Why did axes have an irreplaceable role in ancient times?

Why axe weapons have an irreplaceable role in ancient times

The figure of "axe" can be seen everywhere in the tales and even myths that have been passed down to the present day. Pangu grabbed an axe, will open up the sky and the earth; Cheng Biaojin with three axes and a half, will break out of the "devil king" of the name; as for the "axe sound and candle shadow", is to make Zhao Kuangyin's death added a few points of treacherous and inexplicable.

While there are idioms such as "Ban Men Teasing Axe", "Suspicious Neighbors Stealing Axe", "Great Axe", "Double Axe", etc., other cold weapons commonly found in ancient books are also related to "axe". Such as Interpretation of the dance of Gan Qi, the Son of Heaven commonly used yellow battle-axe, are a kind of axe weapon.

According to the existing records, the axe weapon throughout the primitive society, slave society and feudal society, has become the norm. Especially in the ancient period, the axe weapon has an irreplaceable role.

So, it seems that some "heavy" axe weapons, why in this period is very popular?

A variety of cold weapons Axe

A, axe "brothers": catty, e, battle-axe, Chi

In the ancient cold weapons, "axe" has a number of "siblings ". If the "catty" and "e" is the "axe" of the two "incarnation", then the "battle-axe". "battle-axe" and "chi" is the "axe" of the same family. In other words, the former is synonymous with the word "axe", while the latter is an axe weapon slightly different from "axe".

First, "jin". "Shuowen Jiezi" said: "catty, hacking wood also." From the point of view of its hieroglyphic characters, just like the ancient people with an axe in chopping trees. So, Duan Yucai note said: "Where the use of hacking things are called axe. The axe for chopping wood is called a catty." The axe used to cut wood, is "catty".

Legend "Shennong made catty axe pottery", axe in cold weapons in the "generation" is very high. Yangshao culture (about 5000 BC to 3000 years ago) in the excavation of stone axe, confirms this view.

Neolithic Stone Axe

During the Paleolithic period, the stone axe was widely used for logging and farming, and was therefore quite popular among the ancient primitive people. In order to strengthen the killing power, they also enlarged the edge of the blade, thus giving the axe a large and broad character, and gradually became a big killing weapon in the war at that time.

This large axe can be called "wu". According to "Shuowen Jiezi": "E, axe also." Duan Yucai note said: "big axe also", and then cited the "Sima Law": "Xia Xuanwu, Yin white Chi, Zhou left staff yellow E, right by white fashion." This indicates that in the "last three generations", "e" was a common name for an axe.

According to "Shangshu - Tang Oath", "(Zhou Wu) King left staff yellow battle-axe, right by white banner to banner." People cloud "battle-axe big and axe small", it can be seen that the king's yellow battle-axe, is a big axe, with the meaning of killing.

They think that "e" and "battle-axe" can sometimes be equated. The difference between the two is: "e" word can be interpreted as "big axe", appeared earlier, with the "axe" word, is the axe class weapons, it can be used for farming and logging, can also be used for war; and "battle-axe". It can be used for farming and logging, as well as for war; while "battle-axe" was born in the Bronze Age (and look at its big gold side), is an axe weapon with its own characteristics (or it has a special cultural connotation), and is mostly used in war, punishment, and ceremonial aspects.

Bronze battle-axe, Wuding period of King of Shang Dynasty, unearthed in Wuhao's tomb

The axe's "clansmen" also include "Chi", whose hieroglyphics resemble an axe with teeth, which is also an axe-type weapon, and is also described above as "Yin". The "White Chi", as mentioned above, is also a type of axe weapon. In addition, according to the record of "Yu Xixi Xuan Gui" in "Shangshu Yu Gong", "Gui" is also very likely to be an axe-type weapon.

It is not difficult to realize that most of the important events in the ancient times were accompanied by axe weapons. So why were axe weapons favored in ancient societies?

This is also thanks to the "battle-axe" and "chi", two excellent "descendants". Since the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, although the axe weapon is still very practical, but the symbolism behind the "battle-axe" and "chi" should not be underestimated.

Beast face bronze battle-axe

Two, the battle-axe of the king's right to symbolize

Many signs show that: the battle-axe and the king's right to be inseparable. Archaeological research has found that stone axes are quite common burial goods, and in some tombs with abundant burial goods, there may be jade axes. This means: in primitive society, only the status of extraordinary people, only qualified to "jade axe" to set off the identity.

