Cold and Hot Weapons in The Water Margin

Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and where there are rivers and lakes, there is strife.

China's five thousand years of history and culture, since the ancient times to the present, the human civilization is constantly changing, or by force or power, interpretation of the times to give their own characteristics.

The battle between cold and hot weapons has never stopped!

What is cold weapons, collectively speaking, is the metal made of weapons, like gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, etc., or single or synthetic, but the same belongs to the weapons of close combat.

What is a hot weapon it, the product of chemical composite materials, like sulfur can be manufactured explosives, mainly used for long-distance killing.

As a martial arts enthusiasts, read through the "Water Margin", "Three Kingdoms", as well as the pursuit of Jin Yong and Gu Long's martial arts novels, from which I learned a lot of martial arts and weapons, itself is also very interested in understanding how they are connected, in the "Water Margin" of this masterpiece I can read out what it is that I would like to haphazardly write to see.

Cold weapons cover the eighteen martial arts, can refer to the eighteen martial arts action or eighteen kinds of weapons. ), fifteen fork, sixteen handle, seventeen sheep rope lasso, eighteen white beat"

Mr. Shi Nai'an's book "Water Margin" in the eighteen weapons for a new integration, which contains the spear, hammer, bow, crossbow, cannon, whip, mace, sword, chain, lao, axe, battle-axe, gao, halberd, card, stick, gun, steak.

Tang poetry, Song lyrics, Yuanqu Ming and Qing novels, to the Ming Dynasty, novels prevailed for a while, Shi Nai-an's "Water Margin" is completed at this time, so in the description of the martial arts weapons, adding a lot of elements only then, such as his reintegration of the eighteen martial arts, this is the author of the dynasty's adoration for the time is also or a kind of advancement of the times, but it is also his description, so that we have a deeper understanding of the Ming Dynasty. But it is also his description that gives us a deeper understanding of the Ming dynasty.

In summary, eighteen martial arts, there are eight in the "five chopping blocks" in the different, in fact, "Water Margin" depends on a special historical background, and can not be called martial arts, can only be called "Greenwood or rivers and lakes", jin yong, gulong's martial arts novels, swords and lightweight is essential to each warrior's skills, but the "Water Margin" in the rivers and lakes, but the "Water Margin" in the world. Water Margin" is very rare in the jianghu. They did not rely on the light power to come and go freely, and did not accessorize with a variety of swords, pretending to be a martial arts master, on the contrary, they are good at their respective weapons and martial arts path are unique, which is why the Water Margin is so wonderful, because it is exactly close to the public's lives and horizons.

Moving on to the eight weapons that are different from the main book, "The Five Miscellaneous Chopsticks", which contains hammer, cannon, chain, go, card, stick, gun, and steak. In fact, they are all the same reason and different things, such as the thirty-six counts and so on, or the name is different, but they are all the same metal made of weapons. Just based on the needs of the plot, in the character setting, try to show their own characteristics, just like the general opinion that Lin Chong gun stick is the most suitable for him, Lu Zhishen Zen staff is the most suitable for him, is the same reason.

Hot weapons, also known as firearms, also known as Shen Ji in ancient times, as opposed to cold weapons. Refers to a shooting weapon that utilizes the high-pressure gas produced by the rapid combustion of propulsion fuel to propel the launcher. The traditional propellant fuel is black powder or smokeless explosives.

The earliest hot weapons, originating from the Chinese pursuit of immortality, the invention of gunpowder in the refining of elixir, is sulfur and other synthetics, and later promoted in the military, slowly formed a number of lethal weapons, especially for long-distance attack advantage is huge. But ancient times is the battlefield of cold weapons, hot weapons are just the era under the derivation of value-added products.

Understanding hot weapons is a huge topic, this article, I only "Water Margin" for some description, if you are interested in going to check the historical data.

After the baptism of the Tang Dynasty's swords, the Song Dynasty's heavy weapons, and the Yuan Dynasty's bows and horses, and the fusion of the Han's long history and the integration of multi-ethnic cultures, the Ming Dynasty's martial arts have tended to mature.

