14 March 2019

Duo Qian Fang Pai (奪鉛防牌)

MINOR UPDATE JUNE 28, 2023


Drawing of a Duo Qian Fang Pai (highlighted), from 'Wu Bei Ji Yao (《武備集要》)'.
Duo Qian Fang Pai (奪鉛防牌, lit. 'Lead-catching defence shield') is a type of late Ming composite heavy shield specifically designed to stop bullet. Due to the increased weight and bulkiness of a bulletproof-grade shield, it is presumably mostly used for naval boarding, and is also known as Duo Chuan Fang Pai (奪船防牌, lit. 'Ship-seizing defence shield').

Duo Qian Fang Pai is four chi tall and two chi wide, and consists of layers of different material: first layer cowhide, second layer cow horn plates, third layer cowhide, fourth layer cow horn plates, fifth layer bamboo, six layer rattan, and seventh layer rattan. All seven layers are sewn together with linen thread and fixed to a frame made from sandalwood. The wooden frame is further reinforced with metal rim (it is one of the very few Chinese metal-rimmed shields). Two leather straps are attached to the back of the shield, and the shield is presumably strapped vertically to the arm, similar to Yan Wei Pai (燕尾牌). Like many Chinese shields, the surface of Duo Qian Fang Pai is painted with image of tiger or other ferocious beasts in order to spook enemy horses.

13 comments:

  1. hello ,unrelated to this post but i wanted to ask you a favor. I've came across this text but in english describing the appearence of Miao armor but i've recently found the original chinese text in a article and so i wanted to ask if you could translate it and share it with me ? that would really help me.
    here is the text in question : “蛮皆盘瓠之余种…其兵器有甲胄,标、牌、刀及偏架弩,其利与中国神臂等。”清代付鼐《复总督百龄书》说:“苗枪较营枪长至尺余,最能击远。”陆次云《峒溪纤志》:“苗人火器有过山鸟者,能打越重山。”《贵州通志·土民志》:“牛尾枪几与内地子母炮(捋)。”乾隆《贵州通志》:“九股苗性尤骠悍,头戴铁盔,…身披铁铠,…尚能左执木牌,右持标枪,口衔利刃,捷走如飞…前明播州之乱,为杨应龙羽翼,虽调兵十数万诛杨应龙而九股苗未剿灭。”关于铠盔,同书说“头顶铁盔,后无遮肩,前有护面两块,即铸于盔,极重。身披铁铠,上如背塔,止及乳,下用铁链固身,形如圈,笼缀于上。坐则缩,约重三十斤。以下铁片缠身

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    1. Sure thing.

      "The barbarians are the descendant of Panhu (盘瓠, a mythological dog). Their armament include armour, javelin, sword and Pianjia crossbow, its power rivals that of Chinese Shenbi crossbow."

      "Miao spear is longer than (Qing) Regiment spear by roughly one chi, and excels at striking far".

      "Miao firearms include a 'Mountain-passing bird', that can shoot over several mountains."

      "Oxtail gun is almost equal to the mainland 'mother-and-son cannon' (i.e. breechloading gun)".

      "The Jiugu Miao are fierce and valiant, (they) wear iron helmet on the heads, and iron armour on the body, and still able to carry wooden shield in the left (hand), and javelin in the right (hand), bit sharp sword in mounth, and able to run like flying. During the Bozhou rebellion of the previous dynasty (Ming), they served Yang Yinglong. While Ming mobilised tens of thousands to kill Yang Yinglong, they could not completely wipe out the Jiugumiao."

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    2. The last part I am not 100% certain, but I will translate it into something like this:

      "(They) wear iron helmets on their heads. (The helmet) is without aventail on the back. It has two cheek guards at the front that are forged directly into the helmet. It is very heavy. (They) wear iron armours on their bodies. The upper part (of the armour) is like a pagoda, only reaching to the breast. The lower part is bound with iron chains, shaped like enclosure, and stack on one another like bamboo steamer. When (the wearer) sit down, the armor will retract. Below (the armour) (they use) iron plates to cover their bodies."

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    3. The description of the last armour very closely match the surviving armour of Zhang Xiumei (張秀眉), by the way.

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    4. do you have any information about miao dao (not changdao) to me (judging by only drawing) they are either direct descendants or cousins of ring pommel swords from han era but its only my speculation and i cant find not much information since they share same name with two handed dao

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    5. Few documented information of Miao sword is available. However, the straight ring pommel ones do look like they are related to Han-Song era Chinese swords.

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  2. Thank you so much, and yes I've noticed the similarities with the surviving exemple

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  3. Hello ,I have another question , in what document is the she-an rebellion recorded ? Apart from one book in English,I wasn't able to find a lot about it, like battle description,She Chongming troops equipments,etc and wanted to know if a public version was available in chinese.

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    1. I took a quick look at the Chinese-language wikipedia, it seems that the main source is 《明史記事本末》, not to be confused with 《明史》 (History of Ming). I have not look into the rebellion deeply so I can't answer you about their equipment etc though.

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  4. I recently found out about this painting and I figured you might have not seen it yet, it shows late Ming fighting what looks to be mongols, the painting including interesting armor, horseback glaive and a mongol general in dark green brigandine. https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Imperial-Edicts-Regarding-General-Qi-Mia/E1D0467F6298201D

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Still not sure that using heavy polearm in horseback is plausible or just artistic expression

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    3. I've seen that already, but it is good to see the entire painting to be put in once place. It's not surprising to see Mongols in Ming-style armour, as that's basically what they used at the time.

      @ssd
      It is perfectly viable to use polearm on horseback.

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