash of the rings against the sword spine could confuse or distract an opponent, or add noise to a ceremonial or sports display. The Chinese believed that ringing bells scared away evil spirits, so the rings were also believed to dispel spirits with their noise.

    Inflicting Greater Damage

    • The rings on the spine of the broadsword added to the sword's ability to damage an opponent or his weapons. The rings add weight to the sword, increasing the power of a strike. If the sword's wielder stabbed with it, the rings created a more aggravated wound as the sword entered and exited the body. Many techniques use the spine of the broadsword to parry an opponent's weapon. The rings would increase damage to the opponent's blade, dulling, chipping and breaking it.

    Tactical Considerations

    • The rings on the spine of a Chinese broadsword gave the user advantages over an opponent. Properly used, the rings could trap the opponent's blade during parrying moves, providing an opening for attack, or even disarming the opponent. Thin, or finely pointed blades, such as spears or knives, could be caught inside of a ring and then broken by twisting the broadsword in a swift motion. The rings could prevent an opponent from effectively parrying a strike, or prevent the opponent from redoubling his attack by causing his blade to glide down the spine of the sword.

    How Many Rings Were Used

    • Historic broadswords still exist that have odd numbers of rings on the spine: usually one, three, five or nine. Odd numbers are considered holy and lucky in Chinese culture, so rings were almost always attached to a broadsword in odd numbers. If a sword only had one ring, it would be near to the point of the blade, to maximize the weight enhancement and stabbing damage, and might be attached to a lanyard or strap if the hilt of the handle also had a ring. That way, the sword could be worn like a rifle. The nine-ringed broadsword was a common design; bearing in mind the various effects and advantages of rings on the spine of a sword, it most fully took advantage of the rings' various uses.