This also relied on the support of the Ming government, which was heavily centralized and relied on a variety of talents in the jianghu to supplement the Jin Yi Wei and Dong Fang departments, creating weapons and integrating martial arts techniques.

In this article, I focus on the "Water Margin" in a variety of hot and cold weapons to do some synthesis, the text continues, and listen to my narrative.

1, copper chain, iron chain

The use of characters: Wisdom Wu, fire-eyed mythical beast Deng Fei

The use of copper chain as a weapon of Liangshan characters let a person big surprise, not others, but even the impression of the Wen纠纠weak兮兮Xiu Cai brother Wisdom Wu, I did not think that he can still swing the heavy copper chain, or two. However, Wu with the use of weapons in the whole book appeared once, since then it has been swinging a feather fan to play heart eyes. When Lei Heng and Liu Tang fought for more than fifty rounds without a victory or defeat, Wu Wu used the two copper chains with a majestic switch, and swung it with his hand, then used the copper chain to separate the two hands of the plain sword. This is also the only time Wu with the martial arts show, after the book never appeared again.

Deng Fei used a single iron chain, metal chain as a soft weapon, for the user's arm strength, wrist strength, eyesight are extremely high requirements, swinging up to protect the whole body impermeable, the main skill is to pump and twist, more like a defensive weapon. However, if the metal chain end of the processing, instantly can be transformed into a greatly increased offensive power of another weapon, but also on the user's martial arts put forward higher requirements.

For example, if you add a blade to a chain, it becomes a chain knife, and Li Yuanfang is a master of the chain knife. Add the tip of the gun, is the chain gun (similar to the nine-section whip), add the head of the hammer, is the meteor hammer. Liangshan Po has a master who makes the meteor hammer, and the following is about him.

2, meteor hammer

Used by: Fan Rui, the Demon King

Fan Rui, this person is more magical, and later did into the clouds of dragon Gongsun Sheng's disciple, is half a mage. He is used to making a meteor hammer on the horse, and he is so invisible that people dare not come close to him when he pulls down the flag. However, his appearance style is very special, both hands holding different weapons: only to see him standing on the horse, the left hand holding the meteor hammer, the right hand ambush the sword of the Demon King. Able to use both hands with weapons are generally masters, such as Wu Sung, Dong Ping, but like Fan Rui this hands to make different weapons in addition to his really no one, I think it has been close to the old boy Zhou Botong's "one heart two uses" method.

Jin Yong wrote a picture about the use of meteor hammers is too beautiful, unforgettable, "white horse whistling in the west wind", Li Wenxiu picked two caves with vine gourd, knife in the gourd dug a hole in the hole, sand into the gourd, and then the gourd vines stuffed with small holes, to make a pair of simple meteor hammers, and use it to defeat the enemy.

3, flying daggers

The use of characters: the sky eagle Li Ying?

Li Xunhuan's flying dagger is one of the most famous and unforgettable weapons in Gu Long's writing. When Gu Long died, his friend Qiao Qi had an elegy: "Little Li's flying dagger has become extinct, and the world does not see Chu Liuxiang. I have always suspected that small Li flying dagger and water margaret has a great relationship, perhaps Gu Long's inspiration comes from the water margaret, Liangshan water also make flying dagger masters, and there are two, coincidentally, one of them is also surnamed Li. Puffing sky eagle Li Ying, body hiding five flying daggers, a hundred paces to take people, no not hit, and Li Xunhuan called "out of a knife, the case is not false", but one is a big banker, one is a flower scout.

Liangshan on another master of the use of flying daggers is Xiang Chong, he and Li Ying slightly different, Li Ying is hidden flying daggers, looking for an opportunity to strike, and Xiang Chong holding a doughnut (defense), the doughnut back inserted twenty-four flying daggers (attack), that is, to tell you that I'm a master of the flying dagger, to see what you do? The first appearance, is against the battle of less Huashan trio, Shi Jin nearly hit the flying dagger, Yang Chun turned to be late, was a flying knife, the horse with injuries, can only abandon the horse to escape.

