By Colin Chapman.
This page features some unusual Chinese weaponry to spice up your martial artist's choice. Statistics are provided for each weapon in parentheses (damage/concealment).
It's a spear with a spear-head on each end of the pole! (+4/NA)
This two meter polearm features a sharpened shovel-like blade at one end, and a crescent-shaped blade on the other end. (+4/NA)
This polearm features a curved chopping blade, with nine small iron rings on the back of the blade. (+4/NA)
The Da Dao features a heavy, curved chopping blade, with a shaped back and tassel. (+4/NA)
This long polearm features a long sharp point with curving, crescent-like, side-blades. It was (surprise, surprise) used to hunt tigers. (+4/NA)
This shortsword features a broad, single-edged blade, and handguard. It's often mistakenly called a "butterfly sword." It's typically used in pairs. (+3/3)
This sword features a curved, single-edged chopping blade. Its hilt is plain, long and unguarded, allowing both one and two-handed use. It has a ring pommel. (+4/5)
This curving, sabre-like sword, often features a coloured silk sash set in the pommel. It is often used in pairs. (+4/5)
The Shuang Gao is an unusual sword, featuring a hooked blade and a sharp, crescent-shaped handguard. It is often used in pairs. (+4/5)
The Darn Jian has a straight, double-edged blade and short hilt. (+4/5)
The Gui Tou Dao has a heavy, curved, single-edged, chopping blade, the back of which is shaped and features a coloured tassel. The hilt is long, allowing it to be used one or two-handed. (+4/5)
This weapon consists of nine thin iron bars, linked like a chain between a handle, and spiked end. Richard Norton uses a pair in the final fight of Jackie Chan's City Hunter. (+3/4)
This weapon features a rope or light chain to which is affixed a sharp, spear-like blade. It can be whipped out to impale opponents at a short range, entangle them, or shortened and used in close combat by whirling it around the body. The Ninja archetype in Feng Shui is using one, and the Jet Lee movie Shaolin Temple shows this weapon in breath-taking use. (+3/3)
This bizarre hand weapon resembles two crescents inter-locking, and is used in pairs as a slashing weapon. Another variety, called a 'Full Moon' features a sharpened metal ring attached to a handle with two protruding curved blades. (+3/3)
Another unusual weapon, the Fang resembles a combat fire-poker! It consists of a straight iron bar at the end of which is a short, sharp blade, and another short, sharp blade, curving of the bar at a right angle. It's often used in pairs. (+3/3)
The E Mei Ci is a short, thin iron bar, each end sharpened, and features a small iron ring set midway along the bar. It's worn on the forefinger, stabbing with the punching motion of a fist. (+2/2)
The Dan Pian Fu axe features a curved, chopping head, and has a spear-like head at the other end of the shaft. (+4/5)
Essentially this is a nunchaku-style weapon, but consisting of three longer sections, and is used with both hands. (+4/5)
It's a staff. 'nuff said. (+3/NA)
It's just the Chinese name for a nunchaku. 'nuff said again. (+3/3)
Last modified: May 5th, 1997; please send comments to durrell@innocence.com.