Gyongdang
Encyclopedia
Gyeongdang a Korean martial art
consist of 24 military arts. The 24 military arts come from the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. Korea
who had had a peaceful life for 200 years was defeated quickly by the well trained Japanese troops. With the help of some elite martial artists from China and drawing upon traditional Korean martial artists as well as acquire text books of Japanese swordsmanship, new kinds of Korean martial arts started developing. Two scholars, Park Je-Ga and Yi Deok-Mu, published a military arts book containing 24 military arts (the name of book is Mu Ye Do Bo Tong Ji). These 24 military arts were a requirement for regular army troops.
The 24 military arts are:
Jangchang
(long spear): The Jangchang is a 5 feet (1.5 m) spear made from the wood of the yew tree. It can also be made from a similarly soft wood, including bamboo in the right climate. It was considered the most effective conventional weapon on the battlefield due to its flexibility and length. The Jangchang was widely used in the Siege of Pyeongyang (1593)
during the Imjin War.
Jukjangchang
(long bamboo spear): The Jukjangchang is a 20 feet (6.1 m) spear made of bamboo and tipped with a four inch (102 mm) long blade. The primary advantage of the Jukjangchang on the battlefield was its length and sharp blade, making it suitable for fighting many enemies simultaneously.
Gichang
(flag spear): The Gichang is a flag spear, a 9 feet (2.7 m) staff with a nine inch long blade at the end. The colored flag, attached at the end of the spear just below the blade, was used to create confusion in battle. Troops surrounded the enemy and waved the flags vigorously during an attack. It was also used to encourage the troops, like a rallying cry, in battle. The strength of the Gichang was its ability to make deceptive attacks and sudden directional changes to attack the center of the enemy's line.
Dangpa
(triple tip spear): The Dangpa is a triple-bladed spear, sometimes called a trident. It is between seven feet, six inches (152 mm) and eighteen feet long and has either an iron or wooden tip. The dangpa was a fundamental defensive weapon that was sometimes used to launch fire at enemy troops.
Nangseon
(multiple tip bamboo spear): The Nangseon is a 15 feet (4.6 m) spear made of either bamboo or iron. It has nine to eleven branches extending out from the main shaft, each studded with small metal hooks. This deadly weapon was invented by Chuk Kye-kwang (Qi Jiguang
) during the 1592 war with Japan.
Ssangsudo (long sword): The Ssangsudo is a 6 in 5 in (1.96 m) sword from Japan. It is so powerful that it can cut or break another sword upon striking it. Japanese gunmen also used this sword as a sidearm for close range combat. The Ssangsudo is also known as the Jangdo, Yonggeom or Pyonggeom.
Yedo (short sword): The Yedo is a short sword, four feet four inches in length. It was used for training soldiers in swordsmanship.
Waegeom (Japanese sword): Japanese swordsmanship was clearly recognized as superior to that of the sword techniques of China or Joseon
in the 16th century, so King Sukjong ordered Kim Che-gun to acquire the techniques and text books of the Japanese. Four styles of 16th century Japan are recorded in the Waegeom section of the Muyedobotongji
: Toyu Ryu, Woonkwang Ryu, Chunryu Ryu, and Ryupee Ryu.
Gyojeon (combat engagement): Gyojeon is a Japanese method of practicing swordsmanship with a training partner. In the original Japanese text book, techniques were documented with a double bladed sword, but Joseon soldiers practiced with the single bladed sword to prevent injury.
Jedok geom
(admiral's sword): Jedokgeom, literally translated as the Admiral's sword, is a method of sword combat developed by Chinese Admiral Yi Yu-song (Li Rusong
). Admiral Yi was a descendant of Korean lineage and was stationed in Korea during King Sinjong's reign. The Jedokgeom was characterized by spinning movements, which were used to break free when a soldier was encircled on the battlefield.
Bonguk geom
(Silla
Kingdom sword): The Bonguk geom is a native Joseon sword style as proven by its mention in the legend of Hwang-chang, a Silla Hwarang warrior. There is evidence that both Japan and China adapted some of the techniques of the Bonguk geom.
