Preface
The heroes of the Water Margin, those heroes who are known for their righteousness and pride, the weapons they hold in their hands often become part of the legendary story. And among them, the most beloved is Pu Dao.
However, there has been a lot of controversy as to whether the sword is a farm tool or a weapon, and what its style is. In the story of the Water Margin, Pu Dao has become a symbol of heroes with its unique charm.
So, what is its true form? Today, let us explore the truth of history and uncover this controversial topic.
1. The mysterious life experience of Pu Dao
In that era of fire, a weapon called "Pu Dao" became the favorite of the heroes of the green forest. Not only does it appear more frequently than any other weapon, but it also symbolizes the status of the Green Forest High Roller.
When Lu Zhishen met Shi Jin in the red pine forest, he concluded that he was a "strongman who cut the path" just by the Pu knife in Shi Jin's hand. And when the brothers Mu Hong and Mu Chun failed to chase and kill Song Jiang and turned to take refuge, their first action was to "skim the Pu knife, turn over and worship". Leaving behind the Pu knife is a symbol of letting go of the butcher knife, marking their abandonment of darkness and light.
In addition to the heroes of the green forest, even the heads of some county officials often see the figure of Pu Dao in their hands. When the two heads of Huayin County appeared, what they saw in the firelight were weapons such as "steel forks, simple knives, and five-strand forks". Lei Heng and Zhu Tong of Yuncheng County are also "each with a waist knife, a bow and arrows, and a simple knife in their hands".
Why do the heads of the county government also prefer Pu Dao? This may have something to do with their identity. In ancient times, the head of the capital belonged to the military officials, and their status was not high, and they were often filled by local heroes. Although they work for the government, they are essentially the same as the heroes of the green forest. Holding a simple knife in his hand is a portrayal of them wandering among officials and bandits.
The reason why the Pu knife is highly regarded is naturally because of its excellent performance. Pu knives are often assembled from the blade and the blade, which is easy to carry, time-to-assemble, and has both offense and defense. Lu Junyi's one-handed simple knife is even more powerful and amazing. So, what is the origin of the Pu knife, and whether it originated from agricultural tools or specialized weapons? There has always been a debate in academic circles.
Second, the source of the farm tools of the Pu knife
There is a view that the prototype of the Pak knife is the two agricultural tools of the She knife and the dial knife. She knife, as the name suggests, is a knife used by the She people. This ethnic minority has lived deep in the mountains for generations, cultivating slash-and-burn farming, and relying on a she's knife to open up the mountains. The shape of the knife resembles a woodcutter, the blade is heavy, the edge is sharp, and it is equipped with a short wooden handle, which is a sharp weapon for farmers in mountainous areas to cut through thorns and thorns.
And the knife is actually a knife with a lengthened wooden handle. "Dial" and "Pu" are homophonic, and the sound is similar to the same word, so some people speculate that the Pu knife in the Water Margin is transliterated from the dial knife. She knives and knives are all agricultural instruments, if the Pu knife really evolved from these two, its agricultural tool attributes are self-evident.
Those who hold this view believe that it is precisely because the Pu knife originated from agricultural tools that it can be carried and used freely by the heroes of the green forest under the control of the government. If the Pu knife is a serious weapon, I am afraid that it will be disarmed by the government a long time ago, where can it become the favorite of the heroes of the Water Margin?
3. The essence of the weapon of the Pu knife
However, there are also many scholars who scoff at this. In their opinion, the description of Pu Dao in the Water Margin cannot be linked to agricultural tools at all. For example, the word "weapon" is mentioned many times in the book, and all of them refer to weapons without exception. When Shi Xiu saw the Pu Dao displayed in the Zhujia store, he blurted out, "How do you have this weapon in your store??"
Looking at the use of the Pu knife in the Water Margin, which time is it not the sword encounter, the sword light and the shadow of the sword? The heroes of the green forest wield the Pu knife and rushed to kill the enemy; even the heads of the county government were equipped with the Pu knife to arrest the thieves. How can such a bloody scene be capable of being handled by a mere farm tool?
In fact, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Pu knife was still installed in the army. There is a Pu knife in the honor guard of the Qing army, and it is indispensable in the arsenal of the green battalion soldiers. Although the Pu Dao at that time may have been very different from the Water Margin period, it was still a weapon after all. It can be seen that it is really contrary to common sense to regard the simple knife as a farm tool.
