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[[Image:Hook Swords.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hook swords, used (as is typical) as a pair.]] |
[[Image:Hook Swords.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Hook swords, used (as is typical) as a pair.]] |
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The '''Hook Sword''' ({{zh-ts|t=鉤|s=钩}}) also known as tiger-head is an exotic Chinese weapon traditionally associated with [[Chinese martial arts#Northern styles|Northern styles of Chinese martial arts]], but now often practiced by [[Chinese martial arts#Southern styles|Southern styles]] as well. |
The '''Hook Sword''' or '''Shuanggou''' ({{zh-ts|t=鉤|s=钩}}) also known as tiger-head is an exotic Chinese weapon traditionally associated with [[Chinese martial arts#Northern styles|Northern styles of Chinese martial arts]], but now often practiced by [[Chinese martial arts#Southern styles|Southern styles]] as well. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Reliable information on hook swords is difficult to come by. While sometimes called an ancient weapon and described as dating from the [[Song dynasty]] to [[Warring States]] or even earlier, most antique examples and artistic depictions are from the late [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] era or later, suggesting that they are actually a comparatively recent design. They were also an exclusively civilian weapon, appearing in none of the official listings of Chinese armaments. Surviving sharpened examples point to actual use as weapons, but their rarity, and the training necessary to use them, strongly suggest that they were only rarely used as such. |
Reliable information on hook swords is difficult to come by. While sometimes called an ancient weapon and described as dating from the [[Song dynasty]] to [[Warring States]] or even earlier, most antique examples and artistic depictions are from the late [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] era or later, suggesting that they are actually a comparatively recent design. They were also an exclusively civilian weapon, appearing in none of the official listings of Chinese armaments. Surviving sharpened examples point to actual use as weapons, but their rarity, and the training necessary to use them, strongly suggest that they were only rarely used as such. |
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==Characteristics== |
==Characteristics== |
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Also known as tiger hook swords or ''qian kun ri yue dao'' (literally "Heaven and Sun Moon Sword"), these weapons have a blade similar to that of the [[jian]], though possibly thicker or unsharpened, with a prong or hook (similar to a [[shepherd|shepherd's crook]]) near the tip. Guards are substantial, in the style of [[butterfly sword]]s. Often used in pairs, the hooks of the weapons may be used to trap or deflect other weapons. |
Also known as tiger hook swords or ''qian kun ri yue dao'' (literally "Heaven and Sun Moon Sword"), these weapons have a blade similar to that of the [[jian]], though possibly thicker or unsharpened, with a prong or hook (similar to a [[shepherd|shepherd's crook]]) near the tip. Guards are substantial, in the style of [[butterfly sword]]s. Often used in pairs, the hooks of the weapons may be used to trap or deflect other weapons. |
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==Use== |
==Use== |
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Routines for hook swords are taught in such Northern schools as [[Shaolin Quan|Northern Shaolin]] and [[Northern Praying Mantis#Seven Star Praying Mantis Boxing|Seven-Star Mantis]], and in some schools of Southern arts such as [[Choy Lay Fut]]. Modern routines for hook swords are often very flashy, and may involve techniques such as linking paired weapons and wielding them as a single long, flexible weapon. Some schools of [[Baguazhang]] also teach a similar weapon, often called "[[Deer Horn Knives]]" or "Mandarin Duck Knives." These weapons typically feature a much shorter or entirely missing main hook, and instead focus on the various cutting and stabbing blades arranged around the guard. |
Routines for hook swords are taught in such Northern schools as [[Shaolin Quan|Northern Shaolin]] and [[Northern Praying Mantis#Seven Star Praying Mantis Boxing|Seven-Star Mantis]], and in some schools of Southern arts such as [[Choy Lay Fut]]. Modern routines for hook swords are often very flashy, and may involve techniques such as linking paired weapons and wielding them as a single long, flexible weapon. Some schools of [[Baguazhang]] also teach a similar weapon, often called "[[Deer Horn Knives]]" or "Mandarin Duck Knives." These weapons typically feature a much shorter or entirely missing main hook, and instead focus on the various cutting and stabbing blades arranged around the guard. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Chicken Sickles]] |
*[[Chicken Sickles]] |
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Revision as of 11:13, 11 July 2009
The Hook Sword or Shuanggou (simplified Chinese: 钩; traditional Chinese: 鉤) also known as tiger-head is an exotic Chinese weapon traditionally associated with Northern styles of Chinese martial arts, but now often practiced by Southern styles as well.
