Dual Weapons Continued: Deer Horn Knives

Deer Horn Knives or Lù Jiǎo Dāo (鹿角刀), which more closely translates as Deer Antler Knives, are rare weapons of Chinese martial arts. They are also known as Mandarin Duck Blades Yuān Yāng Yuè (鴛鴦鉞 ).  They are used, almost exclusively by the soft, internal style, known as Baguazhang.

Deer Horn Knives

Deer horn knives are short, but fast weapons, designed for piercing, hooking and trapping. A deer horn knife refers to the shape of knife, not the material used to make the handle, like some western hunting knives have also been called. It consists of two crescent shaped blades facing opposite directions. Most are symmetrical with four distinct points and nine sharpened edges. Others were asymmetrical with only three points

Asymmetrical Deer Horn Knives

Like the Chinese ring weapons, only the outside edges are sharpened, leaving the hands relatively safe to grip the weapon. Likewise the handle construction is usually very simple, utilizing only a grip wrap. Versions with wooden handle scales do exist, but they are far less common than their wrapped counterparts.

Length and size varied depending on the design of the knives. However, they generally fit into these size parameters. Upper points were around four to six inches in length. Lower points were around were two to four inches in length. Handle length was around seven inches. Each knife typically weighed one pound, or only a few ounces shy of one pound.

Deer Horn Knives are very exotic, and as far as I know, no antiques exist from earlier than the late nineteenth century. It is likely they were exclusively the weapons of  martial artists, and never saw combat beyond the personal duel or street brawl.

The next post will be the last in this series, the Butterfly Swords.

Dual Weapons Continued: Ring Weapons

Ring weapons are an uncommon type of paired weapon in China, and not many styles use them (mainly Tai Chi and Bagua). It is rumored that these weapons were originally brought to China by the Mongols, who would throw them from horseback. I think it is also likely that they have some distant connection to the Chakram, another throwing weapon used in Indian martial arts, as well as historically by Sikh warriors from the Punjab region of India.

Chakram

Ring Weapons in Chinese martial arts are used for both throwing and melee combat. There are several variations, but they mostly consist of a circular band, or ring that has been sharpened on the outside edge. Most have a short, unsharpened section that is wrapped with cloth, leather, or other material, thus forming the handle, or grip.

Heaven and Earth Rings

The two most common types are Wind and Fire Wheels (風火輪), which have flame shaped spikes along the outside edge, and Heaven and Earth Rings (乾坤圈) which have a crescent bladed hand guard. These extra appendages generally help in the weapons ability to block or trap an opponent's weapon as well as hook and stab.

Wind and Fire Wheel

The rings are generally around fourteen inches in diameter and weigh between one and two pounds for each ring.

While it's doubtful that these were ever true battlefield weapons, they nevertheless were derived from actual battlefield weapons and keep at least some of their original aspects.

Next week's post will be about Bagua's Deer Horn Knives.

Dual Weapons Continued: Hook Swords

The Chinese Double Hook Swords, Shuāng Gōu (雙鈎), also called Tiger Head Hooks, Hǔtóu Gōu (虎頭鈎), are weapons that are unique among other Chinese weapons. Typically seen in Kung Fu styles practiced in northern China. However, they have spread to styles across China in recent years.

Despite what others might claim, there are no historical examples of hook swords, dated before the Qing dynasty. They also were never officially used by soldiers, but possibly by local militias, and primarily by martial artists from this period.

Hook swords are almost always seen in pairs. They were not very long, with each blade around twenty inches in length, ending in a hook-shaped tip.

Hook swords typically have a six inch handle, ending in a spike that is almost ten inches long. Each also has a crescent shaped blade, mounted onto two parallel bars which altogether form the hand guard. The handle construction mainly varies between two types. One use only wooden handle scales which were pinned to the tang. The other uses a grip wrap made from silk or other corded material, wrapped on top of slightly thinner handle scales.

An antique Hook sword with Qing style grip wrap

In total, they were around thirty six inches in length, or just barely under one meter, with some variation.

Weight also varied, typically between one and two pounds for each sword.

