The woldo (literally “moon blade”),was a Korean polearm that closely resembled the Chinese guandao (also known as yanyuedao),though proportionally smaller. It was so named because of its curved blade. Its use and its methods were described in the Muyedobotongji (“Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts”),which was published in 1795.
The Muyedobotongji describes its design:“The length of the handle is six feet,four inches;the length of the blade is two feet,eight inches;and the weight is three pounds,15 ounces.”
It usually had a spike on the end of the handle,and a feather or tassel attached by a ring to the back of the blade. There was a variant of the woldo called the danwoldo,which had a bigger blade.
The woldo was typically used by the medieval Sillan warrior class,the hwarang. Wielding the woldo,because it was heavier than other long-reaching weapons,took time,but,in the hands of a practised user,the woldo was a fearsome,agile weapon famous for enabling a single soldier to cut down ranks of infantrymen. Korean cavalrymen,usually in the Joseon,also used the woldo,mainly because it was longer than most other polearms and for its heavy striking power. Korean warriors and generals who took military exams to take up high positions in the army had to take an exam that tested proficiency and skill with the woldo. Those who could demonstrate great martial skill in the use of the woldo passed one of the exams and proceeded to the next. Those who could not were ordered to withdraw and to train for the next military examination.
Techniques for the use of this weapon by infantry are described in the earlier Muyejebo,published in 1749. With the publication of the updated version of this manual in 1791,the dismounted techniques were retained,while techniques for use in horseback were added. The latter techniques are called Masang woldo (마상월도;馬上月刀).
The woldo is one of the shinkal,a "divine knife",that is used as a ritual object by shamans. [1] The woldo is a part of a Korean shamanistic ritual called saseulseugi,also with a three-pronged spear,the samjichang,that represent the authority of the shaman holding them. [1]
A polearm or pole weapon is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft,typically of wood,extending the user's effective range and striking power. Polearms are predominantly melee weapons,with a subclass of spear-like designs fit for thrusting and/or throwing. Because many polearms were adapted from agricultural implements or other fairly abundant tools,and contained relatively little metal,they were cheap to make and readily available. When belligerents in warfare had a poorer class who could not pay for dedicated military weapons,they would often appropriate tools as cheap weapons. The cost of training was comparatively low,since these conscripted farmers had spent most of their lives using these "weapons" in the fields. This made polearms the favoured weapon of peasant levies and peasant rebellions the world over.
The naginata is a polearm and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades (nihontō). Naginata were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan,as well as by ashigaru and sōhei. The naginata is the iconic weapon of the onna-musha,a type of female warrior belonging to the Japanese nobility. A common misconception is that the Naginata is a type of sword,rather than a polearm.
The jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BCE,during the Spring and Autumn period;one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters in length. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimetre (28-inch) blade-length would be in a range of approximately 700 to 900 grams. There are also larger two-handed versions used for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts.
Swordsmanship or sword fighting refers to the skills and techniques used in combat and training with any type of sword. The term is modern,and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing,but by extension it can also be applied to any martial art involving the use of a sword. The formation of the English word "swordsman" is parallel to the Latin word gladiator,a term for the professional fighters who fought against each other and a variety of other foes for the entertainment of spectators in the Roman Empire. The word gladiator itself comes from the Latin word gladius,which is a type of sword.
Korean martial arts are fighting practices and methods which have their place in the history of Korea but have been adapted for use by both military and non-military personnel as a method of personal growth or recreation. The history of Korean martial arts can be traced as far back as the prehistoric era.
A glaive,sometimes spelled as glave,is a type of pole weapon,with a single edged blade on the end,known for its distinctive design and versatile combat applications. There are many similar polearms such as the war scythe,the Japanese naginata,the Chinese guandao (yanyuedao),the Korean woldo,and the Russian sovnya.
