HAN JI - 漢卜字鋼戟

Ji (Halberd) was the main battle weapon from the Warring States to the Three Kingdom period (475 BC - 280 AD).  Ji originated as a bronze combo pole-arm, a dagger axe blade for stabbing and hooking tied by straps on the side of a pole and a spear head mounted on the tip of the pole.  With the function of a dagger axe and spear combined, Ji can be use for thrusting, stabbing, blocking and hooking.  Ji was used on chariots, on horseback and on foot.  Ji was the most sophisticated and powerful pole weapon for almost 800 years and the number of Ji equipped fighting men was a measurement of the power of a state.

With the advancement in iron and steel smithing, a new single piece design known as "T shaped Ji" eventually replaced the earlier two piece bronze Ji in the Han Dynasty. 

For over 2000 years, the design of the "T shaped Ji" was lost.  Even less than 100 years ago at the early days of the 20th century, scholar still debate what a Ji would look like.  And for the longest time, a Song Dynasty weapon known as the Ji Dao was mistakenly identified as the Ji.

Not until archeology discoveries in the last 50 years did the real Han Ji reemerged from the the fog of history.

Here we present two high fidelity recreation of Han Dynasty "T shaped Ji".  Each Ji  is hand forged and welded with pattern steel to recreate the precision machine like design of the original.  Every notch, every holes, every edge is functional and Han Ji is one ancient engineering marvel.

Battalion Ji
Battalion Ji is a 1:1 replica of a Ji discovered in the royal tomb of the King of Qi.  Ji for battalion formation fighting on the battle field has a smaller Ji blade mount on a longer Ji shaft.  The original Ji was mount on a  2.7 meters long (8' 10 ") Ji shaft. 

Ji Blade

Hand forged and welded with 

1065 / T9 pattern steel

Length: 37.0 cm (14.56") 

Width: 17.0  cm (6.69")

Thickness:  4 mm

Weight : 285 g (10.0 oz)

Ji Shaft caps

Cross section in almond shape with 

one flat side and one pointed side

Brass top cap approx. 26 mm x 30 mm 

Brass base cap approx. 34 mm x 34 mm

Ji Shaft (Tapered)

Length: 2.7 m (8' 10")

Combat Ji

Combat Ji is a 1:1 replica of a Ji discovered in the royal tomb of the King of Liang. Ji for close quarter fighting or duels has a bigger Ji blade mount on a shorter Ji shaft. The original Ji was mount on a 2.3 meters ( 7' 6.55"  ) Ji shaft. 

Ji Blade

Hand forged and welded with 

1065 / T9 pattern steel

Length: 49.5 cm (19.49") 

Width: 22.0  cm (8.66")

Thickness:  4 mm

Weight : 359 g (12.66 oz)

Ji Shaft caps

Cross section in almond shape with 

one flat side and one pointed side

Brass top cap approx. 26 mm x 30 mm 

Brass base cap approx. 34 mm x 34 mm

Ji Shaft (Tapered)

Length: 2.3 m (7' 6.55")

Folded pattern steel: 

1060 carbon steel + T8 tungsten-vanadium high-speed tool steel.

1060 carbon steel

Element % 

Carbon            0.55-0.660    

Manganese     0.60-0.90           

Phosphorus     <=0.040         

Sulfur               <=0.050T9 

tungsten-vanadium high-speed tool steel.

Element %                      

Carbon            0.75-0.84

Silicon              <=0.35           

Manganese     <=0.40           

Phosphorus     <=0.035         

Sulfur               <=0.030

Tungsten         <= 0.30

Vanadium       <= 0.02        

Chromium       <=0.25           

Nickel               <=0.20 

Copper            <=0.25

Molybdenum  <= 0.20

Due to the high cost of shipping the over 2 meters Ji Shaft, we offer a hardware only set that includes everything except the Ji Shaft:

Ji Blade

Ji Shaft top and base caps 

Protective blade cover

Leather binding cord

We offer the full Ji set shipped via sea route to US based customers.

Tapered pole with dimensions that can be adapted for the Han Ji

USA

RED OAK SINGLE TAPER LONG POLE WING TSUN STAFF 8'

Europe

Wing Chun Pole 275cm (Dragon Pole) - Merbau Wood