It's blade geometry looks similar to a double-edged Jian, with a raised central ridge.
Supposedly, traditional hook swords were sharp on both edges, but the majority of those we see today are not sharpened.

It's unclear what use the hook swords had in actual warfare. It may well be that they were only used for martial arts display and street performance. They are certainly intimidating, but highly impractical.

For example, I've never seen a sheath made for them, which would certainly allow them to become dull very quickly, if they ever were sharpened. I'm not saying they weren't deadly. I am saying they were neither easy to carry nor maintain. Both of these aspects make them quite impractical as battlefield weapons.

That's all for now. Next week will be about dual ring weapons.

New Series of Posts: Dual Weapons

The Chinese martial arts have many kinds of melee weapons that are organized into several categories.

One such category is dual weapons. Unlike western traditions, most of these dual weapons are identical in size, weight, and shape.

The first thing I want to talk about is in response to Matt Easton's video Dual-wielding axes - plausible combat style?

He alludes to the possibility that Kung Fu styles use dual axes, but thinks that axe and shield is a more plausible combination. While I somewhat agree that you are more protected while using a shield, the concept of dual wielded axes is still well grounded in history, at least in the Asian tradition.

Dual axes or Shuāng Fǔ (雙斧) supposedly originated in the Song dynasty, but most claims stem from the fictional book, Outlaws of the Marsh aka The Water Margin. Most claims point to Lǐ Kuí (李逵) aka, the Black Whirlwind, who is a fictional character from that novel. He is presumed to be the original user of dual axes.

Historically, they were used by the Qing dynasty's Green Standard Army (綠營), as referenced in the Huángcháo Lǐqì Túshì (皇朝禮器圖式), which may also suggest that it could be found earlier in the Ming dynasty as well. (As a historical side note, the Green Standard Army was originally constructed from remnants of the old Ming army.)

Dual axes were typically short, with a blade about four and a half inches tall, and a handle slightly over one and a half feet long, with each axe weighing in the vicinity of two pounds.

Typically, one axe is used for attack while the other is used for defense, but these roles are not fixed to one hand, and are interchangeable. This act of switching is done for purposes of both adaptability, and the potential to confuse the enemy.

They are used today by many styles of Chinese martial arts, such as Shaolin, Emei, Cai Li Fo, Hung Ga(r), to name a few.

This series will continue next week with a post about the Double Hook Swords or Shuāng Gōu (雙鈎).

The Naginata's Chinese Roots

Now some of you might be wondering why I am talking about a Japanese weapon on a blog about Chinese weapons.

Well, if you didn't know this, many aspects of the old Japanese culture, including their weapons of war, were highly influenced by the Chinese. The katana, or tachi, was merely the latest in an evolutionary chain, linking back to the Chinese Tang Dynasty horizontal saber (唐朝的横刀) that the Japanese called, chokutō (直刀) or more specifically, the straight, angular blade style, kiriha zukuri (切刃造).

a 9th century Tang Dynasty style chokutō from a Japanese collection, with lanyard hole & scabbard suspension mounts

Likewise several other Japanese weapons have Chinese counterparts. One of which is the naginata  (薙刀).

The naginata is a polearm, consisting of a curved, single-edged blade, attached to the end of a long pole. The blade is usually shorter than a katana, typically around 30-60cm. The overall blade shape is somewhat different. However, many of the fittings used on naginata resemble those which are seen on katana, such as the disc-shaped hand guard, or tsuba, and the blade collar, or habaki.

The naginata is a unique weapon among Japanese weapons, because it combines the aspects of both a sword and a polearm. It also has its own implications within Japanese culture. It was originally a weapon of the samurai class, but gradually it became more associated with sohei (Buddhist warrior monks), ashigaru (common foot soldiers), and finally, female samurai.

One might assume that naginata rose to prominence in Japan sometime around or before the 12th century C.E.  Its peak time of use was between the Mid-Kamakura, Nanbokucho, and Muromachi periods. (1192-1573 C.E.)

This of course brings me to its Chinese counterpart, the Mei Jian Dao (眉尖刀)

depiction of a Mei Jian dao from the Wu Bei Zhi manual

The mei jian dao originated sometime during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 C.E.) making it analogous to the naginata. The mei jian dao is referenced in at least two official military manuals, namely the Wu Jing Zong Yao, and Wu Bei Zhi.