Background
Reliable information on hook swords is difficult to come by. While sometimes called an ancient weapon and described as dating from the Song dynasty to Warring States or even earlier, most antique examples and artistic depictions are from the late Qing era or later, suggesting that they are actually a comparatively recent design. They were also an exclusively civilian weapon, appearing in none of the official listings of Chinese armaments. Surviving sharpened examples point to actual use as weapons, but their rarity, and the training necessary to use them, strongly suggest that they were only rarely used as such.
Characteristics
Also known as tiger hook swords or qian kun ri yue dao (literally "Heaven and Sun Moon Sword"), these weapons have a blade similar to that of the jian, though possibly thicker or unsharpened, with a prong or hook (similar to a shepherd's crook) near the tip. Guards are substantial, in the style of butterfly swords. Often used in pairs, the hooks of the weapons may be used to trap or deflect other weapons.
There are five components to the hook sword:
- The back, which is used as regular swords
- The hook, which is used to trip enemies and to catch weapons, not to mention to rather more obvious use of slashing.
- The end of the hilt, which is sharpened into daggers
- The crescent guard, which is used for blocking and slashing.
- And the link, which is used when you have a pair. The two hooks can loosely connect together, and the wielder swings one hook sword, so in a way that the second is extended further out, almost 6 feet. While the second is in the air, the dagger upon the hilt slashes any target. In this way, the wielder can extend his/her reach out from three feet to six.
Use
Routines for hook swords are taught in such Northern schools as Northern Shaolin and Seven-Star Mantis, and in some schools of Southern arts such as Choy Lay Fut. Modern routines for hook swords are often very flashy, and may involve techniques such as linking paired weapons and wielding them as a single long, flexible weapon. Some schools of Baguazhang also teach a similar weapon, often called "Deer Horn Knives" or "Mandarin Duck Knives." These weapons typically feature a much shorter or entirely missing main hook, and instead focus on the various cutting and stabbing blades arranged around the guard.
In popular culture
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (June 2008) |
- In the movie The One Armed Swordsman, the villain Long-Armed Devil and his men use hook swords with a mechanically enhanced hook.
- In the Mortal Kombat series of games, Kabal and Mavado both use the same pair of hook swords (Mavado's weapons were actually stolen from Kabal). In the first Mortal Kombat movie, an Outworld warrior can be seen wielding a pair, though they are never used in combat. In Mortal Kombat: Conquest (the TV series), Scorpion's soldiers use hook swords, as shown in the episode "The Serpent and the Ice". In the Mortal Kombat toyline made by Hasbro in the 90's, various characters were packaged with hook swords as generic weapons.
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater contains a minigame called "Guy Savage", in which the player controls a character that uses two hook swords to slash his way through an army of zombie-like monsters.
- In the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Shulien (Michelle Yeoh) wields a pair of hook swords, as well as various other weapons in her battle against Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi) at Shulien's home.
- In the movie The Golden Child, the villain Tommy Tong wields a pair of hook swords and is subsequently murdered by his master with them.
- In the anime and manga series Bleach, the 3rd Division Vice-Captain, Kira Izuru, wields a weapon reminiscent of a hook sword when used in its released state.
- Despite being of Japanese heritage, an action figure of the G.I. Joe Ninja character Storm Shadow was released in the G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom line with a pair of hookswords.
- On the TV series Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills, Laurie Foster wields a hook sword shaped like the symbol for Gemini when in her Galactic Sentinel form known as Scorpio.
- In the Kung Fu Panda video game, the wolf bandits, despite the fact that they are Japanese, use hook swords.
- In the animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender, the character Jet uses dual hook swords as his primary weapons.
- The Keyblades used by several characters in the Kingdom Hearts series of video games are essentially hook swords.
- On the TV series Deadliest Warrior, twin hookswords are one of the Shaolin Monks weapons.
- In "The Five Ancestors" book series, the tiger hook swords are the favorite weapon of Fu, one of the characters.
See also
References
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (February 2008) |
- Kennedy, Brian (2005). Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books. ISBN 1-55643-557-6.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Lee, Kam Wing (1985). The Secret of Seven-Star Mantis Style. Hong Kong: Lee Kam Wing Martial Art Sports Association.
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