Editing Spear (section)

====China====
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In the [[Chinese martial arts]], the [[List of martial arts weapons|Chinese]] spear ([[Qiang (spear)|Qiang]] 槍) is popularly known as the "king of weapons". The spear is listed in the group of the four major weapons (along with the [[gun (staff)|gun]] ([[Stick-fighting|staff]]), [[Dao (Chinese sword)|dao]] (a single-edged blade similar to a [[sabre]]), and the [[jian]] ([[sword]])).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://imperialcombatarts.com/spear-training--265383068321433.html|title=Spear Training &#124; Spear Fighting &#124; 枪 矛 厹|website=Imperial Combat Arts}}</ref>

Spears were used first as hunting weapons amongst the ancient Chinese. They became popular as infantry weapons during the [[Warring States]] and [[Qin dynasty|Qin]] era, when spearmen were used as especially highly disciplined soldiers in organized group attacks. When used in formation fighting, spearmen would line up their large rectangular or circular shields in a shieldwall manner. The Qin also employed long spears (more akin to a pike) in formations similar to Swiss pikemen in order to ward off cavalry. The Han Empire would use similar tactics as its Qin predecessors. Halberds, polearms, and dagger axes were also common weapons during this time.

Spears were also common weaponry for Warring States, Qin, and Han era cavalry units. During these eras, the spear would develop into a longer lance-like weapon used for cavalry charges.

[[File:Spear Jinsha.JPG|thumb|Bronze spears, notice the ears on the side of the socket.]]
There are many words in Chinese that would be classified as a spear in English. The ''Mao'' is the predecessor of the ''[[Qiang (spear)|Qiang]]''. The first bronze ''Mao'' appeared in the [[Shang dynasty]]. This weapon was less prominent on the battlefield than the ''ge'' ([[dagger-axe]]). In some archaeological examples two tiny holes or ears can be found in the blade of the spearhead near the socket, these holes were presumably used to attach tassels, much like modern day [[Wushu (sport)|wushu]] spears.

In the early [[Shang dynasty|Shang]], the ''Mao'' appeared to have a relatively short shaft as well as a relatively narrow shaft as opposed to ''Mao'' in the later Shang and [[Western Zhou]] period. Some ''Mao'' from this era are heavily decorated as is evidenced by a [[Warring States period]] ''Mao'' from the [[Shu (state)|Ba Shu]] area.<ref>{{cite book|last1=郑|first1=轶伟|title=中国古代冷兵器|date=2007|publisher=上海文化出版社|location=上海|isbn=978-7-80740-220-6|page=19|ref=中国古代冷兵器1}}</ref>

In the Han dynasty the ''Mao'' and the ''[[Ji (polearm)|Ji]]'' (戟 ''Ji'' can be loosely defined as a halberd) rose to prominence in the military. Interesting to note is that the amount of iron Mao-heads found exceeds the number of bronze heads. By the end of the Han dynasty ([[Eastern Han]]) the process of replacement of the iron ''Mao'' had been completed and the bronze ''Mao'' had been rendered completely obsolete. After the Han dynasty toward the [[Sui dynasty|Sui]] and [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] dynasties the ''Mao'' used by cavalry were fitted with much longer shafts, as is mentioned above. During this era, the use of the ''Shuo'' (矟) was widespread among the footmen. The ''Shuo'' can be likened to a pike or simply a long spear.<ref>{{cite book|last1=郑|first1=轶伟|title=中国古代冷兵器|date=2007|publisher=上海文化出版社|location=上海|isbn=978-7-80740-220-6|page=20|ref=中国古代冷兵器2}}</ref>

[[File:Chinese pirate spear hmsL4.jpg|thumb|A later period ''qiang'']]
After the Tang dynasty, the popularity of the ''Mao'' declined and was replaced by the ''[[Qiang (spear)|Qiang]]'' (枪). The Tang dynasty divided the ''Qiang'' in four categories: "一曰漆枪， 二曰木枪， 三曰白杆枪， 四曰扑头枪。” Roughly translated the four categories are: Qi (a kind of wood) Spears, Wooden Spears, Bai Gan (A kind of wood) Spears and Pu Tou Qiang. The Qiang that were produced in the Song and Ming dynasties consisted of four major parts: Spearhead, Shaft, End Spike and Tassel. The types of Qiang that exist are many. Among the types there are cavalry Qiang that were the length of one ''zhang'' (approximately {{convert|320|cm|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=2|disp=or}}), Litte-Flower Spears (Xiao Hua Qiang 小花枪) that are the length of one person and their arm extended above his head, double hooked spears, single hooked spears, ringed spears and many more.<ref>{{cite book|last1=郑|first1=轶伟|title=中国古代冷兵器|date=2007|publisher=上海文化出版社|location=上海|isbn=978-7-80740-220-6|page=21|ref=中国古代冷兵器3}}</ref>

There is some confusion as to how to distinguish the ''Qiang'' from the ''Mao'', as they are obviously very similar. Some people say that a ''Mao'' is longer than a ''Qiang'', others say that the main difference is between the stiffness of the shaft, where the ''Qiang'' would be flexible and the ''Mao'' would be stiff. Scholars seem to lean toward the latter explanation more than the former. Because of the difference in the construction of the ''Mao'' and the ''Qiang'', the usage is also different, though there is no definitive answer as to what exactly the differences are between the ''Mao'' and the ''Qiang''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=郑|first1=轶伟|title=中国古代冷兵器|date=2007|publisher=上海文化出版社|location=上海|isbn=978-7-80740-220-6|page=22|ref=中国古代冷兵器3}}</ref>