Ssanggeom (a pair of swords): The Ssanggeom are single-bladed twin swords of any length (most commonly short swords, like the Yo do). The original swords were two feet, ten inches (254 mm) long, but in later years, there was not a specific type of sword prescribed for practice. The Ssanggeom were used in such a way, that one sword could be used to block an opponent's attack while the other was used to attack with a counter-strike.
Woldo
(crescent sword): The Woldo is a 9 feet (2.7 m) crescent sword. Its blade is moon shaped, with a small blade projecting below the main blade. The smaller blade has a feather tied to it. Although a fearsome looking weapon, it was used primarily for practice among infantry soldiers, having been considered too weak for use in battle.
Hyeopdo
(spear sword): The Hyeopdo is a spear sword with a 3 foot (0.9144 m) handle. It resembles the Woldo but with a single, thinner blade. It was rarely used in battle, because it was considered, like the Woldo, to be too weak.
Deungpae
(a sword and wisteria-shield): The Deungpae is the sword and shield art. The sword, used for attacking, was primarily a short sword, such as the Yo Do. The shield was three feet seven inches in diameter and was most commonly made of woven wisteria branches (in the south) or willow branches wrapped in leather (in the north). It was used by the infantry to defend against a variety of weapons including the dart spear and bird gun.
Gwonbeop (fist fighting method): Gwonbeop is the only empty-handed fighting method of the twenty-four. It was practiced as both an empty handed self-defense skill and as preparation for learning the more complicated sword arts. There were both external and internal styles of practice.
Gonbang (a long club with a small edge): The Gonbang is a 7 feet (2.1 m) stick with a 2 inches (50.8 mm) duck bill–shaped blade at the end. It was used to stab (like a spear) or strike (like a stick) enemies and was especially effective against the Deungpae.
Pyeongon
(flail method): The Pyeongon is a flail, an 8 feet (2.4 m) staff with a 2 foot (0.6096 m) club attached to the end of it by a chain or metal ring. The Pyeongon looks similar to a nunchaku
except that one segment is much longer than the other whereas the nunchaku's sticks are equal in length. It was often used to club enemies attempting to scale the walls of a castle or fortress.
Gichang (spear fighting on horseback): Gichang is the art of using the Jangchang (long spear) on horseback. The spear is fifteen feet long and the cavalry troops often practiced for combat by thrusting the spear into rice straw dummies or participating in duels. This Gichang has different Hanja
in the name than the aforementioned.
Masang Ssanggeom (twin swords on horseback): Masang Ssanggeom is the use of the twin swords on horseback. Dandos, short swords carried as side arms, were used. The famous warrior, Jin An, used 7 feet (2.1 m) swords in combat on horseback but he was an exception.
Masang Woldo (crescent sword on horseback): Masang Woldo is the use of the crescent sword on horseback. In the 16th century war with the Japanese, the Masang Woldo was instrumental in repelling the Japanese invaders. After the war King Sinjong built a monument in Seoul in memory of General Gwan Woo who was credited with the first use of the Woldo.
Masang Pyeongon (flail method on horseback): The Pyeongon used on horseback has a longer chain than that used by the infantry, allowing the mounted combatant to strike enemies on the ground. The stick at the end of the chain is studded with iron nails or other sharp protrusions to inflict fatal wounds on impact.
Gyeokgu (ball game on horseback): Gyeokgu is a game similar to polo. Contestants on horseback use long handled mallets to strike a small leather ball. It was used to train soldiers and horses for mounted combat and to test the skills of the riders. Gyeokgu games were often surrounded by a great deal of ceremony and attended by royalty.
Masang Jae (horsemanship): Masang Jae is a system of acrobatic techniques on horseback. The skills were primarily used to deceive the enemy in combat by hiding the body under the horse or playing dead. Other skills were used to allow the rider to attack the enemy, such as standing on the saddle to shoot the enemy with the three muzzle gun. The techniques were originated by Suk Ho-ui who was said to be as agile as a monkey riding a horse.