It bears an uncanny resemblance to the naginata, not only in appearance, but also construction (pinned-tang), function (anti-cavalry), and name.

What I mean by this is that in the Japanese language there are often several different words for expressing the same concept, using different kanji. When one looks up the word "naginata" in a dictionary, these are the typical alternative kanji forms: 長刀、眉尖刀
They all can be read with the same pronunciation, "naginata", and are used to express the same general concept, but the specific meanings of the individual kanji are different. However, the point I am trying to make here is that these kanji (眉尖刀) are used to describe both weapons, (which I believe are essentially the same).

It is also an accepted possibility that the naginata was originally brought over to Japan from China.

Also, as a side note, an alternate reading of the kanji (眉尖刀) is read as "bisentō" which has been described as a ninja weapon of a somewhat similar shape, but with irregularly large proportions. However, I believe it is a doubtful claim, because this weapon has no surviving historical examples, or depictions, nor any real characteristics to distinguish it from the naginata and therefore, it is simply a misnomer.

The one weakness in my theory is that a lot of this is supposition on my part. It's possible that the naginata was invented first, and the mei jian dao is merely a Chinese imitation of it. The mei jian dao was not a common weapon, nor has it been discussed at length among the historical weapons community (possibly because they also don't know what to think about it). Nevertheless, I do think it is interesting to find another close correlation between the weapons of these two different cultures.

Guo Changxi 郭常喜 Preserving Traditional Swordsmithing in Taiwan

A lone man stands between his cultural heritage and extinction. Eagerly he works to preserve a tradition that is centuries old. He is revered among both the martial arts community, and the wuxia film industry. He is one of the last swordsmiths in Taiwan. His name is Guo Changxi 郭常喜.

His claim to fame comes from creating the renowned Green Destiny Sword 青冥寶劍, featured in the movie, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and it's sequel Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny.

Mr. Guo's mission is clear. For more than 35 years he has forged swords in the traditional Chinese style. However, he has also taken trips to Japan, to study other Eastern styles of swordsmithing. His own particular style resurrects an ancient technique usually left out of modern swordsmithing. 

That thing that truly sets him apart from other smiths is that Guo Changxi uses human bones to make swords. Many requests for these swords come from people with deceased family members, whose wish is to have their remains made into a sword, as a memorial. Mr. Guo says that when bones are burned, the phosphorous they leave behind can help to remove impurities from the steel. When the phosphorous mixes with the steel, its color shifts to turquoise. He also says that bones allow spirit to be imbued into the sword. 

For the Chinese Culture the myth this practice possibly stems from is the story of Gan Jiang 干將 and Mo Ye 莫邪. They were two swordsmiths, a husband and wife, who were both apprentices to legendary swordsmith, Ou Ye Zi 歐冶子, who made King Gou Jian's sword. They lived during the Spring and Autumn period (770-45 B.C.E.). The story began when the king of Wu commissioned both of them to make a special sword for him. After months of little success, Gan Jiang fell discouraged as their efforts failed to produce a sword.

As the deadline neared, and out of sheer desperation, his wife, Mo Ye sacrificed herself by throwing herself into the fire. Magically, the fire finally became hot enough to forge the sword. In the end two swords were made, showing both male and female qualities.

Gan Jiang gave the female sword to the king, who was pleased with the sword, but displeased that it was later than the agreed time. When it was found out that Gan Jiang had kept the male sword, the king had him executed. The two swords were named, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, for the two tragic lovers.

In the video, Guo Changxi mentions the Gan Jiang sword as a source of inspiration for his swords.

Now nearing 72 years of age, Guo Changxi's door is still open to apprentices, eager to pass on his skill to a new generation.

