II.
THE MEDIEVAL WEAPONS
3 - The Pole-Arms
THE PERTUISANE
(MÂU)
矛
The Pertuisane « Mâu (矛) » is a weapon which had existed since the old days.
In Spring-Autumn Period (722-481 BC), the famous Pertuisane « Mâu (矛) » was « Khuất-Lư Mâu 屈 閭 爐 矛 » that King Câu-Tiễn of Việt had offered to King Phù-Sai of Ngô (Wu).
In Three Kingdoms Period (220-280 BC), the Pertuisane « Mâu (矛) » of great renown was « Trượng Bác-Xà-Mâu - 杖 剝 蛇 矛 Pertuisane with Snakelike Blade holding a lateral Hook » of Trương-Phi (Zhang Fei - 張 飛), sworn brother-in-arms of Quan-Vũ ( Guan Yu - 關 羽).
Under Tang Dynasty (Tang - 618-907 AD) and Jin Dynasty (1111-1234 AD.), the Pertuisane « Mâu (矛) » was also called « Pike » (Sóc 槊).
« Antique Iron Pertuisane-Mâu Blade » |
« Antique Iron Pertuisane-Mâu Heel » |
The Pertuisane «Mâu (矛)» includes four parts :
- 1. The Pertuisane Blade - Mâu-Nhận 矛 刃 : there's the part of Blade including his «Point» (Tiêm - 尖) ;
- 2. The Pertuisane Skirt - Mâu-Khố 矛 袴 : there's the part concerning the spindle using to fix the Blade on the shaft of the Pertuisane, where a bobble (Ngù - 巣) is attached ;
- 3. The Pertuisane Shaft - Mâu-Bính 矛 柄 : there's the Pertuisane handle (Cán - 杆), still called Hãn (銲) ;
- 4. The Pertuisane Heel - Mâu-Bả 矛 把 : there's the Pertuisane handlenozzel (Đốc Mâu) ; when his nozzel is crimped with bronze, iron or steel, for having a flat and smooth appearance, it's called «Đối» (鐓), when his nozzel is crimped with bronze, iron or steel, for having a round shape as a War Mace's head, it's called «Tỗn» (鐏).
Martial students of Việt-Nam Traditional Martial Arts will have to distinguish Đại-Việt Pertuisane from Chinese Pertuisane. These two kinds of Pertuisane are completely different :
The Snake-liked Pertuisane Blade Xà-Mâu 蛇 矛 from Đại-Việt
The Đại-Việt Pertuisane Blade adopts the swayed shape of whole snake body with a head raised up on the side of the Pertuisane Blade Edge (Mâu-Nhận - 矛 刃) and comprises Two Categories :
1 - Category of Pertuisane since Medieval Period : That is a Category of Polearm very in common use in Đại-Việt, above all at the Period of Posterior-LÊ Dynasty (1533~1789), specially designed for using on Foot Fighting (Infantry) with a view to thwarting the Shields « Thuẫn (盾) » and on Horseback (Cavalry) to fighting all Cavalery Vouge (Siêu-Đao), Spear (Thương), Sword (Kiếm), Halberd (Kích) and Battle Axes (Phủ) :
« Snake-liked Pertuisane Xà-Mâu 蛇 矛 » of Đại-Việt since Medieval Period.
(The Blade adopts the swayed shape of whole snake body
with a head raised up on the side of the Pertuisane Blade Edge)
( Photo Credit : Bình-Định Sa-Long-Cương )
Master Trịnh Quang Thắng from Bình-Định Sa-Long-Cương School System
wielding the specific « Pertuisane with Snake-liled Blade - Xà-Mâu - 蛇 矛 » from Đại-Việt
during the presentation of technique « To Spin the Pertuisane and To Cut from Below »
« Loa Mâu Hạ Bác - 螺 矛下剝 ».
( Photo Credit: Võ-Trận Đại-Việt Academy )
2 - Category of Pertuisane since Near-Contemporary Period : That is a Category of Polearm from Đại-Việt, specially designed since circa 19th century from the Đại-Việt Medieval Pertuisane, i.e. designed by adopting the swayed shape of whole snake body with a head raised up on the side of the Pertuisane Blade Edge (Mâu-Nhận - 矛 刃). However it doesn't have an Edged Hook and his use is limited to on foot fighting for thwarting Shield and Sabre. This Category of Pertuisane was often employed for training in Drill Halls before.
