Qi Ji Guang's Yuan Yang Zhen (鴛鴦陣) — Part 3

Large Scale Battle

'Nan Ling Po Shan Kou Tu (《南嶺破山寇圖》)', a drawing from the book 'San Sheng Bei Bian Tu Ji (《三省備邊圖記》)' depicts Ming troops engaging a group of bandits. Swordsmen supported by Lang Xian (狼筅) flanked by two pikemen can be clearly seen at the bottom left of the picture.

Read more

Qi Ji Guang's Yuan Yang Zhen (鴛鴦陣) — Part 2

Variant Formation

The Mandarin Duck Formation was by no means a rigid formation. The treacherous wetlands of Southern China necessitated any military unit to be able to change formation at a moment notice.

Liang Yi Zhen (兩儀陣, lit. 'Two Forms Formation') and Wu Xing Zhen (五行陣, lit. 'Five Elements Formation')

Read more

Qi Ji Guang's Yuan Yang Zhen (鴛鴦陣) — Part 1

Basic layout of the early formation, from 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)'.

Read more