Introduction

There are many household names in the sword hall of fame. Accompanying the martial arts warriors, their adventures in the cinematic world are the stuff of legend, beguiling generations of audiences. Swords are short weapons, easy to carry and wield in close-quarters combats and in confined spaces. But single-edged and double-edged swords are used in completely different ways. Double-edged swords are known for their lightness and grace, whereas single-edged swords, sometimes called Chinese sabres, are noted for their vicious, clean slashes. The choice of a single-edged or double-edged sword often reflects the personality of a character. The swordsman Linghu Chong in The Proud Youth (1978) and Swordsman (1990) and the sabre warrior Ding Peng in Full Moon Scimitar (1979) are a case in point.