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 Lian Dao (鈎鐮刀)

Drawing of a Gou Lian Dao, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Gou Lian Dao (鈎鐮刀, lit. 'Hook sickle glaive') was a Chinese polearm that resembled, but distinct from, Yan Yue Dao (偃月刀). Instead of a forward-pointing protrusion like that of Yan Yue Dao, Gou Lian Dao had a sharpened hook on the back of its blade pointing downwards.

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Yan Yue Dao (偃月刀)

Drawing of a Yan Yue Dao, from 'Chou Hai Tu Bian (《籌海圖編》)'.

Yan Yue Dao (偃月刀, lit. 'Reclining moon glaive'), also known as Chun Qiu Da Dao (春秋大刀, lit. 'Spring and autumn great glaive') or simply Da Dao (大刀, lit. 'Great glaive'), was arguably the most iconic Chinese polearm. Due of its association with legendary Chinese commander/war deity Guan Yu (關羽), it is also known as Guan Dao (關刀).

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