Language: Mandarin Chinese
Source: Classical literature
Description
Dāo shù liáng (刀束樑) literally means "saber binder beam".1 It is the suspension bar held by the two suspension bands on Chinese saber scabbards.
For the saber suspension bar, the alternative terms qiàoshàng shuāngyǎn shù (鞘上雙眼束) and simply dāo liáng (刀梁) 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. Tongwen Guanghui Quanshu (同文廣彚全書) 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.
2. 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, and 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.
