Language: Mandarin Chinese
Source: Classical literature
Description
Dāo liáng (刀梁) literally means "saber bar".1 It is the suspension bar held by the two suspension bands on Chinese sword and saber scabbards.
For the saber suspension bar, the alternative terms dāo shùliáng (刀束樑) and qiàoshàng shuāngyǎn shù (鞘上雙眼束) were also used.2
The Manchu term is sirdan sele.
Suspension bands and bar on a very fine Chinese saber of the 18th century.
With its original suspension system with belt hook.
Suspension bands and bar on a 19th century southern saber.
Also see
For a complete overview of saber terminology, see: A Chinese saber glossary.
References
1. Gongbu Junqi Zeli (工部軍器則例) or "Regulations and precedents on military equipment for the Board of Works" of 1815. A Qing imperial text dealing with the details of arms manufacture.
2. Tongwen Guanghui Quanshu (同文廣彙全書) or "Enlarged and complete dictionary" of 1702. A Qing imperial dictionary in Chinese and Manchu, each entry double-checked and approved by the Kangxi emperor and 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.
