Dangpa

Dangpa
Korean name
Hangul	당파
Hanja	鐺鈀
Revised Romanization	Dang Pa
McCune–Reischauer	Tang Pa

Dangpa is the Korean name for a trident (three-pronged spear) first described in the Muyejebo, a Korean martial arts manual of the Joseon Dynasty (published 1610).

Types

There were several types of dangpa, like the iron dang pa, called cheolpa (철파, 鐵鈀) and the wooden dangpa, called mokpa (목파, 木鈀). The two outer teeth of the cheolpa would be slightly crooked. The teeth of the mokpa were made of wood, but covered with iron.

The middle tip would always be slightly longer than the two other tips. This design was intended to lessen the chance of the weapon becoming stuck in an opponent's body.

At the other end of the pole would be a sharp tip as well, in the event that two-handed combat with the dangpa became necessary in battle - this way soldiers fighting with the dangpa had fighting edges on both ends of the weapon.

Techniques

In the Muyedobotongji one set of techniques is given. This form of 22 movements is called dangpa chongbo (당파총보, 鐺鈀總譜) accompanied by a diagram to explain the same form called dangpa chongdo (당파총도, 鐺鈀總圖).