Weapons During the Shang Dynasty
In China, the Bronze Age began during the Shang Dynasty, which is believed to have lasted from 1523-1027 BCE. During this time, it is believed that some common weapons used included the bow, spear, great axe, and halberd, all typically made from bronze, wood, or horn.
A Typical Weapon of the Shang Dynasty
One of the most commonly found weapons archaeologists find that date back to the Shang Dynasty is the halberd, or ji.
The halberd was constructed out of bronze, with the pole part sometimes out of wood. Originally a long pole with one or two blades (often curved or in a rectangular shape) mounted at the end, a pointed tip was added to the main body of the pole later to increase its functionality during warfare. As a result, it is similar to a spear, but with an extra blade attached at the end.
Uses of the Halberd
The halberd can be used for stabbing, slicing, or slashing. The flat side of its blade(s) can also be used to slap an opponent, in order to make them lose their balance on a horse.
The blade of the halberd is designed to have an empty space in it, which is used to wrench an opponent’s weapon from their hands.
Typically used for military defence, the halberd was also used for ceremonious purposes and remained a popular weapon for several centuries, well before it was commonly used in Europe. It is still frequently used in the Chinese martial arts, particularly Kung Fu. In fact, the Chinese characters for “martial” feature two characters that are combined: stop and halberd.