Korean martial arts
Korean martial arts are the martial arts that originated from Korea. Some well known Korean martial arts are hapkido, kuk sool won, and taekwondo. There has also been a revival of Korean sword arts as well as knife fighting and archery...
consist of 24 military arts. The 24 military arts come from the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
who had had a peaceful life for 200 years was defeated quickly by the well trained Japanese troops. With the help of some elite martial artists from China and drawing upon traditional Korean martial artists as well as acquire text books of Japanese swordsmanship, new kinds of Korean martial arts started developing. Two scholars, Park Je-Ga and Yi Deok-Mu, published a military arts book containing 24 military arts (the name of book is Mu Ye Do Bo Tong Ji). These 24 military arts were a requirement for regular army troops.
The 24 military arts are:
Jangchang
Jangchang
The Jangchang, literally long spear, is a Korean weapon first described in the martial manual Muyejebo from the 16th century. The weapon was preferably made from the yew tree, but other wood could be used as well, like wood from the oaktree and chestnut....
(long spear): The Jangchang is a 5 feet (1.5 m) spear made from the wood of the yew tree. It can also be made from a similarly soft wood, including bamboo in the right climate. It was considered the most effective conventional weapon on the battlefield due to its flexibility and length. The Jangchang was widely used in the Siege of Pyeongyang (1593)
Siege of Pyeongyang (1593)
The Siege of Pyongyang was a battle fought between the Ming-Korea alliance and Japanese forces during Japanese invasions of Korea.On December 25, 1592, the Ming army assembled by the administrator Song Yingchang and led by the general Li Rusong crossed the Yalu river and after a number of small...
during the Imjin War.
Jukjangchang
Jukjangchang
The jukjangchang, literally bamboo long spear, is the name of Korean weapon which is first mentioned in the Muyesinbo . As the name suggests, the spear was made from bamboo and quite long, about 4.2 meters. Sometimes the jukjangchang would be made of either whole bamboo stalk or pieces of bamboo...
(long bamboo spear): The Jukjangchang is a 20 feet (6.1 m) spear made of bamboo and tipped with a four inch (102 mm) long blade. The primary advantage of the Jukjangchang on the battlefield was its length and sharp blade, making it suitable for fighting many enemies simultaneously.
Gichang
Gichang
The Gichang 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 ....
(flag spear): The Gichang is a flag spear, a 9 feet (2.7 m) staff with a nine inch long blade at the end. The colored flag, attached at the end of the spear just below the blade, was used to create confusion in battle. Troops surrounded the enemy and waved the flags vigorously during an attack. It was also used to encourage the troops, like a rallying cry, in battle. The strength of the Gichang was its ability to make deceptive attacks and sudden directional changes to attack the center of the enemy's line.
Dangpa
Dangpa
Dangpa is the Korean name for a three-pronged spear first described in the Muyejebo, a 16th century martial arts manual from the Joseon Dynasty.-Types:...
(triple tip spear): The Dangpa is a triple-bladed spear, sometimes called a trident. It is between seven feet, six inches (152 mm) and eighteen feet long and has either an iron or wooden tip. The dangpa was a fundamental defensive weapon that was sometimes used to launch fire at enemy troops.
Nangseon
Nangseon
The nangseon was a branched spear with many thorns attached to the branches. It is also called 'multi tip spear'. The blades could be dipped in poison. The nangseon was a perfect weapon for defense. It would be difficult for the opponent to get near the person holding the nangseon without getting...
(multiple tip bamboo spear): The Nangseon is a 15 feet (4.6 m) spear made of either bamboo or iron. It has nine to eleven branches extending out from the main shaft, each studded with small metal hooks. This deadly weapon was invented by Chuk Kye-kwang (Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang
Qi Jiguang was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was best remembered for his courage and leadership in the fight against Japanese pirates along the east coast of China, as well as his reinforcement work on the Great Wall of China.-Early life:Qi Jiguang was...
) during the 1592 war with Japan.
