Question for the chinese swords buffs.

Probably a 9 Ring Dao. I don't really know what the purpose of the rings are other then aesthetic.

I am just speculating but it seems like many of the Chinese weapons have decorations that serve as distractions when fighting. Red tassels or scarves are common and to me they seem to draw my eye away from the pointy part of whatever weapon they are attached to. A sword that rattles loudly might be also be rather distracting.

I have heard it said that that the rings were used to parry or catch other swords or spears in order to protect the blade from damage.

I've heard things like that as well.

I trust the military though. They usually use the most effective stuff so I think the no bells and whistles weapons are more effective.

I will say that the tassel helps in training. It improved my draw cut immensely after I started using it.

Hmm I wonder if maybe they work like the shot peen in a dead blow hammer absorbing shock.

I believe that they are there to distract the opponant but they may also increase the impact of a blow. When the blade is swung and it makes contact with the opponant the rings will crash forward against the back of the blade adding more impact to the cut and mass to the blade. I wouldn't be interested in using it but have read that is their purpose.

Like many have said, it's mainly for distraction. The Chinese were really big on misdirection, ergo their abundant use of colorful tassels. However, as my sifu once told me, they were also intended as a method of intimidation. When swung (or even when someone was just walking), the rings were said to have made an eerie ghostly sound, tormenting their opponents.

Or, it could be just so Jet Li could pull off that awesome ring catch like he did in Fearless.

When you mention rings on the back of a dao, I assume you're referring to something like the sword the old man used in the recent Jet Li movie "Fearless." If that's the case, my experience is that they were added to increase the forward weight of the blade to enhance in slicing/chopping.

Like others of mentioned in this thread, they would not be added for aesthetic purposes and it's hard to believe they would be added to "distract," as little parlor tricks such flashy colors tend to be custom moves and not easily used or taught in battles.