Nangseon

Nangseon
Hangul 낭선
Hanja
Revised Romanization Nangseon
McCune–Reischauer Nangsŏn

The nangseon or nangseonchang (Chinese: 狼筅; pinyin: lángxiǎn; literally: "wolf brush") was a branched, multi-tipped spear with thorns attached to the branches. The blades could be dipped in poison. The nangseon was a weapon well suited for defense. It would be difficult for the opponent to get near the person holding the nangseon without getting touched by the thorns.

The nangseon was mentioned as early as the 16th century martial arts manual Muyejebo. It was probably an invention of the Chinese general Qi Jiguang of the Ming Dynasty, who described it in his manual titled Ji Xiao Xin Shu, which served as an example to the Muyejebo. The nangseon acted as backup for the shield (deungpae) bearers in a "Mandarin duck formation".


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