Kangxi had a significant impact on the military positions of the ruling class as well as fostering rich cultural development in China. He came to and was in power during the first half of the Qing Dynasty. Keeping China all together as one cohesive unit was not an easy task, especially with things going south in the, well, south. So, with various civil wars and imperial rebellions to deal with, Kangxi was no slouch. He is said to have adored fitness training, and probably kept in shape by training in his royal courtyards with his ornately decorated hand swords. As horses were still the primary transportation during battles, the shorter dao swords were preferred to take into combat.