Ssangsudo (long sword): The Ssangsudo is a 6 in 5 in (1.96 m) sword from Japan. It is so powerful that it can cut or break another sword upon striking it. Japanese gunmen also used this sword as a sidearm for close range combat. The Ssangsudo is also known as the Jangdo, Yonggeom or Pyonggeom.
Yedo (short sword): The Yedo is a short sword, four feet four inches in length. It was used for training soldiers in swordsmanship.
Waegeom (Japanese sword): Japanese swordsmanship was clearly recognized as superior to that of the sword techniques of China or Joseon
Joseon
Joseon, Chosŏn, Choseon or Chosun are English spellings of the Korean *word for "Korea". It may refer to:*Korea*Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom, from 2333 BC to 108 BC.*Joseon Dynasty of Korea, from AD 1392 to 1910....
in the 16th century, so King Sukjong ordered Kim Che-gun to acquire the techniques and text books of the Japanese. Four styles of 16th century Japan are recorded in the Waegeom section of the Muyedobotongji
Muyedobotongji
In 1790, King Jeongjo of Korea commissioned a book called the Muyedobotongji which was an illustrated manual of Korean martial arts. This book, written by Yi Deokmu and Pak Jega , described in detail Korea's martial arts of which an unarmed combat style of kicking and punching is extensively...
: Toyu Ryu, Woonkwang Ryu, Chunryu Ryu, and Ryupee Ryu.
Gyojeon (combat engagement): Gyojeon is a Japanese method of practicing swordsmanship with a training partner. In the original Japanese text book, techniques were documented with a double bladed sword, but Joseon soldiers practiced with the single bladed sword to prevent injury.
Jedok geom
Jedok geom
Jedok geom or Admiral sword or Commander sword is the name of sword-skill introduced by the Chinese commander Li Rusong who fought during the Imjin waeran on Korea's side against the Japanese. Li Rusong was of Korean descent.-Technique:...
(admiral's sword): Jedokgeom, literally translated as the Admiral's sword, is a method of sword combat developed by Chinese Admiral Yi Yu-song (Li Rusong
Li Rusong
Li Ru-song was a Chinese general of Ming empire who is from the town of Tieling , LiaoDong Li Ru-song (1549–1598) was a Chinese general of Ming empire who is from the town of Tieling (Chinese:鐵嶺衛), LiaoDong Li Ru-song (1549–1598) was a Chinese general of Ming empire who is from the town of...
). Admiral Yi was a descendant of Korean lineage and was stationed in Korea during King Sinjong's reign. The Jedokgeom was characterized by spinning movements, which were used to break free when a soldier was encircled on the battlefield.
Bonguk geom
Bonguk geom
The Korean word Bonguk geom refers to both a sword and a sword skill which are said to have originated from the sword skills of the Hwarang from the Silla Dynasty. This is why the sword is also called Silla sword or singeom...
(Silla
Silla
Silla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
Kingdom sword): The Bonguk geom is a native Joseon sword style as proven by its mention in the legend of Hwang-chang, a Silla Hwarang warrior. There is evidence that both Japan and China adapted some of the techniques of the Bonguk geom.
Ssanggeom (a pair of swords): The Ssanggeom are single-bladed twin swords of any length (most commonly short swords, like the Yo do). The original swords were two feet, ten inches (254 mm) long, but in later years, there was not a specific type of sword prescribed for practice. The Ssanggeom were used in such a way, that one sword could be used to block an opponent's attack while the other was used to attack with a counter-strike.
Woldo
Woldo
The Woldo , was a Korean pole weapon that closely resembled the Chinese guandao , though proportionally smaller. It was so named because of its curved blade...
(crescent sword): The Woldo is a 9 feet (2.7 m) crescent sword. Its blade is moon shaped, with a small blade projecting below the main blade. The smaller blade has a feather tied to it. Although a fearsome looking weapon, it was used primarily for practice among infantry soldiers, having been considered too weak for use in battle.
Hyeopdo
Hyeopdo
The Hyeopdo was a pole weapon used in Korea. It is very similar to the Japanese naginata. It was also called micheomdo , which could be translated as 'eyebrow sword' because the curved blade resembled an eyebrow...
