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| A string of caltrops, from 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'. |
Ji Li (蒺藜, lit. '
Puncturevine') is the Chinese name for
caltrop. It is usually made of iron, although sometimes wood is used instead. Multiple caltrops, usually five or six, are often strung together with a one
bu long rope, so that they can be deployed quickly and retrieved for latter use. Stringed caltrops can be hung on
Ai Pai (挨牌) or spear shaft for ease of carrying.
Beside deploying caltrops via normal means, Ming Chinese also used
grenades,
land mines and
explosive shells filled with caltrops.
Standard, four-pointed caltrop is sometimes known as
Ling Jiao (菱角, lit. '
Water caltrop'), while caltrop cooked in human feces to inflict infection is called
Gui Jian (鬼箭).
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| A four-pointed wooden caltrop (lower left) and two four-pointed iron caltrops (lower right), from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. |
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| A multi-point iron caltrop (highlighted), from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. |
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