View source for Avatar:Dual broadswords

{{Imported Content
|source=Avatar Wiki
|url=https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Dual_broadswords
|date=2025-12-22
|license=CC-BY-SA
}}

{{Icons|Fire Nation|Earth Kingdom}}

{{Quote|fire|These are dual swords. Two halves of a single weapon. Don't think of them as separate, because they're not. They're just two different parts of the same whole.|[[Zuko]] to [[Lee]].<ref name="ZA">{{Cite episode|1|207}}</ref>}}

[[File:Swords.png|thumb|right|250px|This set of dual broadswords hung in [[Zuko]]'s quarters of his [[Zuko's ship|ship]].]]

'''Dual broadswords''', also known as '''twin broadswords''', are two metal [[Weaponry in the World of Avatar|blades]], specifically designed to chop or slash, that are to be considered as different parts of the same weapon. The swords can also be used individually as single-edged blades<ref name="ZA" /> and are known to be used in both the [[Earth Kingdom]] and the [[Fire Nation]].

== History ==
From a young age, [[Zuko]] was trained in the art of dual sword fighting by [[Piandao]].<ref name="SwB">{{Cite comic|SwB}}</ref> The [[Heir to the Fire Lord|prince]] retained a preference for the weapons and displayed a pair of these swords in his quarters on [[Zuko's ship|his ship]]. While masquerading as the [[Zuko#Other skills|Blue Spirit]], he used these swords to avoid having to rely on his [[firebending]] to attack or defend.<ref name="BS">{{Cite episode|1|113}}</ref> However, these swords also inadvertently gave away his secret identity to [[Military ranks in the World of Avatar#Admiral|Admiral]] [[Zhao]], who recognized the weapons despite Zuko's statement about them being mere decorations.<ref name="WM">{{Cite episode|1|118}}</ref>

[[File:Earth Kingdom dao swords.png|thumb|left|200px|The [[broadsword man]] threatened [[Iroh]] with his dual broadswords.]]

When Zuko and [[Iroh]] were traveling through the Earth Kingdom as [[Refugees of the Hundred Year War|refugees]], they had a hard time collecting sufficient [[Currency|money]] to get by. While stopping in the [[river village]], a [[Broadsword man|passerby]] used his dual broadswords to make Iroh dance for a gold piece, much to Zuko's annoyance. The angry prince later mugged the swordsman under the guise of the Blue Spirit and stole the man's swords.<ref name="TS">{{Cite episode|1|204}}</ref> He used these swords to steal from local Earth Kingdom villagers along his journey.<ref name="AD">{{Cite episode|1|205}}</ref>

In the [[plains village]], Zuko used his swords to fight [[Gow]] and his gang and later used them in combination with his firebending after Gow nearly defeated him. He also taught [[Lee]] some techniques with these weapons, calling them, "two halves of a single weapon" and telling him not to think of them as separate.<ref name="ZA" />

In [[Ba Sing Se]], Zuko used a pair of swords owned by [[Law enforcement in the Earth Kingdom#Local Ba Sing Se police forces|a customer]] in the [[Pao Family Tea House]] against [[Jet]] during their [[Duels (Spring 100 AG)#Duel in the Tea Shop|duel]].<ref name="CWS">{{Cite episode|1|214}}</ref> He had to use them in order to hide in the Earth Kingdom as a refugee, concealing his firebending. Zuko later returned under the Blue Spirit guise and utilized his swords when he liberated [[Appa]].<ref name="LL">{{Cite episode|1|217}}</ref>

[[File:Zuko with his swords.png|thumb|right|200px|[[Zuko]] used his broadswords on the [[Day of Black Sun]] to intimidate his [[Ozai|father]].]]

During the [[invasion of the Fire Nation]], when Zuko confronted his father, [[Fire Lord]] [[Ozai]], he wielded his swords as a method of intimidation, since at that time he could not use firebending due to the solar eclipse.<ref name="DBS2">{{Cite episode|1|311}}</ref>

While staying at the [[Western Air Temple]], Zuko, using his dual broadswords, and [[Sokka]], using his [[Sokka's sword|black sword]], had a "swordbending" match in which Zuko emerged the victor.<ref name="SwB" />

== Design ==
Dual broadswords are moderately curved and single-edged, though often with a few inches of the leading back edge sharpened as well; the moderate curve allows them to be reasonably effective in the thrust. Hilts are canted, curving in the opposite direction as the blade, which improves handling in some forms of cuts and thrusts. A cord is usually wrapped over the wood of the handle. Hilts may also be pierced like those of the ''jian'', a straight-bladed sword, for the addition of lanyards. The dual broadswords also had specially-shaped guards that allowed both blades to be sheathed in a single scabbard.

