On the ancient battlefield, the spear was like a silver lightning bolt, shuttling among thousands of troops. It is the most favored weapon of the soldiers, but it is also the most difficult weapon to control. During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhao Yun rescued Adou in the chaos with a silver gun, and achieved a good story through the ages. However, there are very few people who can actually wield a spear. Why are spears so difficult to handle? The answer lies in the seemingly ordinary barrel of a gun. It turned out that the barrel of the ancient spear was not made of iron, but was made of carefully selected wood. This special production process not only made the spear the first weapon in ancient times, but also doomed it to be unusable by ordinary soldiers.
Thousands of troops, one gun
During the Warring States Period, the Seven Heroes competed for hegemony and the flames of war were raging. In order to stand out from this melee, countries are constantly improving their weapons and equipment. It was at this time that the spear came to prominence.
With its unique advantages, it soon became the main weapon on the ancient battlefield. As soon as the spear came out, the enemy army was terrified. Not only can it stab enemies from a distance, but it can also exert its power in hand-to-hand combat.
The power of the spear reached its peak during the Three Kingdoms period. Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, these generals, are all masters of spears. They are invincible on the battlefield. Zhao Yun even relied on a silver spear to fight his way out of the encirclement and rescue Adou in the Battle of Changbanpo. This feat brought the fame of the spear to the next level.
However, although the spear is good, not everyone can handle it. It ranges in length from 1.3 meters to 8 meters and weighs quite a bit. Ordinary soldiers simply could not wield such a heavy weapon. Only those generals who are born with divine power can play spears with great strength.
The spear was the first weapon of antiquity not only because of its length and weight. What's more important is the craftsmanship of its making. The tip of a spear is usually made of iron or copper and is diamond-shaped, which facilitates the penetration of the enemy's body.
However, what really determines the performance of the spear is its barrel. Ancient craftsmen racked their brains in order to make the best guns. They chose not iron, but wood. This choice seems simple, but in fact it is very knowledgeable.
The most popular thing for craftsmen is alderwood. There are two types of alders, white and red, both of which are known for their high hardness and good toughness. The barrel of the gun made of alder wood is light and strong, and it is easy to use.
However, alder wood is not found everywhere. There are many bamboos in the south and many bamboos in the north. Clever craftsmen adapt to local conditions and make gun barrels according to the characteristics of local materials. Craftsmen in the south preferred to use bamboo, while craftsmen in the north preferred to use alderwood.
To make a gun barrel, it is not only necessary to choose good materials, but also to pay attention to the production process. The most skilled craftsmen will use oxford wood as the main material, wrap the outside in pieces of bamboo, wrap it with copper strips and wire, and finally apply a coat of paint. The barrel made in this way is not only tough, but also not easy to deform, and the service life is greatly extended.
The production of the spear is so complicated, no wonder ordinary people can't afford it. Even those fierce generals with infinite strength rarely use all-metal guns. A three-meter-long iron spear barrel may weigh more than 30 kilograms, such a weapon, I am afraid that only an innate divine power like Lu Bu can wield it freely.
Although the spear was powerful, it could not be mass-produced due to the complexity of the production process. This also determines that it can only be the exclusive weapon of a few elite generals. Ordinary soldiers can only watch with envy as those generals wield their spears and are invincible on the battlefield.
As the times changed, the process of making spears was constantly improving. In modern times, ash rods have become the new darling. However, those ancient craftsmanship are still regarded as precious cultural heritage, and are passed down and admired by future generations.
The barrel of the gun is made of unique ingenuity
The ancients often said, "If you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools." This could not be more appropriate when it comes to the making of spears. As the first weapon in ancient times, the power of the spear comes not only from the skill of the user, but also from its well-crafted barrel.
Isn't the barrel of a gun, you may ask, just a stick? What's the big deal? Don't worry, and listen to me slowly. Ancient craftsmen didn't just cut a branch and finish it, they were very particular about the material of the gun.
Back then, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, countries competed for hegemony and wars were frequent. Clever craftsmen found that it was advantageous to make gun shafts out of wood rather than metal. Wood is lightweight, easy to work with, and also facilitates mass production. The most important thing is that the wood has good toughness and is not easy to break.
