The Hyeopdo was a pole weapon used in Korea. It is very similar to the Japanese naginata

Naginata

The naginata is one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades in the form of a pole weapon. Naginata were originally used by the samurai class in feudal Japan, and naginata were also used by ashigaru and sōhei .-Description:A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved...

. It was also called micheomdo (미첨도), which could be translated as 'eyebrow sword' because the curved blade resembled an eyebrow. The first written reference to a hyeopdo is in a Korean martial arts manual from the 17th century called the Muyejebo Beonyeoksokjip (무예예보 번역속집).

Design

The design varied somewhat between makers, but usually the pole was about 1.5 meters long and the blade was about 63 centimeters long.

Use

The hyeopdo was considered an important weapon because of its effectiveness. It was much easier to handle than the bigger and heavier woldo. In the Muyedobotongji

Muyedobotongji

In 1790, King Jeongjo of Korea commissioned a book called the Muyedobotongji which was an illustrated manual of Korean martial arts. This book, written by Yi Deokmu and Pak Jega , described in detail Korea's martial arts of which an unarmed combat style of kicking and punching is extensively...

, another martial arts manual, one form for use is given, called hyeopdo chongbo (협도총보, 挾刀總譜).