Flying dagger is a common class of throwing concealed weapons, handheld method more, common natural grip, thumb control method, food accusation, control, sword accusation, and a variety of techniques will be due to the knife type or personal habits of different and change. Flying knife shot after the trajectory is divided into straight and rotating fly two kinds of fly, straight fly is generally grip out of the hand, flick arm or shake the wrist shot. Rotary flight, is to hold the tip of the rotary flying half circle or a few circles after the tip of the knife inserted in the target.

Regardless of which technique requires a lot of training, not overnight. Xiang Chong has been fighting on the front line of Liangshan for a long time, practicing by fighting. Li Xunhuan is drunk all day long, and if his flying dagger meets Xiang Chong's flying dagger, I don't know who is stronger?

4, javelin, flying gun

The use of characters: Flying Sage Li Gun Hua Xianghu Gong Wang

Li Gun is Xiang Chong's partner, are Fan Rui's deputy, the same holding a doughnut (defense), but the doughnut back inserted twenty-four javelins (attack).

"Wujing General Essentials" its thirteenth volume is an introduction to ancient Chinese weapons, painted with a chart, the chart has a weapon, called the pike gun. And according to the Ming dynasty Mao Yuan Yi in the "martial arts Zhi - military capitals multiply - instruments" wrote: "Shuttle gun a few feet long, this is out of the southern barbarians fangs with, a hand holding the side plate, a hand Tsi Biu to throw people, dozens of paces within the middle of the people are prostrate. To its such as the shuttle throw, so the cloud shuttle gun, also said flying gun." This is very close to the description of Li Gun in the Water Margin.

"Wujing General" is an official book of the Northern Song Dynasty, the official book of the official book of the military, the income of such weapons, indicating that this kind of weapon in the troops at that time, is a conventional weapon, not like some martial arts novels in the concealed weapon, extremely fancy things, only this one, no other number. Gong Wang is one of the featherless arrow Zhang Qing's deputy, the book says he is good at making the horse flying gun, his flying gun, should be the same kind of weapon with Li Gun.

5, flying fork

Use of characters: in the arrow tiger Ding Desun

Ding Desun is Gong Wang's partner, are Zhang Qing's deputies, trespassing on the horse flying fork. The book does not explain how many flying forks Gong Wang carries with him, but since it is used as a throwing weapon, it should be quite a lot. Fork is one of the eighteen weapons, Liangshan fork masters have two-headed snake Xie Zhen double-tailed scorpion Xie Bao and others. The solution to the treasure is a hunter origin, I think close range can also throw a flying fork, but the flying fork such as Gong Wang as a high level of strength, it is really rare, not to mention the Ding Desun only use hidden weapons flying fork, do not make the long weapon steel fork, so I will be "flying fork" is also included in the cold weapons.

Ding Desun, Gong Wang and their boss Featherless Arrow Zhang Qing is the Liangshan Po cold weapons the most cattle trio, they have Fan Rui, Xiang Chong, Li Gun composed of cold weapons the second cattle trio battle, the battle scene Water Margin did not directly depict, but in the white Sheng reported to the words of Song Jiang, relayed: "Lu Junyi went to fight the Dongchangfu even lost two bouts of the devil Fan Rui, leading Xiang Chong, Li Gun, dance cards to go to the Dongchangfu, the world's most dangerous and most dangerous. Li Gun, dance cards to meet, not expected to be Ding Desun from the nest of ribs flying out of the standard fork, hit Xiang Chong, so another loss a while."

The battle must be incredibly exciting, six cold weapons masters (of which five are still concealed weapons masters) to kill, stones, flying knives, flying forks, javelins, meteor hammers, shields flying all over the sky, the scene is magnificent and not let a person want to.

6, stone (locust stone)

Used by: the featherless arrow Zhang Qing

If the long-range lethality, who is not the archer Hua Rong's opponent, if the mid-range lethality, Zhang Qing's stone can be called the first. Before going to Liangshan, Zhang Qing had used stones to frustrate fifteen generals, including Guan Sheng, Hu Yanzhuo, Xu Ning, Yang Zhi, such a master, so he can see that his power is amazing.