However, not just any kind of wood can be used as a gun. After countless experiments, the craftsmen finally found the most suitable material – alderwood. There are two kinds of alders, white and red, both of which are known for their high hardness and good toughness. The barrel of the gun made of alder wood is light and strong, and it is easy to use.
However, alder wood also has its drawbacks. It is not found everywhere and grows slowly. For a good alder, craftsmen may have to wait more than ten years. How precious you say! No wonder ordinary soldiers can't afford to use spears, it turns out that they have been out of touch since the beginning of the material.
Clever craftsmen are not stumped. They found that the characteristics of wood in different places are different, which can be adapted to local conditions. There are many bamboos in the south and many bamboos in the north. As a result, craftsmen in the south used bamboo to make gun barrels, while craftsmen in the north insisted on using alder wood.
This wisdom in the selection of materials is also recorded in ancient military books. He Liangchen said in the "Formation Discipline": "The south uses bamboo as a pole, which is very convenient; The wind in the north is high and easy to crack, and it is necessary to have silk tendons, otherwise it is better to replace it with alderwood. What this means is that it is convenient and convenient to use bamboo as a gun shaft in the south, but the wind is strong in the north, and the bamboo is easy to crack, so it must be wound with silk threads, otherwise it is better to use alder wood.
In addition to alder and bamboo, there is another type of wood that is also loved by craftsmen, and that is Oxford wood. Oxford wood is hard and finely grained, making it an excellent choice for high-end gun shafts. However, Oxford wood is not everywhere, and it is a treasure among the treasures to be able to use a gun made of Oxford wood.
The craftsmen's choice of gun materials is not limited to the type of wood. They also pay special attention to the growth of the wood. Cheng Zongyou mentioned in "Selected Spear Methods": "Only those who have a solid body and no scars are superior." The root can be a surplus, so it is easy to hold, and it is gradually fine from the root to a little up. It is not soft or hard, if it is too soft and too hard, it will be unsatisfactory. "
The meaning of this passage is that the wood should be selected with a strong and straight texture, without large forks and knots. The bottom of the barrel should be thicker for easier gripping, and then tapered to the top. The hardness should be moderate, too soft or too hard is not easy to handle.
You see, the ancients were very particular about the selection of materials! No wonder it's so difficult to make a good gun. This explains why, despite its great power, few people can afford to use spears. It turns out that from the beginning of the selection of materials, most ordinary people have been eliminated.
Of course, with the development of the times, the material of the gun barrel is constantly changing. In modern times, ash rods have become the new favorite. The ash rod has a soft texture and is suitable for modern people to practice martial arts. But in ancient times, ash rods were unpopular because they were too soft.
Some people may ask, didn't metal be used as a gun shaft in ancient times? The answer is yes, but it is extremely rare. Think about it, how much does a three-meter-long iron gun have to weigh? Even Lu Bu, who is infinitely powerful, is afraid that it will be difficult to swing freely. Therefore, except for a few generals who are born with divine powers, most people still choose wooden guns.
From the degree of attention to the selection of materials, we can see that the ancients attached great importance to the spear. It is this pursuit of detail that made the spear the first weapon of antiquity. At the same time, it is precisely because of the complexity of the production process that the spear is destined to be unable to be mass-produced, and can only become the exclusive weapon of a few elite generals.
Ingenious, the barrel of the gun is made to show its power
Once the materials have been chosen, the next step is the process of making the barrel. It's not just a matter of sharpening the wood, it's a profound skill. The craftsmen of ancient times poured their life's work into this small gun.
The first step in making a gun shaft is to dry the wood. Don't underestimate this process, but be particular. When the wood is just cut, the water content is high, and it is easy to deform when it is directly used to make the gun shaft. Clever craftsmen leave the wood to dry naturally in a ventilated area, a process that can take as little as a few months or as much as a year or two.
After drying, the wood cannot be used directly. Artisans will first bake it over a fire, which is called "fire". The purpose of "fire" is to make the wood tougher and less likely to break. However, it is also necessary to control the heat when burning, as overburning will make the wood brittle. This is a crucial step in testing the skills of craftsmen.