== Notable users ==
* [[Broadsword man]]
* [[Lee]]
* [[Noren]]
* [[Piandao]]
* [[Zuko]]

== Connection ==
The earliest dao date from the Shang Dynasty in China's Bronze Age and are known as ''zhibei dao'' ({{Chinese|直背刀|Zhí bèi dāo}}), which means straight-backed knives. As the name implies, these were straight-bladed or slightly curved weapons with a single edge. Originally bronze, these would be made of iron or steel by the time of the late Warring States. Originally less common as a military weapon than the jian - the straight, double-edged blade of China - the dao became popular with cavalry during the Han dynasty due to its sturdiness and superiority as a chopping weapon. Soon after, dao began to be issued to infantry, beginning the replacement of the jian as a standard-issue weapon.<ref name="GoogleBooks">{{Cite web |url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=eQjLjqo774QC&printsec=frontcover&dq=chinese+dao+sword&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HyfGUpreGMGdkwXY8oD4CA&ved=0CEkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=chinese%20dao%20sword&f=false |title=The Complete Taiji Dao: The Art of the Chinese Saber |date= 2009 |pages= 38 |accessdate=2014-01-03 |publisher=Blue Snake Books}}</ref>

The blades Zuko uses are ''niuweidao'' (牛尾刀) or ox-tailed knives. These were later-period swords that arose in the 19th century, at a time when armor was beginning to disappear from the battlefield. As such, they were designed for fighting unarmored targets, with thin blades that flared in the center, meant for cutting flesh. They were not carried by soldiers, instead being favored by civilians: thugs, bodyguards, and rebels. For ease of carrying, one variant split the handle into two halves, allowing two swords to be carried in a single scabbard, called ''niuwei shuangdao'' (牛尾雙刀), or ox-tailed dual knives.<ref name="LK">{{Cite web |url=https://lkchensword.com/wushu-nwsd |title=Niu Wei Shuang Dao - Safe training Wushu edition |acccessdate=March 30, 2025 |publisher= LK Chen }}</ref><ref name="MMJ">{{Cite web |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.2307/1513063 |title=Some Notable Sabers of the Qing Dynasty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art |date=2001 |accessdate=March 30, 2025 |publisher=Metropolitan Museum Journal, Volume 36, 2001 |pages=207–211 }}</ref><ref name="YouTube">{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vzLAL_D834 |title=Seung Dao 雙刀- Twin Sabers - History, Principles, Training, Design Aspects |date=January 16, 2025 |accessdate=March 30, 2025 |publisher=Sifu Kuttel on YouTube }}</ref>

== Trivia ==
{{Imagelink}}

* The [[Avatar Extras (Book Two: Earth)#.22Zuko Alone.22|''Avatar Extras'']] bonus commentary of "[[Zuko Alone]]" stated that Zuko's dual swords are meant to represent the conflicting "good" and "bad" sides of him and that both are different parts of himself.
* This weapon is one of the four major Chinese weapons, known as "the most reckless and daring of all weapons".<ref name="GoogleBooks" /> Unlike Sokka's space sword, Zuko's swords are like traditional broadswords: single-handed and single-edged.
* After Bolin decorated the [[Mako and Bolin's apartment|apartment]] he and [[Mako]] lived in, a set of dual broadswords hung on the wall.<ref name="STI">{{Cite episode|2|206}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Scroll|{{Reflist}}}}

== See also ==
* [[Weaponry in the World of Avatar]]

[[de:Breitschwert]]
[[es:Espadas duales dao]]

[[ru:Двойные палаши]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Earth Kingdom]]
[[Category:Equipment]]
[[Category:Fire Nation]]
[[Category:Objects]]
[[Category:Weapons]]