Fourth, the dual identity of Pu Dao
Perhaps, the truth of the matter lies somewhere in between. As a common folk weapon, the Pu knife is likely to have the dual attributes of both a farm tool and a blade. In times of peace, the people may use it to work in the wasteland; In the troubled times, the high roller is holding a simple knife and acting chivalrous.
As depicted in the Water Margin, although the Pu knife is a weapon, it can be worn by high-rollers in the rivers and lakes at will, and the government also turns a blind eye. This precisely reflects the characteristics of the ancient times when there was no distinction between soldiers and peasants.
The reason why Pu Dao can be so beautiful in the Water Margin is likely to stem from the tradition of Song and Yuan miscellaneous dramas. In Song Dynasty miscellaneous dramas, "Pu Dao" is a special classification that specifically refers to stories with the heroes of the green forest as the protagonists. In these stories, the Pak knife is often the standard weapon of the protagonist, symbolizing their identity and status.
It is likely that the Water Margin inherited this tradition. In the world of Water Margin, the Pu knife is not only a common weapon, but also a symbol of the identity of a hero in the green forest.
Fifth, the mystery of the shape of the knife
What does Park Dao look like? This question has always puzzled scholars. Since there are no physical excavations, we can only speculate on written records and images. However, different sources give different answers.
In the original work of Water Margin, although there are not many descriptions of Pu Dao, they also provide some clues. For example, in the scene where Lu Junyi challenged Gao Yu in Liangshan, there is such a description: "Lu Junyi took out the Pu knife, put it on the pole, and the three girls buckled it tightly, and drove the car to Liangshan Park. "
This description shows that the Pu knife is composed of two parts: the blade and the shaft. It can be disassembled and put together, and then assembled when in use. This shape is quite similar to the two-handed knife in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Another view is that the Pak knife is actually a separate blade and does not require a blade. This statement is mainly based on the embroidered images and illustrations of the Water Margin in the Ming Dynasty. In these images, the simple knives held by the heroes of the green forest are all without blades, and they look more like waist knives.
Taking the illustration of the Ming Dynasty painter Du Jin as an example, when Shi Jin, Zhu Wu and others fought fiercely in the Zhuangyuan, Du Jian's Pu knives were all without blades. When Li Kui went down the mountain, the same was true of the Pu knife in his hand. Even the Pu knives used by Yang Xiong, Shi Xiu, and Shi Qian when they broke out of the encirclement after burning Zhujiazhuang were all single-bladed.
In addition to the two theories of the blade plus the blade and the single blade, some scholars have suggested that the Pu knife may be similar to the glaive knife. This view is mainly based on the scene of Wu Song's use of the Pu knife in the Water Margin: "On the side of the female wall, look down and press the Pu knife first, the tip of the knife is on the top, the stick is slightly down, and the ground is only jumped, and the stick is on the edge of the moat." It is mentioned that "the tip of the knife is on top, and the rod is slightly downward", which is somewhat similar to the shape of the glaive knife.
In short, the exact shape of the Pak knife remains a mystery to this day. There are different opinions in the academic community on this issue. The reason for this is that there are no physical remains, so we can only rely on written records and images. However, there are also differences and contradictions in these materials, which have brought great challenges to the research work.
Sixth, the Ming and Qing dynasties of Pudao
However, one thing is certain, that is, the Pu knife was still a common weapon in the army during the Ming and Qing dynasties. According to the record of the "Rules of the Ministry of Industry and the Soldiers", the Qing army's honor guard was equipped with a simple sword. The "Imperial General Dictionary" also mentions that the Green Battalion soldiers' arsenal is indispensable to the figure of Pu Dao.
It's just that the Pu knife in the Ming and Qing dynasties may be very different from the Water Margin era in terms of shape. After all, time has passed, and weapons are constantly evolving. The Pu knife in the Water Margin may have become a mystery of history, forever sealed in that era of pride and pride.
epilogue
The origin and shape of this mysterious weapon, which was once popular in the rivers and lakes, are still a mystery. It may have been derived from agricultural tools, or it may have been a specialized blade, and its shape may have consisted of a blade and shaft, or it may have only a single blade.
But in any case, Pu Dao's position in the hearts of the heroes of the green forest is irreplaceable. It was not only a practical weapon, but also a symbol of their status, a testament to that era of constant strife.
Now, the figure of Pu Dao may have disappeared into the dust of history. But the legend it left behind will always be engraved in the collective memory of the Chinese people, and it will last for a long time.