The History, Characteristics, and Development of Chinese Short Weapon (Duan

By Ruan Wenpian

Duanbing（短兵) means short Weapon and is one aspect of Chinese martial arts. It involves both participants using specific short weapons, such as knives and swords, to score points by striking effective parts of the opponent's body within a designated area. Although its competitive format and scoring methods bear some resemblance to fencing and kendo, the history and cultural significance of Chinese Duanbing are much older. Today, with the development and reform of Chinese martial arts, Duanbing sports have gradually gained popularity, especially among students. This article will focus on the historical origins of Chinese Duanbing and its development in modern society.

Historical Origins of Chinese Short Weapon (Duanbing)

Duanbing originated from ancient Chinese swordsmanship. The "sword"（剑） was one of the most important members of the ancient Chinese arsenal. From the Zhou, Qin, and Han Dynasties, especially during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the sword experienced a flourishing period of over a thousand years, often referred to as the "Golden Age" of the sword. During that time, the sword was renowned and esteemed, considered a symbol of a person's status, virtue, and dignity, and revered by martial artists as a carrier of cultural and humanistic spirit. The great Chinese historian Sima Qian（司马迁） highly praised the cultural and humanistic significance of the sword, asserting that only those possessing the virtues of faith, integrity, benevolence, and courage could "discuss military strategy and swordsmanship" （谈兵论剑）.

In ancient times, competitions primarily focused on swordsmanship were known as "Xiangji (相击)" one of the earliest forms of Duanbing combat in Chinese history, with origins tracing back to the early Western Zhou Dynasty. By the Spring and Autumn period, swordmaking had reached a high level of refinement, and wearing a sword became a symbol of status and dignity. Swordsmanship had developed significantly, becoming a specialized study, especially in the Wu and Yue regions in the southeast. During the Warring States period, marked by numerous competing powers and frequent wars, the practical value of swords in warfare increased significantly, making sword fighting more widespread. In society, there emerged individuals known as "private swordsmen"（私剑） or "swordsmen"（剑士） who served others with their sword skills, a precursor to the later development of the "xia" （侠）culture. This era also saw the creation of specialized discussions and writings on swordsmanship. This trend continued to flourish during the Western Han Dynasty, with swordsmanship being popular in both court and society. Some individuals became famous nationwide for their sword-fighting skills, and professional swordsmen sought employment with powerful patrons. Under this influence, even literati like Dongfang Shuo （东方朔）, Sima Xiangru（司马相如）, and Tian Shu（田叔） studied swordsmanship, reflecting a trend of the time and a mindset of setting high standards for themselves.

After the Han Dynasties, the practical value of swords in battle gradually declined, and their military significance was increasingly replaced by sabers. Although swords continued to exist and were still cherished by many, they were no longer the primary weapon for soldiers in combat. The use of swords shifted from the military to other areas, moving into the realm of civilian martial arts and even becoming objects of refined appreciation in the study rooms of scholars. The form of the sword evolved from "Xiangji （相击）" to the more elegant and refined "sword dance（剑舞）. " By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the primary representation of swords in society became the decorative and less practical "the art of martial arts（套子武艺）." The ancient "swordsmen （剑客）" were transformed into semi-divine heroes in chivalric novels. Nonetheless, thanks to its glorious past and the ever-enriching sword culture, the sword maintained a revered status and dignity, continuing to be venerated as a symbol of ancient Chinese martial arts and weaponry.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there are records of swordsmen using "staffs （杖）" instead of swords to compete. In the famous story of the sword contest between the Yue Maiden and the Ape Elder, they used bamboo staffs as substitutes for swords, reflecting a real-life practice. As a result, the term "staff" often became a synonym for weapons. In the Three Kingdoms period, the story of Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, using a sugarcane as a substitute sword in a contest with General Deng Zhan, became widely known and celebrated over the centuries. After the Song and Yuan dynasties, the use of bamboo and wooden weapons to train soldiers and practice swordsmanship became increasingly common. One notable example is the story of Yan Yuan and Li Mutian, who practiced sword techniques using bamboo strips, a tale later referenced by Mao Zedong.

