Telling apart Chinese polearms: a quick visual guide

UPDATED JANUARY 10, 2025

(Note: The descriptions below correspond to the items in the image from left to right, in the same order they appear.)

1. Ancient Chinese polearms (Shang to Han Dynasty)

1.1 Common polearms

Various ancient Chinese polearms. It should be noted that these weapons are not to scale with each other. For example, the head of a Shu is much smaller than other polearms.

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Patron only: Square formation of Xu Lun (許論) — EXTRA: Contingency formation

The final part of the square formation series, covering Xu Lun's countermeasure against Mongol surprise attack.

This blog post is exclusive to my Patrons and can be accessed here. If you like my work so far, please support me via Patreon!

Other blog posts in my Square Formation series:

Square formation of Xu Lun — Part 1

Square formation of Xu Lun — Part 2

Square formation of Xu Lun — Part 3

Square formation of Xu Lun — EXTRA (Patron-only content)

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Huo Qiu (火毬)

Huo Qiu (火毬, lit. 'Fire ball') was a type of primitive incendiary trebuchet ammunition made of paper, bamboo basketry, or even clay. Developed in the eleventh century, Huo Qiu was one of the earliest gunpowder weapons in the world (along with gunpowder-based fire arrows and early rockets), predating even the fire lance.

At the time of its invention, the Chinese had yet to perfect the formula for explosive gunpowder, and the fuse would not be invented for another century. As a result, the Huo Qiu could only burn but not explode, and it lacked a burning fuse. Instead, an iron awl was used to ignite the bomb (by poking a red hot awl into the ball). Huo Qiu was usually flung by a trebuchet, although some versions could be thrown by hand or launched from a sling.

A straight awl (top) and hook awl (bottom) used to ignite Huo Qiu. From 'Wu Jing Zong Yao (《武經總要》)'.

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