The next step is to take shape. Craftsmen would plane the wood into a cylindrical shape with a planer, which would then be smoothed with sandpaper. This process may seem simple, but it is actually very knowledgeable. The thickness of the barrel is particular, the bottom should be thicker to make it easier to hold, and then gradually taper to the top. This ensures that the center of gravity of the gun is in the correct position.
However, wood alone is not enough. The most skilled craftsmen will wrap a layer of bamboo around the outside of the wood. This not only increases the strength of the barrel, but also prevents the wood from cracking. The technology of wrapping bamboo chips is also a must, to stick the bamboo pieces tightly to the wood, and there can be no gaps, which is not something that ordinary people can do.
After wrapping the bamboo chips, the craftsmen also wrap them with copper strips and wires. This not only further strengthens the barrel, but also prevents enemy weapons from cutting off the barrel. The position and density of the winding are particular, and they should be just right, which can not affect the use, but also play a protective role.
The last step is to paint. Painting is not only for aesthetics, but more importantly for moisture and corrosion. Ancient lacquer was not the chemical lacquer of today, but was made of natural lacquer. The effect of raw lacquer waterproof and anti-corrosion is very good, and the service life of the gun barrel can be greatly extended after coating.
You see, it takes so many steps to make a gun barrel. No wonder the ancients said that "a hundred tempers become steel", isn't this gun barrel just tempered by thousands of hammers?
However, the complexity of the production process also determined that the spear could not be mass-produced. A good gun barrel, from the selection of materials to the completion of production, to say the least, will take a year or two. How is it possible to meet the needs of war with such a long cycle?
Therefore, spears have always been a scarce commodity in ancient times. Ordinary soldiers simply can't afford it, and only those generals with noble status are qualified to have it. Don't look at the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is "a spear" at every turn, and there are very few people who can actually own a spear.
However, the process of making gun barrels is also constantly improving. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, craftsmen had invented a new method of production. They spliced together several different pieces of wood to make a single barrel. This not only makes full use of the advantages of various types of wood, but also greatly reduces the production time.
A more clever way is to hollow out the inside of the barrel of a wooden gun and pour it with lead sand. The advantage of this is that it not only maintains the toughness of the wood, but also increases the weight of the gun, making it more powerful to use.
You see, the ancients racked their brains for a gun. From material selection to production, every step is excellent. It is this extreme pursuit of detail that has made the spear the king of the ancient battlefield.
However, with the invention and use of gunpowder, the position of the spear was gradually replaced. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, the spear was no longer the mainstream weapon. However, those exquisite craftsmanship have not been lost, but have been applied to other fields.
For example, the process of making a musical instrument has many similarities with making a gun barrel. Material selection, drying, and molding are equally important steps when making musical instruments such as erhu and pipa. It can be said that the ancient weapon-making process laid the foundation for the later development of arts and crafts.
Today, although the spear has been retired, the ancient craftsmanship of making it is still regarded as a valuable cultural heritage. In some martial arts schools and cultural relics restoration institutions, there are still people who pass on these skills. Whenever we see those exquisite guns, we seem to hear the sighs of the ancient craftsmen and feel their ingenuity.
Gun shadow bowstring, ancient and modern intertwined new heritage
Although the spear is out of the battlefield, its influence is far from gone. In the world of Chinese martial arts, the spear still occupies an important position. Those marksmanship that once dominated the battlefield have now become the highest level pursued by martial arts enthusiasts.
When it comes to the inheritance of spear martial arts, we have to mention the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin marksmanship is known for its fierceness and flexibility, and is the best in spear martial arts. Legend has it that Shaolin marksmanship was founded by the Bodhidharma Patriarch, but this is mostly seconded by later generations. In fact, it is likely that Shaolin marksmanship began to take shape during the Song Dynasty.
The monks of the Shaolin Temple played with the spear. Not only did they practice basic stabs, stabs, picks, and plucks, but they also created many fancy routines. What "plum blossom gun", "thirteen guns", "yaksha gun", just listen to the name is enough to bluff people. These routines are not only good-looking, but also imply esoteric martial arts principles.