Inspiring Picture of the Snaked Pertuisane |
« Snaked Pertuisane Xà-Mâu - 蛇 矛 » from Đại-Việt. |
This Pertuisane since Near-Contemporary Period, all as other Medieval Weapons of Đại-Việt, was used by Rural Militia being opposed to french occupation forces in the end of 19th century (from the year 1883 into the yeay 1892), during the « Reeds Swamp Uprising » (Khởi-Nghĩa Bãi Sậy) under the command of warlord Nguyễn-Thiện-Thuật, then during the Cần-Vương Uprising of general-in-chief Mai-Xuân-Thưởng, conforming to the appeal of Hàm-Nghi Emperor from NGUYỄN. Dynasty.
Pertuisane « Xà-Mâu » of Đại-Việt since Near-Contemporary Period (circa 1884-1885)
designed under his simplifyed form for Rural Militia use.
(Photo Credit : Trophy of Arms - Dr Hocquard)
Moreover, from this Category of Pertuisane since Near Contemporary Period previouly quoted, there is still another Category of Weapon invented by combining the Javelin with Two Pertuisane Blades from Near Contemporary Period, designed under their simplifyed form quoted previously, and by adding
« Double Pertuisane XOA - Song-Mâu Xoa - 雙 矛叉 » |
« Double Pertuisane XOA - Song-Mâu Xoa - 雙 矛叉 » |
However, this kind of « Double Pertuisane XOA - Song-Mâu Xoa 雙 矛叉 » was designed rather for decorating the Medieval Weapons Display than for using on battlefields.
The Snake-liked Pertuisane Blade Xà-Mâu 蛇 矛 from China
The Chinese Snake-liked Pertuisane Blade is corrugated in according to the shape of snake tail and holding a hook bended back towards the Pertuisane-skirt (Mâu-khố - 矛 袴) :
Snake-liked Pertuisane « Xà-Mâu 蛇 矛 » of China since Medieval Period.
(The Blade is corrugated in according to the shape of snake tail
and
holding a hook bended back towards the Pertuisane-skirt Mâu-khố - 矛 袴)
( Crédit Photo : Trần Hưởng Công 陈 享 公 )
Tthat's a category of Polearm coming from the combination of the « Hooked Spear or Sacquebute » (Câu-Thương - Gou Qiang 鉤 槍) and the « Snake Forked Tongue Spear » (Thiệt-Xà-Thương - She She Qiang 蛇 槍) :
« Hooked Spear or Sacquebute » from China |
« Snake-liked Spear » from China |
In nowadays, in Serialized Films produced by Chinese Cinema, the « Spear with Snakeliked Blade ending in a Snake Forked Tongue » (Thiệt Xà-Thương 舌 蛇 槍) is widely used for replacing the traditional « Pertuisane Blade » (Xà-Mâu 蛇 矛) inherent in Period of Three Warring Kingdoms (in this instance the Celebrious Pertuisane of valorous Generalissimo Trương-Phi - Zhang Fei 張 飛).
This fact induces inexorably present persons to make the confusion between the Snakeliked Pertuisane Xà-Mâu designed for piercing the Shields on battlefields with the Snakeliked Spear Xà-Thương which can not at all do it (See Pictures below) :
« Snake-liked Spear » (Xà-Thương - 蛇 槍 ) designed under the form |
Inspiring Picture of the « Snake-liked Spear » |
In movie televised series of « Tam Quốc Diễn Nghĩa - 三國演義 » from China,
the « Snake Forked Tongue Spear » (Thiệt-Xà Thương - 蛇 槍 ) is fluently used
of an erronemously manner
instead of the traditional Pertuisane « Snake-liked Pertuisane Xà-Mâu - 蛇 矛 ».
(Credit Photo : vothuat.vn)
Movie picture of Trương-Phi - Zhang Fei 張 飛) |
Even in the painting Trương-Phi - Zhang Fei 張 飛) is also represented wielding « Snaked Spear » (Xà Thương - 舌 蛇 槍) |
(To be continued...)
Committee of TRỊNH Quang Thắng. |
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