Bradeos: also, Yang Jwing Ming in his 'Taiji Sword, Classical Yang Style' states at p.16: 'Northern characteristics were as follows: ....2. Sword guards face forwards so that the swordsman can lock the opponent's weapon ... Southern characteristics, on the other hand, were: ...2. Sword guards slant backward toward the hilt, to slide the opponent's weapon away, in preparation for an attack at close range. ...' Certainly, the implication is that the hilt was a tactical feature rather than a defence for the fingers or wrist. It would seem that either type of guard could be useful in Tai Chi sword depending on the application. For instance, in Part Grass in Search of Snake, the northern type would arguably be more appropriate, as the action consists in parrying the opponent's blade and then sliding down it to lock it at the hilt, with the possibility of a strike with the sword fingers thereafter/simultaneously; whereas Left and Right Wheel Sword, for instance, consist of dissolving the opponent's attack backwards followed by a counterattack and this would seem more appropriate to the southern type of hilt. Kind regards, Simon.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Bradeos Graphon:
<B>There is still a guard on Chinese swords, but as Jerry says, not an extensive one. One should learn to be good with it if one wants to keep all one's fingers!
The ability to change hands is very important, especially in narrow spaces and against multiple opponents.
Also, in the Chinese martial arts there are actually two forms in one when you do a single sword form. You have the techniques and footwork necessary to defend and attack with your sword, but also a "form within a form" for the empty hand (punches, palm, wrist, peng, lu, ji, an, etc.) and leg (kicks, trips, sweeps, etc.).
Some southern Chinese styles make use of shields in the other hand, and some southern sabre styles have full hand guards like cutlasses as a result. As well, Wing Chun is known for its double "eight chop" or butterfly dao, which many have the full hand guard and the top "S" curve for trapping an enemy blade like the Yang style dao does. That trapping implement was a feature of east Asian police weapons for centuries. They might not have had swords themselves, but they had implements for disarming swordsmen, a famous example is the "steel whip" of Single Whip form fame, a big bar of steel with a sword-like handle at one end for breaking sword blades (and bones). Another is the three section staff that Gordon Liu made famous in his movies.
Cheerful subject, eh?</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>