Ancient Spear

The Ancient Spear or Máo (矛) dates back to the early Shang Dynasty.

Most ancient spears were made of bronze. They were leaf shaped and had small loops at the base of the socket. Historians are not quite sure whether these were for attaching decorations, or to further secure it to the spear-shaft by means of lashing and lacing it through the bronze loops.

Shang Dynasty Ancient Spear

The type of ancient spear used during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods became longer and eventually abandoned the loops altogether.  King Fuchai of Yue's spear is an example of this type.

King Fuchai's Ancient Spear

The ancient spear continued to change over time into different forms, such as the Snake Spear or Shé Máo (蛇矛), the Long Spear or Shuò (槊)  and much later it became the diamond shaped spear or Qiāng (槍) used by martial artists today.

Snake Spear