Guo Changxi works in the Jiading District 茄萣區 of Kaohsiung City 高雄市, Taiwan. His workshop is there, and nearby there is also a museum, dedicated to his extensive collection of ancient Chinese weapons, which includes Mr. Guo's original Green Destiny sword. Click the link below for more info on the Guo Changxi Knife and Sword Museum.
http://superspace.moc.gov.tw/en/local_culture_page.asp?rid=205

The Four Great Weapons 四大名器

The four great weapons constitute the most common weapons found across almost all styles of Chinese martial arts.
The Four Great Weapons are as follows:

⦁ The Saber 刀
⦁ The Spear 槍
⦁ The Sword 劍
⦁ The Staff 棍

Each weapon has its own special standing in Chinese Kung Fu and each has a title that has been spoken so often among practitioners, they have become common expressions in Chinese.

The Saber is known as the "General of Weapons" (百兵之帥)
Made to cut with power, the Saber is a weapon to be reckoned with. Introduced to the Chinese by the Xiongnu cavalry (aka. The Mongols) during the Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E), The Chinese army saw that it's straight, double-edged swords were clearly outmatched by the sheer cutting power of the saber.  This led to the introduction of the saber into China's weapons arsenal. Soon the saber became so popular that even the Qianlong emperor (1711-1799 C.E. 乾隆帝) had a collection of special decorative sabers made for him to wear at his side, while traveling or at home in the forbidden city.

Qianlong Imperial Sabers

The Saber's shape evolved over time. The first Chinese sabers in the Han Dynasty were mostly straight, and closely resembled the double-edged sword. The sabers made in the Tang dynasty (618-906 C.E.) perfected the straight design, and even influenced the rise of the Japanese Katana. Gradually, the Chinese saber began to adopt curves that resembled those of Persian, and Middle Eastern sabers. One of the most common types of Ming dynasty Chinese saber was the Liǔyè dāo (柳葉刀) or "Willow Leaf Saber". The saber most commonly seen in martial arts today however, is the Niúwěi dāo (牛尾刀) or "Oxtail Saber"

From the top: 1.) Heavy Persian influenced Saber, 2.) Yàn máo dāo (雁毛刀) "Goose Feather Saber",  3.) Liǔyè dāo (柳葉刀) or "Willow Leaf Saber" 4.) Niúwěi dāo (牛尾刀) or "Oxtail Saber"

The Spear holds the title, "King of Weapons" (百兵之王)
For thousands of years, the Spear was the mainstay of the Chinese army.  it was relatively light and easy to carry. It could be easily maintained. It could be used by any type of soldier, cavalry or infantry, and most importantly, it had reach. The length and materials used to make Chinese spears differed greatly by purpose, time and place. Ancient Chinese spearheads were made of bronze, while later spearheads were made from iron and then steel. The shaft was made of hard, but slightly flexible wood. Martial artists often tied a horsehair tassel just behind the spearhead.

The Sword is the "Gentleman of Weapons" (百兵之君)
Or rather it is the "Gentleman's weapon". Straight and double-edged, it is a weapon of speed and finesse, not brute strength. In Chinese history, the sword was both a symbol of nobility and martial righteousness. King's swords were of the highest renown in both fact and myth. This did not change when the sword was replaced by the saber in the Chinese army.  Instead it found a new niche in the society of Scholars, who were the epitome of "gentlemanly" Confucian virtues.  If there ever was a weapon that was romanticized within Chinese lore and legend, it was the sword. In short, there is no weapon that has drawn more attention in history, literature, or cultural significance, than the sword.

The Staff is the "Lord of Weapons" (百兵之主) sometimes mistakenly called the "grandfather of weapons" To a historian, the staff is the primeval makeshift weapon of both thieving bandits and peasant mobs. But to a martial artist the staff is the first step into the world of weapons. It is simple, rudimentary, adaptive, and relatively safe for beginners. It is the gateway to learning all other kinds of weapons. A balance between flexibility and strength, the staff epitomizes principles that all martial artists desire to achieve. Usually around head height or longer, depending on style, techniques, etc. For example, some were eyebrow height, known as Qí méi gùn 齐眉棍) and some were shorter, These shorter kinds of staves were called Bàng (棒).

The four great weapons were the foundations of armed combat training for soldier and martial artist alike, for hundreds of years. It was only in the final years of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912 C.E.) that firearms truly replaced the "cold weapons" (non-firearm weapons 冷兵器) of the past. Now they survive only in museums and collections, and in the declining tradition of Chinese martial arts.