(spear sword): The Hyeopdo is a spear sword with a 3 foot (0.9144 m) handle. It resembles the Woldo but with a single, thinner blade. It was rarely used in battle, because it was considered, like the Woldo, to be too weak.
Deungpae
Deungpae
The Deungpae is a shield made of wisteria and bamboo which was used by the military of the Joseon Dynasty. The earliest Korean description can be found in the Muyejebo.-Use:...
(a sword and wisteria-shield): The Deungpae is the sword and shield art. The sword, used for attacking, was primarily a short sword, such as the Yo Do. The shield was three feet seven inches in diameter and was most commonly made of woven wisteria branches (in the south) or willow branches wrapped in leather (in the north). It was used by the infantry to defend against a variety of weapons including the dart spear and bird gun.
Gwonbeop (fist fighting method): Gwonbeop is the only empty-handed fighting method of the twenty-four. It was practiced as both an empty handed self-defense skill and as preparation for learning the more complicated sword arts. There were both external and internal styles of practice.
Gonbang (a long club with a small edge): The Gonbang is a 7 feet (2.1 m) stick with a 2 inches (50.8 mm) duck bill–shaped blade at the end. It was used to stab (like a spear) or strike (like a stick) enemies and was especially effective against the Deungpae.
Pyeongon
Pyeongon
The pyeongon is a nunchaku-like weapon used by the Joseon army and is first mentioned in a martial arts manual called Muyesinbo. The weapon was inspired by the farmer's flail to thresh rice with. In the west it mostly known as a Two Section Staff....
(flail method): The Pyeongon is a flail, an 8 feet (2.4 m) staff with a 2 foot (0.6096 m) club attached to the end of it by a chain or metal ring. The Pyeongon looks similar to a nunchaku
Nunchaku
is a traditional Okinawan weapon consisting of two sticks connected at their ends with a short chain or rope.-Etymology:The Japanese word nunchaku is the Kun'yomi reading of the Kanji term for a traditional Chinese two section staff....
except that one segment is much longer than the other whereas the nunchaku's sticks are equal in length. It was often used to club enemies attempting to scale the walls of a castle or fortress.
Gichang (spear fighting on horseback): Gichang is the art of using the Jangchang (long spear) on horseback. The spear is fifteen feet long and the cavalry troops often practiced for combat by thrusting the spear into rice straw dummies or participating in duels. This Gichang has different Hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
in the name than the aforementioned.
Masang Ssanggeom (twin swords on horseback): Masang Ssanggeom is the use of the twin swords on horseback. Dandos, short swords carried as side arms, were used. The famous warrior, Jin An, used 7 feet (2.1 m) swords in combat on horseback but he was an exception.
Masang Woldo (crescent sword on horseback): Masang Woldo is the use of the crescent sword on horseback. In the 16th century war with the Japanese, the Masang Woldo was instrumental in repelling the Japanese invaders. After the war King Sinjong built a monument in Seoul in memory of General Gwan Woo who was credited with the first use of the Woldo.
Masang Pyeongon (flail method on horseback): The Pyeongon used on horseback has a longer chain than that used by the infantry, allowing the mounted combatant to strike enemies on the ground. The stick at the end of the chain is studded with iron nails or other sharp protrusions to inflict fatal wounds on impact.
Gyeokgu (ball game on horseback): Gyeokgu is a game similar to polo. Contestants on horseback use long handled mallets to strike a small leather ball. It was used to train soldiers and horses for mounted combat and to test the skills of the riders. Gyeokgu games were often surrounded by a great deal of ceremony and attended by royalty.
Masang Jae (horsemanship): Masang Jae is a system of acrobatic techniques on horseback. The skills were primarily used to deceive the enemy in combat by hiding the body under the horse or playing dead. Other skills were used to allow the rider to attack the enemy, such as standing on the saddle to shoot the enemy with the three muzzle gun. The techniques were originated by Suk Ho-ui who was said to be as agile as a monkey riding a horse.