Not only that, the word "king" was written as an axe and battle-axe. King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty, had a yellow battle-axe; Shang Tang to destroy Jie, is also the same. The battle-axe often followed the king to conquer the four directions, and settled the world, which has become a symbol of the king's power. Therefore, "Taiping Yuban" cites "Zilin" to clearly state: "The battle-axe is also the king's axe."

The battle-axe has also been passed down to later generations. At that time, the axe and battle-axe was a kind of ceremonial weapon, which became a "token" for the emperor to show his authority. On some special occasions, the king gave his subjects the yellow battle-axe, just as the son of heaven came in person and paid his subjects to "monopolize the power".

Battle-axe and halberd Xuzhou Museum Collection

Take the Three Kingdoms era at the end of the Han Dynasty as an example. Under the situation of "fake section everywhere", the ministers who were crowned with "fake section battle-axe" could be said to be only a handful, and they could not be easily authorized by non-powerful ministers, governors, or top military generals.

Note: According to the statistics of "Three Kingdoms", the fake section battle-axes of the Three Kingdoms era at the end of the Han Dynasty were: Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, Sima Yi, Zhu Geliang, Guan Yu, Lu Xun, Cao Zhen, Cao Huo, Cao Shuang, Xiahou Shang, Yu Ban, Man Favored, Sima Zhao. And the reason why Xiahou Shang and Man Po were able to fake the sectional battle-axe was because they needed to oversee the place in order to act.

Shu Zhangwu three years (223 years), Zhu Geliang led the southern expedition, the Lord issued an imperial edict "give Liang gold flerovium battle-axe a set". Rituals - the king's system" has a cloud: "give flerovium-axe, and then kill." Zhuge Liang got Liu Zen "to pay with the power of the dictatorship", since then control of the three armies, no matter what.

Zhuge Liang (181-234 years), the word Kong Ming

Three, the battle-axe of the ritual and music indoctrination

Press the "Rituals - Music": "than the sound of music, and Ganqi Yu Banner, is called music." Kong Yingda said: "dry, shield; Chi, axe. Martial dance is held by the equipment."

Ancient society, strict etiquette, since the Chi is a kind of "martial arts dance" ritual equipment, it can not be too big, otherwise it will not be easy to perform. And according to the "Chi" character resembles a pod, it should be more narrow and not big shape of the axe and battle-axe. So why would a chi be a ceremonial weapon?

Ancient society, the "divine right of kings" is a popular saying. Whether it was a war, or a change in power, the king would organize religious rituals to establish the legitimacy of his actions. This system had a profound effect on later generations.

Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty

According to the Book of Han - Wang Mang's biography, "It is because of Bo Yu's tin Xuan Gui, and the Duke of Zhou's acceptance of the suburb's rituals, that the cover reaches to Heaven's ambassador, and does not dare to trespass on Heaven's work." Yan Shigu's note said: "The words of the sky to help the king, the king when the Shenda its use, but do not dare to specialize in their own."

Before Wang Mang overstepped the bounds of the emperor, he tried his best to play up the idea of "Divine Mandate of Heaven". When he was appointed as a general, he also "received the battle-axe high temple" to show that his authority comes from the "right". Therefore, Wang Mang wanted to accomplish the usurpation of the throne, naturally, he had to follow the example of Dayu, the Duke of Zhou, these ancient wise kings, the battle-axe to the high "hold up".

Ironically, Wang Mang's reign as emperor didn't endear him to the people of the world. In the area of Luoyang, there were many rebels. Wang Mang's order to suppress the rebels was sought by Wang Wang, but he "lost his yellow battle-axe" on his way out. Although this is not necessarily true, but the historian of this statement, I am afraid that is intended to borrow "lose the yellow battle-axe that is to lose the king's power" to metaphorical Wang Mang's regime of many acts of injustice will be the end of their own deaths.

Late Shang Dynasty frog pattern battle-axe, Chenggu Wulang Temple excavated, Shaanxi Museum collection

To return to the main topic, continue to look at the battle-axe of the "evolution". The so-called "state of the big things, in the rituals and ron", as a symbol of the king's power, the battle-axe will inevitably be in the process of "deification", and then become the ceremonial activities in the "regular guest".

However, the axe and battle-axe was originally used in combat, and its "bulky" form was obviously not suitable for display. Because of this, the ceremonial officials would "remodel" the axe-axe, and the Chi, which is more suitable for "martial arts dance", was born.

Of course, the chi can be used for more than just "performance". As a form of the battle-axe, the chi naturally does not lose its virility. It still retained some power to kill: with its long, narrow blade, the chi was often used as an instrument of torture to decapitate important criminals.