Gou Lian Qiang (鈎鐮鎗)

Song Jiang (宋江) employs hooked spears to counter the chained cataphracts of Huyan Zhuo (呼延灼). From a Ming period print of Water Margin.

Gou Lian Qiang (鈎鐮鎗, lit. 'Hook sickle spear') was a famous Chinese polearm that combined a spearhead with a single sharpened hook. It should not be confused with Gou Qiang (鈎鎗) or Tie Gou Qiang (鐵鈎鎗).

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Gou Qiang (鈎鎗)

Drawing of a Gou Qiang, from 'Lian Bing Za Ji (《練兵雜紀》)'.

Gou Qiang (鈎鎗, barbed spear) was a cavalry spear with two to four three small hooks below the spearhead. It measured eight chi five cun in length and weighted three jin.

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Xian Qiang (線鎗)

Drawing of a Xian Qiang, from 'Lian Bing Za Ji (《練兵雜紀》)'.

Xian Qiang (線鎗, lit. 'Line spear' or 'Linear spear') was a lightweight lance or cavalry spear used by Ming cavalrymen in Northern China. General Qi Ji Guang (戚繼光) standardised the weapon into its current form, with a two chi spearhead and seven chi shaft, for a total length of nine chi. The spear shaft was extremely thin, only one cun in diameter, and the spear only weighted three jin. The spearhead was tapered to an acute point for better penetration.

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Chang Qiang (長鎗)

Drawing of a Chang Qiang, from 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'.

Chang Qiang (長鎗, long spear) was a very long weapon. In fact, it was the longest melee weapon in the Ming arsenal, longer than all other types of Chinese spear it replaced. It was effectively the Chinese equivalent of pike. The shaft of a Chang Qiang could be made of either wood or bamboo. Bamboo Chang Qiang was generally significantly longer than the wooden version, reaching as long as two zhang four chi in length. However, bamboo shaft was generally softer, less durable, and very hard to parry with.

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