The flying locust stone appeared in the martial arts as a commonly used concealed weapon. Locust stone generally refers to pebbles, but in fact can be replaced by a harder stone. The flying locust stone is a commonly used concealed weapon in martial arts, so named because the stones thrown look like locusts flying in the air. Although there is no evidence to say that Zhang Qing used pebbles, from throwing stones, hitting the head with precision, and smashing people so hard that their faces bleed profusely or even fall off their horses, I'm afraid that no stone can be capable of this kind of accuracy and power except for the rounded and hardened Flying Locust Stones.

Flying locust stone throwing requirements: stable, accurate, ruthless, fast. Playing with the thumb, middle finger, index finger holding the stone, stand still and then inhale a breath of air all through the fingers, and then from the front of the body to send out vigorously, and at the same time exhale, sinking in the dantian. When the force should be shaking the wrist, flick the finger, with explosive force.

7, red brocade golden hook lasso

Used by: a zhangqing Hu Sanniang

Hu Sanniang war Tianmu general Peng Jie: two people to fight to more than 20 rounds, a zhangqing to the double sword apart, back to the horse will go. Peng Jie want to show credit, long horse rushed to, a ten-foot green is hanging double knife on the saddle piers, under the robe took out the red brocade lasso, on the twenty-four gold hooks, and so Peng Jie horse to come close, twisted over the body, the lasso look at the air a spread, look kind, Peng Jie was caught by surprise, and dragged down to the horse."

Hu Sanniang battle Jingmu Jail Hao Siwen forces do not add, back to the horse will go, behind the ribs out of a female general Joe Qing Hu Sanniang, spreading the red silk lasso, Hao Siwen dragged down the horse. Hu Sanniang rely on the hands of this unique weapon, a great show of strength.

The lasso is a round ring in front of the rope, with a live knot free sliding, every encounter with the enemy, flinging from the head set down. Bundle the arms, so that the loss of combat power. In order to prevent the set up to be free, Hu Sanniang and ingenious to the red brocade lasso design twenty-four golden hooks, even with hooks, can not be captured? The lasso should be the earliest nomadic common tools, I do not know Hu Sanniang this little family jade from where to learn?

8, hook and sickle gun

The use of characters: Golden Gunner Xu Ning

There is a class of biased weapons, fusion of two or more popular weapons characteristics, to form their own unique form. For example, the Tiger Head Double Hook (sword head and hook body) held by Dourdun, who stole the Imperial Horse, and Xu Ning's Hook and Sickle Gun.

When it comes to the hook and sickle spear, the impression is always associated with the chained horses, the great Liangshan break Hu Yanzhuo, and Yue Fei's great victory over Jin Woodruff in The Complete Story of Yue. Xu Ning himself at the same time good at gun and hook and sickle gun, battlefield with the enemy, according to the book or more with a golden gun rather than hook and sickle gun.

9, Zen staff

The use of characters: flower monk Lu Zhishen

Lu Zhishen sixty-two pounds of water grinding Zen staff is unique to the Water Margin, is tailored to sit for this monk's unique weapon. Buddhist Zen staff was originally designed to remind the Buddhist disciples not to sit weary, made of bamboo reeds, soft cloth wrapped one end, sitting meditation with drowsiness, then the soft head to knock. And to the hands of Lu Zhishen, the Zen staff to become a murder weapon, but Lu Zhishen's murder is to save people, his life motto is: "kill people must see blood, save people must save Che!" Lu Zhishen is a hero of the Water Margin admired by too many people.

Zhou Siyuan in the "warrior living Buddha Lu Zhishen", said: Lu Zhishen body with Buddha, chivalry (good man), Confucianism, the three elements. The form of chivalry, the nature of Confucianism, the return of Buddha. The root of Buddha, chivalry and benevolence are perfectly combined in him.

BaoPengShan do WenDao: LuZhiShen the significance of this character is to let us know, in this imperfect and even ugly world, there is noble. In the world of villainous swarms, there are still such noble people, we can still have a dignified life.

The most suitable weapon for the living Buddha master Lu Zhishen, or this change of magic weapon for killing, killing but for the rescue of the Buddha's weapon - water grinding Zen staff.

