Chicken Sickles
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The Chicken Sickles (Traditional 鷄鐮 Simplified 鸡鐮) are a number of Chinese bladed weapons similar to the Hook sword and the Okinawan Kama. They can be used as a single or double weapon. It is considered the special weapon of the Xinyi Liuhe style.
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[edit] Chicken-claw
Jī Zhuǎ Lián (Traditional 鷄爪鐮 Simplified 鸡爪鐮 – “Chicken-Claw Sickle”). The chicken-claw sickle was constructed from a chicken claw-like piece of metal, along with a spear head, on a length of stick. Its length was about 1.5 ft. The details of this weapon are unknown.
This sickle is more similar in appearance to the Okinawan Kama, with the addition of a spear head.
[edit] Chicken-saber
Jī Dāo Lián (Traditional 鷄刀鐮 Simplified 鸡刀鐮 – “Chicken-Saber Sickle”). This weapon was also called the Kǔn Huā Yāo Zi (Traditional 綑花腰子 Simplified 捆花腰子 – “Binding Flower Waist Carry"). The reason for this optional name is unknown. According to legend, this weapon was created by the founder of Xinyi, Ji Long Feng (姬隆丰), and it became the special weapon of this style. It was made from metal and its length was about 2.5 Chi [32 inches].”[1][2]
This sickle is more similar in appearance to the Hook sword and has a double-edge like a Jian. There are several variations of this weapon. All have the distinctive hook and chicken "spur" on the head, but the sword blade is shortened to a small metal pole-arm. (example) It is used for close-quarters combat.
One noted practitioner of the Chicken-Saber Sickles was Xinyi Liuhe Grandmaster Lu Songgao (卢嵩高) (d. 1962), one of the "Three Heroes from Zhoukou".[3][4] Xinyi Liuhe and Wu style Taichi master Dr. Stephen Yan (Yan Zhi Yuan), weapons champion of the First National Xinyi Liuhe Competition held in Henan Province in 2000, is pictured below wielding the Chicken-Sabers.
[edit] Photos
Click on each photo to enlarge it.
 Drawing of the "Chicken-Claw Sickles". |
 Shaolin Monk Shi De Jian playing a variation of the Chicken-Claw with an extra “moon-spade” hand guard. © Kung Fu Magazine |
 Close up picture of the full-size “Chicken-Saber Sickle”. © http://www.tai-chi.co.nz |
 Double Chicken-Sabers. © http://www.tai-chi.co.nz |
 Xinyi Liuhe Master Dr. Stephen Yan (Yan Zhi Yuan) showing a series of Chicken-Saber stances. © http://www.tai-chi.co.nz |
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 Shaolin Monk Shi De Cheng playing a variation of the Chicken-Saber. © russbo.com |
[edit] Media
[edit] Literature
In Gu Long's wuxia novel Jué Dài Shuāng Jiāo (绝代双娇 - "The Legendary Twins), a character wields a pair of the Chicken-Claws.[5]
[edit] Film
In the 2005 film The Legend of Zorro, Ferroq (Raúl Méndez), the bald henchmen of Count Armand (Rufus Sewell), wields a chicken sickle during his battle with Zorro’s wife, Elena De La Vega (Catherine Zeta-Jones).[6]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Yang, Dr. Jwing-Ming, Ancient Chinese Weapons: A Martial Artist’s Guide. Boston: YMAA Publication Center, 1999. (ISBN 1-886969-67-1)
- ^ 中國武術大辭典 ("Chinese Wushu Big Dictionary") (1990) ISBN 7-5009-0463-0
- ^ (Chinese) 威震上海的回族拳师——卢嵩高（图）. Go the bottom of the page to see several pictures of Master Lu playing the "full-size" version of the Chicken-Sabers.
- ^ Muslim xinyi
- ^ (Chinese) 绝代双娇
- ^ The Legend of Zorro IMDB profile cast list
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=589
- http://www.russbo.org/photopost/showfull.php?photo=377
- http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/
- http://www.russbo.com/main.html
- http://www.huizucn.com/show/content.asp?ArticleID=556 (Chinese only)
- http://www.shaolinwolf.com/bilder/weapons/weapon07sickles.jpg For a picture of a Shaolin Monk playing the smaller version of the Chicken-Saber.
- http://www.cnwushu.com/bingqi/duanbq/lian.htm (Chinese only). Click on the second tan box from the bottom to see the Chicken-Saber Sickle.
- http://www.tai-chi.co.nz
