The Katana, and Family
Famous for being forged with "folded" steel, katana swords were the main weapon for Japanese Samurai. These were supreme chopping and slicing tools that were used as much in ceremony as on the battlefield. This set of a katana and wakizashi (a shorter version of the katana) were known together as "Daisho," and were worn by Samurai in public and in battle.
Chinese Swords
The Jian is uncannily similar to the Roman Spatha
China has seen many swords over its long history. Pictured here is the Jian, which was considered a master's weapon in Chinese culture. The Jian is very similar to the European longsword, and nearly identical to the Roman Spatha, a testament to the simple effectiveness of this design. Unlike other cultures, most Chinese swords evolved on their own. In fact, there is evidence stone swords being used in ancient China, making the Chinese some the earliest sword makers in the world.
This is a Chinese Dao. It was a common single, wide-bladed sword used by infantry troops.
Popularized by Hollywood Kung-Fu films, the butterfly swords are famous for being wielded simultaneously.
South and South East Asia
Two baliswords (one mostly folded, one extended) shown next to a butterfly knife.
Swords in South and South East Asia have diverse historical backgrounds that can be traced back to the Middle East, India, China, Japan, and indigenous tools. Pictured here is a rather unique Balisword, which resembles a large butterfly knife. This weapon was a favorite during colonial rebellions in the Philippines due to its concealable design.
The wide, heavy Filipino bolo sword was designed to be a chopping tool nearly as much as a weapon... Because it partly was. Combat bolos tend to be longer than bolo machetes used for jungle and farm life, but there is no real difference otherwise
This Burmese Dha was a design found also in Thailand. The similarity to the Japanese katana shows the effectiveness of the design, similar to how the likeness of the Jian and Spatha speak for their effectiveness.