Spear (weapon)
Overview
A spear (槍) is a thrust-centered cold weapon with a sharp head (spearhead) fixed to the end of a long shaft. It is the oldest weapon used by humanity and the weapon operated on a large scale for the longest time; it began as a hunting javelin and developed into the main weapon of infantry and cavalry. Despite its simple structure, thanks to its long reach, low production cost, and overwhelming power when used in groups, it held the center of the battlefield from the Stone Age to the early modern period.
Note: The Korean word '창' has many homonyms besides the weapon (槍), including window (窓), the surname Chang (昌), and architectural and musical terms. This document focuses on the spear as a weapon.
Main Content
Origin and History
The origin of the spear dates back to the Paleolithic era. Primitive spears made by shaping the end of a wooden stick with fire or by tying on a stone point were key tools for hunting and defense. The approximately 400,000-year-old wooden spears discovered at the Schöningen site in Germany are known as the oldest surviving spear artifacts.
In the Bronze Age, bronze spearheads appeared, and in the Iron Age, iron spearheads spread, greatly improving durability and penetrating power. The ancient Greek phalanx (팔랑크스), the Roman legion's pilum (필룸) and hasta (하스타), and the Macedonian sarissa (사리사) are representative examples of organized spear use.
Structure and Components
- Spearhead (point): The metal part responsible for thrusting and cutting. Depending on shape, it is divided into slender, leaf-shaped, diamond-shaped, and other types.
- Shaft: Usually made of wood, with lengths varying from 1.5 to over 6 m. Bamboo, ash, oak, and other woods were used.
- Socket/tang: The part joining the spearhead and shaft; the strength of this join determines the spear's performance.
- Butt cap (counterweight): A metal fitting at the opposite end of the shaft, used for balance and secondary striking.
- Tassel: Serves to secure the joint and prevent blood from flowing down the shaft, and is also a decorative element.
Types
Traditional Korean Spears
In Korea, spears had been used as a major infantry weapon since the Three Kingdoms period. During the Joseon dynasty, various spear techniques were organized in the Muyedobotongji (무예도보통지), including the jukchang (죽창, bamboo spear), jangchang (장창, long spear), danchang (단창, short spear), gichang (기창, cavalry spear), nangseon (낭선, wolf-brush), and hyeopdo (협도, double-edged sword). In particular, the jangchang, with a long shaft reaching 4–5 m, was used to break enemy cavalry and formations, while the jukchang was easily produced and used by civilians and local militia.
China and Japan
In China, various shafted weapons such as the mao (모, 矛), ji (극, 戟), and qiang (창, 槍) developed, and in the Ming and Qing dynasties spear techniques were established as an independent martial arts system. In Japan, the yari (야리, 槍) was used as the main weapon of large infantry units during the Sengoku period, and spear techniques (yarijutsu) developed into specialized schools.
Europe
Representative examples include the Greek sarissa, the Roman pilum, the medieval pike, and the cavalry lance. The pike square of early modern Swiss mercenaries is regarded as a turning point that revealed the limits of cavalry-centered tactics.
Tactics and Employment
The spear's power is maximized in group combat rather than individual combat. When formed into dense formations, it serves as a defensive wall that pushes back the enemy based on its reach advantage. On the other hand, at close range it is difficult to swing and has weaknesses on the sides and rear. To compensate, complex tactics developed, such as using swords, shields, and short spears together, or combining spearmen with archers and cavalry.
Decline and Succession
With the spread of firearms, the spear yielded its place as the main battlefield weapon over the 17th to 19th centuries. The bayonet was a representative compromise that combined the thrusting concept of the spear with firearms. Today, the spear continues its legacy in sports, traditional martial arts, historical reenactment, and performances.
Recent Trends
- Sports: The javelin throw has become a track and field event, and after 1986 revisions to weight and center-of-gravity regulations reorganized the record competition landscape.
- Traditional martial arts restoration: Korean traditional spear techniques are being restored and disseminated centering on traditional martial arts organizations and local governments, and demonstrations and competitions based on the Muyedobotongji are increasing.
- Historical reenactment and content: In historical dramas, documentaries, and war-themed games, spears appear as core weapons, and realism-oriented staging emphasizing historical accuracy has become a trend.
- Experiential cultural heritage: As traditional weapon experience programs, museum special exhibitions, and martial arts festivals expand, the industrial use of cold weapon cultural heritage, including spears, is increasing.
- Academic research: In archaeology and metallurgy, research analyzing the metal structure and production techniques of excavated spearheads to reexamine ancient ironmaking and forging technology is active.
- Safety regulations: Safety standards and distribution regulations for sports spears and the possession of traditional weapons are being organized by country.
Related Topics
- [[Cold weapon]]
- [[Sword]]
- [[Muyedobotongji]]
- [[Javelin throw]]
- [[Phalanx]]