Language: Mandarin Chinese
Source: Classical literature

Description

Dāo hūshǒu (刀護手) means "saber handguard".

During the Qing, these were usually disc guards, also referred to as hùshǒu pán (護手盤).2

For a complete overview, see: A Chinese saber glossary.

Utilitarian sword guard
A utilitarian disc guard on a 19th century Qing soldier's saber.

Saber guard
A carved brass saber guard on a 19th century Qing officer's saber.

17th century saber guard

Iron guard with lavish golden damascening on a 17th century Chinese saber.
 

Openwork saber guard
Gilt copper alloy openwork guard on an 18th century Qing imperial saber.

 

References
1. Wuti Qingwen Jian (五體清文鑑)or "Five languages compendium". A Qing imperial dictionary in Manchu, Mongolian, Uighur, Tibetan and Chinese of 1766. Published under the Qianlong emperor.
2. Qinding Gongbu Junqi Zeli (欽定工部軍器則例) or "Imperial regulations and precedents on weapons and military equipment by the Ministry of Public Works", 1813. Chapter 36.

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A standard pattern Qing military saber, but with the rare addition of a label in Manchu.

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€1500,-

Executed in "nanban style" openwork with chiseled and gold-encrusted peonies.

€350,-

A fine and unusually large tsuba. Attributed to Hizen by the NBTHK.

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