In summary, the use of bamboo and wooden substitutes served two main purposes: first, to avoid injuries and enhance the sporting value of the activity; second, due to strict ancient prohibitions on carrying weapons, it was not possible for anyone to freely carry sharp blades and engage in close combat. Thus, not only were civilian fencing activities conducted mainly with bamboo and wooden substitutes, but military training also often used these materials, as clearly documented in Qi Jiguang's Jixiao Xinshu（纪效新书）.

It can be said that Duanbing is a traditional Chinese sports culture rich in humanistic spirit. In ancient China, the sword symbolized courage, dignity, and virtue, and naturally, Duanbing was considered a noble sport, embodying the essence of traditional national sports. This phenomenon is observed in both Eastern and Western martial arts, albeit with different forms of expression. Consequently, both the East and the West have endeavored to develop ancient swordsmanship into modern sports disciplines. Chinese Duanbing emerged within this context.

Characteristics of Duanbing Sports

As a part of Chinese martial arts, Duanbing sports blend traditional and modern characteristics:

Firstly, Duanbing is a high-intensity physical and mental exercise with a strong competitive nature. As a combative and competitive sport, Duanbing requires participants to possess physical strength, endurance, coordination, reaction speed, and flexibility. Additionally, it demands high psychological qualities, including resilience, courage, calmness, focus, decisiveness, overall tactical organization, insight, and stress management abilities.

Secondly, Duanbing serves as a cultural education that embodies and conveys traditional Chinese humanistic values. As a form of physical exercise with a deep historical and cultural background, Duanbing requires participants to strictly adhere to and uphold a set of behavioral norms and etiquette during daily practice and competitions. This includes the fundamental processes and details of learning, training, and competing, as well as integrating these principles into everyday life and interactions with others.

Chinese culture has long emphasized the educational function of etiquette. Confucius' disciple Yan Hui said, "The Master gently guides and encourages me, broadens my knowledge with literature, and restrains my behavior with etiquette, so that I cannot give up（夫子循循然善诱人，博我以文，约我以礼，欲罢不能）." This highlights how Confucius not only imparted extensive knowledge but also used certain "etiquette"（礼） to regulate the behavior of his disciples, leading them to a state of "not being able to stop." As a part of traditional Chinese culture, martial arts have always placed great importance on ritual and have developed specific ceremonial practices. Although martial artists from different groups have varying martial arts etiquette, the meanings conveyed are similar. In our teaching, we have chosen the most commonly used Chinese bow as the gesture of respect.

In terms of technical aspects, Duanbing has distinct martial arts characteristics. Most effective offensive and defensive techniques from martial arts swords and knives can be applied and demonstrated in competitions, making it both highly competitive and visually appealing. Duanbing techniques are complex and emphasize winning through strategy and skill rather than brute force; any display of sheer violence or reckless fighting can give the opponent opportunities to exploit and result in self-defeat. With specific equipment performance and protective gear, the risk of injury is very low, yet the sport remains highly engaging and enjoyable, often captivating participants. After more than half a century of intermittent practice, Duanbing has developed relatively mature rules with strong stability and operability.

Compared to Western fencing and Japanese kendo, Duanbing is stylistically distinct and lacks similarities or resemblances. I believe that Duanbing, in terms of fitness, practicality, entertainment, and enjoyment, is more diverse and vivid, and is easier to promote and popularize. It is especially excellent for the physical and mental development of young people.

Currently, the rules we use for Duanbing are based on those established nearly a century ago, refined through the continuous practice and efforts of several generations, and further solidified through extensive exchanges with similar sports. On one hand, it retains the core values of the old rules, ensuring the preservation of cultural traditions. On the other hand, it has maximized scientific approaches in the details of adjudication, making the rules more rational and aligned with the basic principles of modern sports development. The rules are characterized by their simplicity, objectivity, emphasis on training levels, and transparency in adjudication.

