the defensive capabilities of a weapon I would argue are almost more important than the attacking capabilities. Anything can be used to attack, no matter the size or shape. Small rocks on the ground, sticks, elaborate metalwork of pretty much any design can all be used to attack with, but not everything is as useful for defence, and that's really the key difference IMO between an improvised or even a hunting weapon, and a weapon designed for combat. Combat weapons need to be able to be used defensively as well, otherwise your enemy will simply strike you as or before you strike them. With that in mind, I made a slight modification to my wing chun butterfly swords by changing the knuckle "D" guard into a crescent and adding a spike at the end of the handle, to vastly increase the defensive options with a pair of them. I should make a video about them, or at least send you a picture - I think you'd like them.
I am so happy to have found this video (and the others in this series) directly from LK Chen's website. I have a question as I am considering getting a Ji. What difference would it make if you wrapped the side blade instead of the back? So something more like a Iron Crutch/Tonfa. I have the Magnificent Chu and the Ribaldo so I was looking for something different and this weapon just sings to me.
I'm sure it is possible to do, but my first hesitation would be the blade taper. Unless you anchor the wrap and cinch it tight, it could have a chance to slip off the side blade. I see you added me on IG I'll send you a picture to see if the relative size of Ji to hand is what you're expecting. It is a really cool blade and I have plans on making future videos with it.
Different versions of the stores of the three kingdoms existed way before the novel romance of the three kingdoms which was wrote in the Ming dynasty. Through out the ages Chao Wei was considered to be the “successor”or “legitimate” ruler of China after the Han dynasty, and Shu together with Wu was seen as kind of like a rebellion. This Changed in the Song dynasty especially during the Southern Song dynasty where all northern provinces were lost to the nomadic people. Efforts were made to recapture lost territories(not much due to different branch of the same family now held power and if successful means the old royal family will be welcomed back and he loosing his power)but eventually failed. This led to the population loosing faith in the government and its at this time stories on three kingdoms started using Shu as the main talking point to give them selves more legitimacy since both were similar, both don’t control “zhongyuan” which were considered to be the heart of the Han population, both don’t control the capital, both were weaker in terms of military power and both have lost a large portion of their land (if you consider Shu to be the legitimate successor of Han, which the Shu referred to themselves but the other two did not) to other powers.
Can't wait until he is released in the Ancient Warriors archetype in yugioh that is based off of the romance of the three kingdoms. Also the tonfa might be based off of the handheld Ji and similar defensive movements might work well with a pair of them.
hand Ji 手戟，A one-handed weapon from the Han Dynasty that can also be used as a throwing weapon. However, this may not be a very successful weapon design, because it did not circulate for a long time. Perhaps it is because Cao Cao's education was very successful and Cao Pi's brothers were all excellent. Cao Pi's elder brother, Cao Ang, was the successor that Cao Cao was very satisfied with and had high hopes for, but he died to protect Cao Cao. Cao Pi has three younger brothers, each with his own strengths: Cao Zhang was a brave warrior and a general. Cao Zhi was a poet and scholar with outstanding literary talent. The youngest Cao Cong showed extraordinary wisdom and political talent at a very young age. And Cao Pi was a very mediocre person. Being mediocre does not mean that he is incompetent, but it means that compared to his brothers, he is not particularly good in one aspect. He is an all-rounder, but his martial arts and military talents are not as good as Cao Zhang. His poetry and literary talent were not as good as Cao Zhi's. Not as smart as Cao Cong. After Cao Ang's death, Cao Cao pinned his hopes on Cao Cong, but Cao Cong died mysteriously. Cao Cao once suspected that Cao Pi murdered Cao Cong. After Cao Cong's death, Cao Cao looked at his three adult sons and found that Cao Pi was the most suitable successor. Cao Zhang was brave but lacked political wisdom; Cao Zhi was brilliant in literature, but his behavior was bohemian and his character lacked forbearance and perseverance.Only Cao Pi did not have so many weaknesses and shortcomings. So Cao Pi became Cao Cao's successor.
lets face it, its easy for a "prodigal child" to get these kinds of reputations, you think the other guys went really hard at Cao Pi during training? I don't think any of his martial brothers wanted to hurt him, even accidentally.
In some ways it reminds me of a pair Japanese "Sai". I also wonder if only the tips of this weapon/tool were sharp, there'd be a whole new range of use and gripage available to the user...sort of a bladed "Tonfa".