10. Board axe

The use of characters: black whirlwind Li Kui

Li Kui is good at making double axe, known as the Black Whirlwind, not only because he was born in the dark, the character of the rude and brutal, but also in the hands of the double axe, every person on the cut, kill people like a whirlwind, come and go, without blinking.

The axe itself as a weapon has a very early origin, as early as in the ancient times of the Yan Di general Interpretation of the axe, but he made a single axe, put the long, Li Kui's is a double axe, can be don't in the waist hidden in the clothes.

11. whip

? Use of characters: double whip Hu Yanzhuo

? Hu Yanzhuo is good at making double whips, the court sent Hu Yanzhuo sweeping Liangshan, his double whips had dry down a vote of Liangshan generals, such as the bearded Zhu Tong winged tiger Lei Heng's generation, as well as his chain of horses, so that the survival of Liangshan was suddenly in crisis.

The Tang Dynasty general Qin Shubao is good at making double whips, I do not know if Schneeker started the pen from the fear of the previous dynasty, are loyal and good generals, I do not know their respective skills in today's PK will be how the picture?

12. Guns and sticks

The use of characters: Panther head Lin Chong, nine lines of dragon Shi Jin (also represents the Wang Jin)

Lin Chong is the head of the 800,000 forbidden troops in Tokyo, Shi Jin's master Wang Jin is far from the forbidden army, so they are in the way of martial arts and the use of weapons on the road is mostly the same, but each made a name, one called Lin family gun, a call for the Wang family gun.

Lin Chong from the knife into the White Tiger Hall by mistake, slowly on the road of no return, and then all the way to Liangshan, and ultimately died of illness in the Temple of the Sixth Harmonies, his hands of the gun stick can show his ruthless side, Shi Jin from the Shaohua Mountain and then to Liangshan, his hands of the gun stick all the way to the ease of encountering the people to kill people, and meet the Buddha to kill the Buddha.

There is really no way to tell a story, roughly on the first to speak so many more representative of the hero, right as a tribute to the Water Margin, pay tribute to the hero!

We must talk about a person, Booming Thunder - Ling Zhen.

Called "Song Dynasty world's first gunner", good at making artillery, can hit 14 or 15 miles away. More than that, the depth of martial arts, bow and horse skillful, the original in the official army, is the Tokyo A war library deputy make gunner.

When Hu Yanzhuo attacked Liangshan, he asked Gao Ziang to ask for Ling Zhen's assistance because his army could not cross the water. When Ling Zhen was shelling Liangshan, he was lured into the water by Wu Yong's trick to lure the enemy, and Ruan Xiao Er captured Ling Zhen alive in the water. After Ling Zhen was caught on the mountain, Song Jiang "personally untied", Ling Zhen in Song Jiang and has returned to the Liangshan Hu Yanzhuo vice general Peng Jie persuasion, returned to the Liangshan.

The classic battle, not on top of dealing with Hu Yanzhuo, but the defeat of Tong Guan captured Gao Ziang, completely consolidated the position of Liangshan, dare to fight against the court. Cold weapons need to be hot weapons, or in the fight with the court when the same can not be a hundred.

Ling Zhen was one of the rare generals who used firearms as a means of attack in traditional Chinese classical novels, with a wide variety of "artillery", such as letter guns, golden wheel guns, wind and fire cannons, trunk guns, and sky guns, which made him an invaluable scientific and technological talent.

Another one, the God Fire General - the fierce star Wei Dingguo

Wei Dingguo was originally Lingzhou regiment trainer, familiar with the fire attack method, on the battlefield special firearms to take people, known as the "God Fire General". He was ordered to attack Liangshan together with Shan Tinggui. But before he left, he was surrounded by Guan Sheng in the city of Lingzhou, and returned to the Liangshan Mountain with no way to retreat.

As much as possible to minimize the language or write so much, after all, this is a work, I just according to their own hobby to write their own interest in things, the same like "Water Margin" friends can be a good look at this article, we can also do a little exchange of ideas, seek more **** Ming place it!

Right as a self-hobby, can not be counted as an article, and then have a better idea, will continue to write down, we are elegant and vulgar **** appreciation, good and bad words a laugh over it!