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.

Read more

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.

Read more

Chang Dao (長刀)

MINOR UPDATE DECEMBER 12, 2023

『此自倭犯中國始有之。』
"This (weapon) only became known (to the Chinese) since the incursion of Japanese into China."
— General Qi Ji Guang

Cheng Zong You's Dan Dao (left) and Qi Ji Guang's Chang Dao (right). While superficially similar, Qi Ji Guang's Chang Dao has a one chi long bronze collar/secondary grip, which is not found on Chen Zong You's Dan Dao. Images taken from 'Dan Dao Fa Xuan (《單刀法選》)' and 'Muyedobotongji (《무예도보통지》 or 《武藝圖譜通志》)'.

Read more