One of the central figures in the 14th century Chinese historical classic Romance Of The Three Kingdoms is General Guan Yu, a behemoth of a warrior who wields a weapon he crafted himself. In the novel, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade is a curved sabre attached to a long pole and weighs 82 catties, which is equivalent to nearly 50kg. The guandao, as it is known, has since become a classic weapon in Chinese martial arts. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.