Chapter 5 Section 3 Special Weapons

In addition to long-handled fighting weapons, there were also some weapons with special structures in ancient times, such as whips, maces, guduo, hammers, zhu (zhua), hooks, iron chain clamps and other weapons (see Figure 7). The army is organized and equipped, but there are also many users. The whip is an iron short-handled flogging weapon in ancient China.According to "Wu Jing Zongyao Qitu", the whip body is shaped like a bamboo joint and has a handle. It originated from the bamboo whip, and its size and length depend on the needs of the user.The whip was used as a tool of torture in the pre-Qin period. "Mandarin · Luyu" said: "The whip is used for light punishment to prestige the people." In the Five Dynasties period, some generals began to use iron whips.According to the "New History of the Five Dynasties Biography of An Chongrong", the later Jin general An Chongrong once used a big iron whip, and was called "Iron Whip Lord".During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the use of iron whips gradually increased, mainly including iron whips and Lianzhu double iron whips. "Song History Wang Jixun Biography" stated that Daozhou governor Wang Jixun was exceptionally brave and used to use iron whips, iron lances, and irons, so he was nicknamed "Wang Santie".During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were often generals in the army who used iron whips.

The mace is also a short-handled percussion weapon in ancient China.The body of the mace is square and shaped like a bamboo slip, so it was originally named Jian, and can be used by infantry and cavalry.Mace and whip belong to the same kind of weapons, mostly made of copper and iron, but the body of the mace is seamless, no joints and no sharp points.In recent years, an iron mace supervised by Li Gang, a famous anti-gold general in the Song Dynasty, was found in Fujian. It is 90 cm long. "Song History Ren Fu Chuan" records: In the second year of Kangding (1041 A.D.), when the Song Army and the Xixia Army fought in Haoshuichuan (between Longde and Xiji counties in Ningxia), Ren Fu once "wielded a four-edged iron mace and stood up. duel".In addition to single mace, some people use double mace. "Golden History Wuyan Chaci Biography" stated: "Chaci holds two iron slips in his left and right hands. The slips weigh tens of catties, and his name is 'Tie Jian Wan Hu'." It can be seen from the double mace used by the soldiers that the mace was used until the Qing Dynasty.

Guduo is a smashing weapon with an iron spherical head at one end of a long handle.According to the "Wu Jing Zongyao Qitu": Guduo's original name is Guan gizzard [gua zhun melon], which is said to be shaped like a big belly, and it is as big as a guanidine.Later, people misread it as Guduo.There are two kinds of products recorded in the book: terrestris bone and garlic head. The heads are made of iron, which are similar to thorny terrestris and multi-petal garlic respectively, so they have their names.Yue Yun, a famous anti-gold general in the Southern Song Dynasty, used to use a pair of garlic skulls.The Liao army used Guduo as one of the basic equipment.The ceremonial guards of the Jin Dynasty also used gold ornamental Guduo and Guangwu Guduo as weapons of honor.

A hammer is a striking weapon with a spherical head.There are also names such as hammer, vertebra, mallet, and pumpkin.There is a stubby hammer composed of a hammer head and a short handle and a meteor hammer with a tethered hammer head.There were stone hammers in the late Neolithic Age, and later developed into bronze hammers and iron hammers. "Historical Records Biography of Prince Wei" records the story of Lord Xinling, the son of Wei, who ordered Zhu Hai to kill Jin Bi with 40 catties of iron vertebrae and seize military power.Although the hammer is a very common weapon, it has been used in the past dynasties.The Ming army often used fly hammers tied with ropes.Before entering the customs, the Qing army also formed an iron hammer army with special hammers.

The Lao is a hook weapon.The Lao tie used by the Ming army has a long rope, called Fei Lao, which belongs to the cable system weapon.Fei Lao is shaped like an eagle's claw, with five movable claws. After throwing the enemy soldier, he quickly retracts the rope. The enemy soldier cannot break free and is finally captured. The hook is a short-handled combat weapon with a curved blade.It looks like a sword with a curved blade, which is used to hook and kill enemy soldiers.The hook first appeared in the state of Wu in the late Spring and Autumn Period, so it is also called Wu hook.Hooks are less useful in combat, so there are fewer dedicated hooks.The Song army often used weapons that combined a hook and a spear, such as double-hook guns, single-hook guns, ring-hook guns, and hook-hook guns.The green battalion soldiers in the Qing Dynasty also used hook-shaped weapons such as three-beard hooks and iron handles.

The iron chain clip stick is similar to the flail of the wheat threshing tool of the farmhouse, and is used to slap and hit the enemy.When in use, shake the main long stick with your hand, and the short stick fastened by the iron chain will swing accordingly to hit the enemy.Because it can change the angle and strike from multiple sides, it is more convenient than a straight stick.