Development of Chinese Duanbing

In the 1931 National Games, the term "fencing" （击剑）was used in the "National Martial Arts Rules（国术规则）. " However, at the same time, the military system commonly used the term "Pi jian（劈剑）. " Chinese martial arts feature two primary systems for short weapons: knives and swords, along with other weapons like whips and flails. Therefore, the design and rules for Duanbing had to consider technical compatibility, which was carefully addressed and achieved notable results.

Duanbing was formally introduced during the first "National Martial Arts Examination （国术考试）" in 1928. By the second "National Martial Arts Examination" in 1933, Duanbing was officially included as a competition event, following the "National Martial Arts Examination Regulations （国术考试条例）" and "National Martial Arts Competition Rules（国术比赛规则）." Subsequently, its popularity expanded rapidly. For example, in Shandong Province, where the National Martial Arts Pavilion system was well-developed, Duanbing also saw significant advancement. According to a series of reports in the Ta Kung Pao （大公报）in early April 1935, the third "National Martial Arts Provincial Examination （国术省试）" was held in Shandong from April 19 to 23, with over 600 participants. Duanbing was included as a competition event for the first time. Reports from that period indicate that, after the competition from April 21 to 24, a total of 107 athletes were admitted across various events, including 20 Duanbing practitioners like Mao Shuxun. This high proportion reflects the rapid development of Duanbing.

As a result, after some time, this sport originally known as "fencing" （ji jian 击剑）was collectively renamed "duan bing"（Short Weapon 短兵）a term that has persisted to this day.

In terms of development, Western sports efforts have been very successful. By modern times, European fencing evolved into three distinct disciplines: the epee, foil, and sabre, becoming one of the earliest events in the Olympics and widely practiced around the world with a large number of enthusiasts. Over the past half-century, fencing has gradually developed in China through the influence of the former Soviet Union, with competitive levels continuously improving and producing outstanding athletes such as Luan Jujie. Mr. Ma Mingda（马明达）, a renowned researcher of Chinese martial arts history and founder of the Jian Gong Academy, was a professional foil fencer and coach and reached the finals in the fencing event at the first National Games of China.

In the East, neighboring Japan has also achieved success. As is well known, Kendo is a highly valued cultural heritage in Japan, widely practiced and strictly taught as one of Japan's "national sports." Although Kendo has deep roots in Japanese samurai culture, its modern form was only standardized and refined relatively recently, in the first year of the Taisho era (1912). It has essentially followed a path of localization in modern competitive sports.

In Japan, Kendo has always been regarded as an important means of cultivating national cultural spirit, with dojo established in most primary and secondary schools, making Kendo a compulsory subject. Today, Kendo is a global sport with numerous organizations and competitive activities. Kendo was introduced to China early on; at least by the Ming Dynasty, techniques and diagrams of Japanese swordsmanship had already reached China and were favored by Chinese martial artists. During the peak of Chinese students studying in Japan in the late Qing Dynasty, many Chinese students received Kendo training, and Japanese instructors also taught Kendo in China, which had a significant impact on China. In fact, the emergence of Chinese Duanbing is, to some extent, linked to the inspiration and stimulus from Japanese Kendo. In recent years, Kendo has seen a resurgence in China, with an increasing number of practitioners and venues, showing a more pronounced development trend compared to Duanbing.

However, with the development and reform of Chinese martial arts, since 2019, Duanbing in China has also begun to undergo reorganization and planning. The Chinese Martial Arts Administration Center, the Chinese Martial Arts Association, and the University Sports Association are all promoting the development of Duanbing sports. Particularly noteworthy is the Jian Gong Academy, a representative of folk martial arts. Under the efforts of Professor Ma Lianzhen of South China Normal University, who manages the academy, the technical system, competition rules, protective gear, and Duanbing equipment designed by the academy have become relatively comprehensive. The academy has significant and widespread influence in the Chinese martial arts community.

About author:

Ruan Wenpian is a master’s candidate majoring in martial arts at School of Physical Education, South China Normal University. He is also a student of Jiangong Academy (健公书院) and is currently practicing the martial arts of Ma Tongbei (马氏通备武艺) with both Master Ma Mingda (马明达) and Master Ma Lianzhen (马廉祯). His contact email is 1433345933@qq.com

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