In the Announcements section, Ann Reagan made the obeservation:




Some of my old posts make more sense now, Ann? (re: Yedo in the Damned Book)

I thought that the Yedo forms were designed to be done with a short sword...or a sword somewhat shorter than the one we'd normally use. I am confused...

Me too! That's what surprised me! Apparently that might not be the case.

Regarding Mr. Boyd's comment - Yes, your posts in the old Yedo threads now do make more sense. The longer sword could reach more easily for some of those 'under-the-arm-stab-the-guy-behind-you' motions.

And, I recall Mr Graper making many comments about the moves making sense if used with a 'ko katana' (something with a long handle, but a blade closer in size to a wakisashi). Such a sword would have the handle length required for some of the moves in the Yedo forms. However, the museum piece labeled 'Yedo' had an elongated handle, like the ko katana, but had a longer blade, as well.

So... that gets us to dealing with the point that the forms were organized along certain principles, but with the understanding that a normal sword was to be used for all the varying sets, or that the yedo wasn't short.

I tend to lean toward the former more these days (although I still have a sense that the yedo wasn't short ) as I have lost some of my formerly deep respect for the museums, and perhaps moreso due to the fact that I've had a chance to try SSGB with a jang-gum and a similar number of the techinques were as problematic as those in YDGB with a shorter weapon.

Haidong Gumdo is a beautiful contemporary art. I have found no satisfaction in attempting to reconcile museological interpretation of history with its epistemology. Some of my thoughts on this are here- http://www.gumdo.com.au/terminology/reading.htm

FYI HERE is the picture of the yedo under discussion:




The top two are labeled 'yedo', or 'short' sword, even though they are the longest swords shown in the museum to this point. Perhaps they are only 'short' compared to the 'long swords', like the 'Jang Geom' (Admiral Yi Sun Shin's behemoth), or the 'Jang Do' (bladed halbeards, like the weoldo, hyupdo, cheongnyong, etc.). Bottom straight swords are labeled Changpo Geom. All are sized for two-handed use. Note similarities between the Choseon Korean Yedo and Japanese swords, although these are noticeably longer than typical katana.

From The MDTJ, Sang H. Kim translation, Book 2 Chapter 2, 'Yedo", Turtle Press, (c)2000:

"(Note) The hwan do is the Chinese yo do. Those swords that are recorded in the Koobo such as ssang soo do, ye do (short sword), wae gum (Japanese Sword), ssang gum (twin swords), je dok gum (admiral's sword), bon kuk gum (Shilla Kingdom sword), and masang ssang gum (twin swords on horseback) are all yo do, although the functionality of each is different. A double-edged sword is called a gum. A single-edged sword is called a do. In the later times, the terms do and gum began to be used interchangeably. In ancient times, gum was a more respected term and in later times do took its place. This was not because of the quality of the weapon but because of the customs."

I found another reference to the size of different swords described in the MYDTJ.

The folowing is an English translation from a Korean-language reference on sword history ("Arms and Armours of the Choson Dynasty", Min Seung-ki (c) 2006).

According to the author:

The Origins of Hwando

During the Choson Dynasty, long swords with single-edged blades were generally referred to as hwando [“curved saber”; the term “saber” will be used interchangeably with “hwando”]. In the Veritable Records of the Choson Dynasty [referred as Sillok hereafter], curved sabers were also called ungom, p’aedo, and p’aegom. However, ungom, curved sabers used by personal bodyguards of Choson kings, were essentially a type of hwando with some differences in decorative motifs and name. P’aedo and p’aegom are mentioned only a couple of times in the Sillok. In the Muye Dobo T’ongji [abbreviated MYDBTJ hereafter], designations such as yedo, ssangsoodo, ssanggom, and waegom appear but they refer to sword techniques [kombop], and in actuality hwando was used in executing the sword techniques. In addition, Japanese [waegom] and Jurchen swords and even a sword found on board a foreign ship [?; ???] during King Ch’oljong’s reign were all referred to as hwando; therefore, all swords featuring curved, single-edged blade can be categorized as hwando.

(Emphasis added)

Thanks to 'samsuh' for the translation. The rest of his translation and more information about Min Seung-ki's book may be found in this and other posts on the Kingdomfighter forum, HERE.