A guandao is a type of Chinese polearm that is used in some forms of Chinese martial arts. In Chinese,it is properly called a yanyuedao,the name under which it always appears in texts from the Song to Qing dynasties such as the Wujing Zongyao and Huangchao Liqi Tushi. It is comparable to the Japanese naginata and the European fauchard or glaive and consists of a heavy blade with a spike at the back and sometimes also a notch at the spike's upper base that can catch an opponent's weapon. In addition,there are often irregular serrations that lead the back edge of the blade to the spike. The blade is mounted atop a 1.5 to 1.8 m long wooden or metal pole and a pointed metal counterweight used to balance the heavy blade and for striking on the opposite end.
The traditions of Korean bladesmithing and swordsmanship have served a central place in the military history of Korea for thousands of years. Although typical Korean land battles have taken place in wide valleys and narrow mountain passes,which favor use of spears and bows,the sword found use as a secondary,close-quarters weapon,in addition to far more prominent role during sieges and ship-to-ship boarding actions. Higher quality,ceremonial swords were typically reserved for the officer corps as a symbol of authority with which to command the troops. Ceremonial swords are still granted to military officials by the civilian authority to this day.
Since the 1970s,there has been a revival of traditional or reconstructed methods of swordsmanship based on the Korean sword in the Republic of Korea,supplementing the practice of Kumdo. There are historical sources on which such reconstructions are based,dating to the 17th and 18th centuries,notably the Muyejebo of 1610,its 1759 revision Muyeshinbo,supplemented with 12 additional fighting methods by Prince Sado who originated the term Sip Pal Ki,and the renewed revision of 1790,Muyedobotongji.
Commissioned in 1790 by King Jeongjo,the Muyedobotongji expanded on the eighteen weapons systems identified in the Muyeshinbo of 1758.
Gwonbeop (Korean: 권법) is a system of unarmed methods in Korean martial arts which was developed during the Joseon era. It is the Korean rendition of the Chinese quan fa (拳法).
The origins of Asian martial arts are diverse and scattered,having roots in various regions of Asia. Various Asian martial arts reference the study of animal movements as inspiration for martial arts techniques.
The Muyejebo is the oldest extant Korean martial arts manual,compiled by Han Gyo (韓嶠) in 1598 during the reign of King Seonjo. With the addition of material from Japanese martial arts,a supplement,Sequel to the Book of Martial Arts (무예제보번역속집),compiled by Choi Ki-nam,was published in 1610.
The jangchang is a Korean weapon first described in the 16th century martial arts manual,Muyejebo. The weapon was preferably made from the wood of the yew tree,but other types of wood could be used as well,such as oak and chestnut.
The gichang (Korean: 기창) is a Korean weapon which is first described in the Muyesinbo,a Korean martial arts manual published in 1759. It later also found its way into the Muyedobotongji (1791).
Dangpa (Korean: 당파),or dang pa,is the Korean name for a Ranseur first described in the Muyejebo,a Korean martial arts manual of the Joseon Dynasty.
The Muyesinbo is a Korean martial arts manual published in 1759. The book is a revision of the older Muyejebo,made during the reign of King Youngjo (1724–1776). It adds twelve disciplines or "skills" of both armed and unarmed fighting by Prince Sado to the original six which were descbribed in the Muyejebo. No copies of the Muyesinbo have survived,but its contents can easily be determined by tracing back and comparing the Muyejebo with the later Muyedobotongji.
The hyeopdo was a polearm used in Korea. It was also called micheomdo (Korean: 미첨도),which could be translated as "eyebrow sword" because the curved blade resembled an eyebrow. The first written reference to a hyeopdo is in a Korean martial arts manual from the 17th century called the Muyeyebobeon Yeoksokjip (무예예보번역속집).
Paek Tongsu or Baek Dong Soo was a Korean martial artist and swordsman of the Suwon Baek clan. He became a folk hero when his group protected King Jeongjo from assassination attempts. He was known as the best warrior in Joseon. He was of low social class because he was a Seo-er.
The Martial Arts Department was a division of the Military Training Command,who served as guards for King Seonjo during the Imjin War. It was an organization composed of skilled martial artists who were responsible for guarding the five grand palaces and providing close protection to the king. The officers belonging to the office were specially referred to as Martial Arts Special Guards (무예별감) or simply Martial Guards. It was also known as the military officials.