However, no matter how powerful Shaolin marksmanship is, it is not as good as the Yang family gun. The Yang family gun was founded by Yang Ye and his son, and is famous for its exquisiteness. Legend has it that Yang Ye once blocked 100,000 Khitan cavalry with his own strength during the Song Taizong period, relying on this set of marksmanship. Although most of this story is exaggerated, it also shows the prestige of the Yang family's gun.
Yang's gun is most famous for its "Liuhe gun". "Liuhe" refers to the four directions of heaven and earth, which means that this set of marksmanship contains moves in all directions, which can be said to be impeccable. The descendants of the Yang family regard this set of marksmanship as a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation, and there are still people practicing it until now.
In addition to the Shaolin gun and the Yang family gun, there is another kind of marksmanship that has to be mentioned, that is, the Yuejia gun. Yuejia Gun was founded by Yue Fei and is known for its fierceness. Legend has it that Yue Fei once used this set of marksmanship to kill all sides on the battlefield, which made Jin Bing frightened. The most famous of the Yuejia guns is the "barricade gun", it is said that one person can block thousands of troops and horses if he uses this trick.
These ancient marksmanship still have a wide influence in the modern martial arts world. In the annual wushu competition, you can always see the players use these traditional marksmanship. Although the spear used in the competition is no longer the ancient steel weapon, but a lightweight bamboo gun, the momentum is still shocking.
However, the inheritance of spear martial arts has not been smooth sailing. With the changes in society, many people have lost interest in traditional martial arts. For a time, the spear martial art was in danger of being lost. Fortunately, in recent years, with the re-emphasis on traditional culture, spear martial arts has ushered in a new spring.
Now, in martial arts schools across the country, students can be seen wielding spears. Some of them do it to keep fit, some to pass on their culture, and some to compete in competitions. Whatever the purpose, the efforts of these young people are breathing new life into the art of spear martial arts.
Interestingly, the spear martial arts also has quite a few followers abroad. Many foreign martial arts enthusiasts have come to China to learn the spear, and they are attracted by the elegance and power of the spear. After these foreign students returned to China, they spread the art of spear to all parts of the world. It can be said that the ancient spear martial art is coming to the world in a new way.
In addition to the martial arts world, spears also have unexpected applications in other fields. For example, in some traditional operas, spears are an indispensable prop. Zhao Yun's spear in the Peking Opera "Changban Slope" and Mulan's spear in the drama "Mulan" are all scenes that impress the audience. These opera artists use their performances to give new vitality to the art of spear on the stage.
What's even more interesting is that the spear also influenced modern sports. The javelin in the Olympic Games has a relationship with the ancient spear. Although the shape and use of the modern javelin are very different from the ancient spear, the throwing technique is the same. Whenever you see the athletes throwing javelins with all their might, it is as if you can see the scenes of the pikemen fighting bravely on the ancient battlefield.
In the field of literature and art, spears are also a common image. Poets used "spears like dragons" to describe the might of military generals, and painters used spears to embellish the grandeur of war scenes. These artistic creations make the image of the spear more full-dimensional in people's hearts.
It is worth mentioning that the art of spear-making is also being passed down in new forms. Although there is no longer a need to fight with spears, the ancient skills of carpentry have been applied to other fields. For example, the process of making high-end furniture has many similarities with making gun barrels. Those exquisite material selection, drying and molding skills still play an important role in modern woodworking.
Even in some high-tech fields, the design concept of ancient spears has unexpected applications. For example, when designing certain robotic arms that needed to be both light and strong, engineers borrowed the structure of a spear. This example of the combination of ancient and modern and cross-border application vividly interprets the vitality of traditional culture.
From battlefield weapons to martial arts treasures, from stage props to literary imagery, the status of the spear in Chinese culture can be described as ups and downs. Its story is like a miniature history of Chinese culture, recording the rise and fall of this ancient civilization. Now, when we look back at the history of the spear, we can't help but sigh: the inheritance of culture often continues in ways we can't imagine.