Eighteen Arms of Wushu

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The Eighteen Arms is a list of the eighteen main weapons of Chinese martial arts. The origin of the list is unclear and there have been disputes as to what the eighteen weapons actually are. However, all lists contain at least one or more of the following weapons:

Contents

Wu Za Zu version

Wu Za Zu (五雜俎; 'Five assorted offerings'), written by the Ming-dynasty scholar Xie Zhaozhe (1567–1624), [1] lists the following:

  1. Axe
  2. Bow and arrow
  3. Crossbow
  4. Dao (Chinese sword)
  5. Greataxe
  6. Hand-to-hand combat
  7. Hoko yari
  8. Ji (halberd)
  9. Jian
  10. Jian (sword breaker)
  11. Whip
  12. Mace
  13. Pick
  14. Qiang (spear)
  15. Rake (tool)
  16. Rope dart
  17. Shield
  18. Trident

Water Margin version

The Ming novel, Water Margin , lists the following:

  1. Ancient style spear
  2. Axe
  3. Bow and arrow
  4. Chain
  5. Chúi
  6. Club (weapon)
  7. Crossbow
  8. Dagger axe
  9. Halberd
  10. Firearm
  11. Greataxe
  12. Jian (sword breaker)
  13. Mace or whip
  14. Pick
  15. Shield
  16. Spear
  17. Sword
  18. Trident

Shaolin version

  1. Axe
  2. Broadsword
  3. Cane
  4. Dart
  5. Flute
  6. Fork
  7. Hand Dart
  8. Kwan Dao
  9. Monk's spade
  10. Pen
  11. Pu Dao
  12. Sickles
  13. Spear
  14. Staff
  15. Sword
  16. Thorn
  17. Tri-point double-edge sword
  18. Whip

See also

References

  1. "Xie Zhaozhe". www.cuhk.edu.hk. Retrieved 2025-11-11.