II.
THE MEDIEVAL WEAPONS

3 - The Pole-Arms

The Spear

(Thương - 槍)

       The Spear Thương (槍) is always considered as the Sovereign of weapons on battlefields ; it is often called « King of all Armies » ( Bá Binh Chi Vương).

       The Spear unanimously includes three parts :
         - 1. The Spear Blade : it's the part of « Blade » including its « Point » (Tiêm - 尖) ;
       - 2. The Spear Skirt : it's the part interesting the « fusée » of the Spear using to fix the Blade to the Spear Shaft, where a Bobble (Ngù - 巣) is attached, called «Mane » (Anh - 英). principaly used for preventing the enemy's blood to run down from the Spear Blade into the Spear Shaft making it slippery.
        This Spear Bobble is called « Pure Mane » (Tố-Anh 素 英) when it's of black colour, and « Appropriate Blood Mane 血 當 英 » when it's of red colour;
        - 3. The Spear Shaft : It's about the «handle» of Spear.

       At the view of archeological excavations from Europeans in Việt-Nam as Olov Janse(Danemark), Victor Goloubew (Russia) and Louis Pajot (France) at the beginning of 20th century, the morphology of Spear Blades from Việt people on the bygone days differed completely of those from Spear Blades of chinese people.

       As a result, later, Spear Blades under Dynasties of ĐINH, LÊ, LÝ, TRẦN, had all presented differences with those of Ming Spears as the « Space Destructrive Spear - Phá-Không Thương 破 空 槍 », the « Piercing Clouds Spear - Xuyên-Vân Thương 穿 雲 槍 », etc... and particularly absolute differences with Spear Blades invented by the People's Républic of China to the Wu-Shu by drawing one's inspiration from those of Qing Dynasty, with a flexible shaft, and exclusively still perpetuated at present in Martial Arts Drill Halls of Chineses and Vietnameses throughout the world.

       And they present particularly absolute differences with Spear Blades invented by the People's Républic of China to the Wu-Shu by drawing one's inspiration from those of Qing Dynasty, with a flexible shaft, and exclusively still perpetuated at present in Martial Arts Drill Halls of Chineses and Vietnameses throughout the world.

       The Spear wielding implicates the teaching of Long Spear, Great Spear, Double Apicale Blade Spear and Sickle Blade Spear use :

              - the Long Spear - Trường-Thương (長 槍) is the category of Spear the most usual and it's specificaly employed for Cavalry ;

              - the Great Spear - Đại-Thương (大 槍) is the category of Spear whom the shaft hampe is of from 4,5m into 10m long, owning two bobble (Ngù - 巣) and it's specificaly employed for Elephants Army and Footsoldiers. We often call it "Pole-arm Sang 鎗".

              - the Double Apicale Blade Spear - Song-Đầu Thương ( 双 頭 槍) is the category of Spear used on footfighting and it comprises two kinds :
                     1. Azure Dragon Spear with Double Apical Blade - Thanh-Long Nhị Đầu Thương ;
                     2.Two Matched Azure Dragon Spear with Double Apical Blade - Song Đoản Nhị-Đầu Thương.

              - the Blazing Blade Spear - Hỏa Tiêm Thương ( 火 尖 槍 ) is the category of Spear, specially forged according to a flame shaped, capable of thwarting Soft Weapons like the Metal Chain (Xích Sắt) and specifically reserved for Cavalry to destroy Armours.

              - the Sickle Blade Spear - Câu Liêm Thương ( 鈎 鐮 槍 ), still called « Móc Đáp » or « Bồi Đòn » and named « Sacquebute » in the West, specificaly employed by Infantrymen for fending off the Cavalry.

• Discussion about the Spear Wielding