History of Chinese Weapons

[Taesujutsudrw]

GHI([Gee] Halbred)

 

There are two kinds of Halbreds.

 

1) The two or trhee pronged head.

 

2) The flat head.

 

Both have a string and heavy rod, that is usually made out of metal. Horsetail tassels were used on both. This not only distracted the enemy, but also prevented blood from flowing down the shaft.

 

The Halbreds primary use was in a horse-to-horse confrontation, however, there could be times when it was used in horse-to-ground, and ground-to-ground fighting. The Initial technique that would be executed with the halbred, was stabbing, thrusting upward, sweeping, and cutting.

 

The first halbreds probably date from the Spring and Autumn period, and the Warring states period [770-221 B.C.] Their popularity expanded during the Three Kingdoms era[220-280 A.D.]

 

Peace,

 

Tae

 

 

[Taesujutsudrw]

CHAN(shovel or spade)

 

The general structure of the shovel is a flat metal head on the end of a metal rod. There are three different shovels(spades).

 

1) The Crescent Moon[Yueh Yar Chen].

 

2) The Farm Bian Chan, is like the crescent moon, except the blade is convez.

 

3) The Golden Coin[Gin Chain Chan] has a coined-shaped metal head.

 

The shovel was the weapon of priests. After wars, and famines they would also bury the dead with them. If it was used in fighting, it was used the same way as the spear or rod.

 

The Golden Coin in some books has been dated as far back as the Hsia Dynasty[2205-1782 B.C.] The Crescent Moon was exclusively a monk's weapon until the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty[1644-1911 A.D.]

 

Peace,

 

Tae

 

 

[Taesujutsudrw]

SHAN CHAR(Trident)

 

In Northern China, the trident is called SHAN CHAR.

 

In Southern China, it is referred to as a BAR.

 

The three-pronged metal head was attached to a wooden rod. Occasionally a metal staff was used. The trident was slightly longer than the user's body.

 

In the North the prongs were flat with sharp edges, in the South, the prongs were tapered. The trident was mainly used as a hunting tool, and not a favorite battle weapon, it was also thought to scare off evil spirits, so many families and temples kept them close by.

 

As a fighting weapon, the trident was used to block the enemy's weapon. it was also used to stab or sweep. in hunting tigers, the hunter would hold the trident tilted at a 45-degree angle upwards, as the tiger sprang to attack, it would impale itself on it.

 

It was first used as a weapon by Huang Di(2690-2590 B.C.). However, farmers were probably using them before that to hoist hay and to hunt.

 

Peace,

 

Tae

 

 

[Taesujutsudrw]

SHAN GIEH KUN(Three sectional staff)

 

At the beginning of the Sung Dynasty[960 A.D.], Emperor Tai Gzu specialized in the use of the long rod. One day his favorite rod broke, he repaired it by chaining the two pieces together. This weapon is the sweeper. He found it very effective in fighting an enemy bearing a shield because the short staff could hook over the shield.

 

Later he broke his seweeper into three pieces and chanied them together. This became the SHAN GIEH KUN(Three sectional staff). This consists of three equal lengths of hardwood or rattan conditioned with wood-oil and chained together. The three sectional staff can be used either as a short or long weapon depending on which staffs are held. More complicated than the sweeper, the three sectional staff can be used on either side and has greater injuring potential.

 

There you go Rush.

 

I will catch you in the other clubs..time has become to short..and I can't keep up with both.

 

Still love ya.

 

Peace,

 

Tae

 

 

 

[iamrushman]

thank you for the information.......

 

 

[Joecooke007]

There are some very long posts in this thread! All of them are very interesting though.

 

 

[SaiFightsMS]

Joe, weapons can be so very interesting. And there are so many of them. :karate:

 

Once you are bitten by the weapons bug you will find and see pictures of some of of the strangest looking and some of the most interesting looking weapons imaginable.