A Nandao () is a kind of dao, or single-edged sword, that is used in contemporary wushu taolu.' Ratified for use by the International Wushu Federation in 1992, it has gained widespread popularity worldwide and has become one of the main events at wushu competitions.
History
Creation
In the 1980s with the development of modern wushu taolu, professors of the Chinese Wushu Association wanted to find a sword or short weapon that would compliment the empty-hand style of nanquan. Among the candidates for consideration were the nine-ring sword, the butterfly sword, the dadao, and the Ghost-head sword, but they were all deemed impractical. During the construction of a compulsory nangun routine, professor Wang Peikun met with Zhou Susheng, coach of the Guangxi Wushu Team to discuss the creation of a new type of sword, the nandao. They found a sword-maker to create prototype nandao sword which were given to the coaches.
From 1999 to 2004, nandao events in international competitions used the first compulsory routine performed by Ka Li in 1992. With the 2005 IWUF rules revision, the three-score system was introduced and athletes were required to choreograph their own optional routines. In 2012, a new nandao compulsory routine was created as part of the IWUF Third Set of Compulsory Routines. This routine has been only used at the World Junior Wushu Championships since 2013 and at other junior-level competitions worldwide but not at the adult level.
Scoring and rules
Apparatus
Nandao swords have a blade the shape of a butterfly sword but longer, an s-guard which allows a reverse grip, and a handle length to accommodate single and double wielding grip.
Routines
As of the 2024 IWUF rules, nandao routines must be between 1 minute 20 seconds to 1 minute 35 seconds in length.