Sŭnghwado

File:Menghe Sunghwado 1.png

An ornamental Sŭnghwado and its sheath; note the straight blade and angled tip.

The Sŭnghwado (Gomun: 昇華刀, Sinmun: 승화도, literally "Sword of the Sŭng dynasty") is a straight, single-edged sword of Menghean origin. The Sŭnghwado in its current form was first fielded during the early years of Menghe's Sŭng dynasty, earning it its present name. Though quickly replaced in combat roles by curved swords of sturdier construction, and later by more modern weapons, it remained popular among the country's ruling elite as an ornamental weapon.

History

The first written records of Sŭnghwado date to an 11th-century manuscript on the use of traditional weapons. At the time, it was known as the Sindo (신도 / 新刀), or "New Sword," not to be confused with the Sindo of Sindoism (which uses the Gomun characters 神道). It bore a resemblance to the bronze and early steel swords of the Meng dynasty, which shared the same general shape but were usually of non-ridged construction.

Description

The Sŭnghwado is easily distinguished by its blade, which is straight and usually does not taper, but has a sharpened edge on only one side. This makes it an intermediate form between the do (도 / 刀) and gen (겐 / 劍), which are traditionally considered different families of weapon in Menghean martial arts. For this reason, Sŭnghwado are considered a refined weapon, requiring a separate fighting style from either of their predecessors.

On early weapons, the blade was usually about 80 to 90 centimeters long, though modern examples vary in length from 60 to 110 centimeters. The style of the tip also varies; usually it cuts to a point at an abrupt angle, while on some examples there is a gentler transition between the blade and the tip. Blood grooves are sometimes present near the back of the blade to improve stiffness for a given weight, but the majority of ornamental swords do not have them.

The style of hilt varies as well, mainly for ornamental reasons. Early, traditional-style Sŭnghwado used a straight crossguard that protruded about four centimeters ahead of the blade on the cutting edge only, but later examples may have Dayashinese-style circular or oval guards, or may forego the guard altogether. The hilt may be wrapped to improve the user's grip, or left as plain wood.

Use

File:Internal Security Forces swords.png

Sŭnghwado feature prominently on the emblem of Menghe's Internal Security Forces.

These swords were relatively common during the first hundred years of Menghe's Sŭng dynasty, or the late 10th and early 11th centuries. They soon declined in importance, as the broad, single-edged do was easier to train with and manufacture. Yet the Sŭnghwado remained popular among government officials, commanders, and even the scholar-gentry, for its elegant simplicity and resemblance to earlier swords of the Meng dynasty.

Ornamental or ceremonial Sŭnghwado are forged or chosen to suit the tastes of their bearers, resulting in the extensive variation in decoration and style described above. The complexity of the design does not always scale with the bearer's rank; a polished wooden handle and simple bronze pommel may be used to signal compliance with the Chŏndo virtue of humility. To save weight and aid balance, the blades of ornamental Sŭnghwado are usually narrower and made from steel with a very high carbon content - literary works from the Sŭng and Ŭi dynasties mention several instances of officials' Sŭnghwado snapping or shattering in combat, often as a poor reflection on the bearer's strength or character.

After the Decembrist Revolution, Menghe has experienced a resurgence in the popularity of Sŭnghwado. They are a standard feature of officers' dress uniforms in the Army and Navy, though current regulations forbid officers from carrying them on combat missions. In the civilian sphere, they are popular as collectors' items or household decorations, and they have been given as bribes to managerial officials in Jachi-hoesa and local government offices. Choe Sŭng-min is known to carry a Sŭnghwado as part of his dress uniform.

Gallery

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  Early Sŭnghwado, c.950

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  Preserved example from the late Ŭi dynasty

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  "Humble" Sŭnghwado with wooden hilt

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  Sŭnghwado with a curved point and no crossguard

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  Ornamental example with gold decorations

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  Sword carried by Kim Myŏng-hwan