Hidden Weapons

Hidden, or Concealed Weapons are not the typical weapons seen or used by martial artists today.

Like the Japanese Shinobi, or Ninja, the hidden weapons were the tools of stealthy assassins, saboteurs and escape artists. In fact, many hidden weapons were once shared between these two countries.

A few examples of weapons shared between Japanese and Chinese martial arts are

• the Fei Dao (飛刀) or Knife-dart 
• the Fei Biao, (飛鏢) or Shuriken dart
• the Bi Shou, (匕首) or Hidden Dagger 
• the Throwing Arrow or Shuai shǒu jian (摔手箭)

Fei Dao or Knife Dart

Many hidden weapons are designed to hide in plain sight and usually resemble common objects.

• Combs and Hairpins (鐵梳子 &  釵)
• Calligraphy (judge) Brushes or Pan Guan Bi (判官筆)
• Metal Chopsticks or Tie Kuai Zi (鐵筷子)
• Acupuncture Needles Dianxue zhen (點穴針) 
• Coins that have been sharpened (金錢鏢)
• The Iron Toad Tie Hama (鐵蛤蟆) (originally used as a good luck charm or as a paperweight)

Judge Brushes

Some resemble musical instruments.

• Brass cymbals or Bo (鈸)
• The Bamboo Flute or Di(笛)

Some however, are blatantly terrifying.

• The Flying Claw - Fei Zhua (飛抓)
• Sleeve Arrow Xiu Jian (袖箭)
• Bowing Head Crossbow - Di Tou Nu (低頭弩)
• The Flying guillotine - Xue Di Zi (血滴子)

Flying Guillotine

The most famous of these is the Flying Guillotine, whose story is as much a mystery today as it was to those who first told it. Many doubt it ever existed.  The Flying Guillotine was an assassin's tool, developed during the Qing Dynasty, and was created to silently decapitate its victim. It's shape was that of a hat, attached to a chain, with razor sharp blades attached to the underside. when the chain was pulled, the blades would converge on the person's neck and uh... I'll let you fill in the gaps yourself.