Monk's spade
A monk's spade (simplified Chinese: 月牙铲; traditional Chinese: 月牙鏟; pinyin: yuèyáchǎn; lit. 'Crescent Moon Spade'; also, traditional Chinese: 禪仗; simplified Chinese: 禅仗; pinyin: chánzhàng; Japanese: getsugasan; "Zen Staff"), also called a Shaolin Spade, is a Chinese polearm consisting of a long pole with a flat spade-like blade on one end and a smaller crescent shaped blade on the other. Neither blade was designed to be sharpened. In old China, Buddhist monks often carried spades (shovels) with them when travelling. This served two purposes: if they came upon a corpse on the road, they could properly bury it with Buddhist rites, and the large implement could serve as a weapon for defence against bandits. The crescent was designed as defense against small to medium-sized predators such as wild dogs and leopards. The way it is used is to hold the animal at bay by positioning the crescent at the animal's neck and pushing it away if needed. Over time, they were stylised into the monk's spade weapon.
See also
- Khakkhara
- Sasumata
References
- Holmes Welch, The Practice of Chinese Buddhism 1900—1950, Harvard University Press, 1973
- Chlumsky, Nathan (Sensei). (2023) 'Inside Kungfu: Chinese Martial Arts Encyclopedia.' (2nd ed.) Amazon Publishing, ISBN 979-8561743771
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Short swords |
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Long swords |
- Liuxing Chui (meteor hammer) 流星錘
- Sheng biao (rope dart) 繩鏢
- Jiujie bian (nine section whip) 九節鞭
- Sanjie gun 三節棍
- Chang xiao bang 長小棒
- Nu 弩
- Zhuge nu 諸葛弩
- Fire arrow 火箭
- Huoqiang 火槍
- Tu Huo Qiang 突火槍
- Huochong 火銃
- Shouchong 手銃
- Rocket cart 火箭車
- San yan chong 三眼銃
- Che Dian Chong 掣電銃
- Xun Lei Chong 迅雷銃
- Wankou Chong 碗口銃
- Hu dun pao 虎蹲砲
- Thunder crash bomb 震天雷
- Biān 鞭
- Chǐ 尺
- Chúi 錘
- Emeici 峨嵋刺
- Jiǎn 鐧
- Lujiao dao (deer horn knives) 鹿角刀
- Hook sword 鉤
- Ji lian 鷄鐮
- Fenghuo lun 風火輪
- Armour and Helmet 甲胄
- Shield 盾
- Hook shield 鉤鑲
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