Gun (staff)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (May 2007)

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007)

This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

The Chinese word Gun (Chinese: 棍; pinyin: gùn) refers to a long Chinese staff weapon used in Chinese martial arts. It is known as one of the four major weapons, along with the Qiang (spear), Dao (sabre), and the Jian (sword), called in this group "The Grandfather of all Weapons".

[edit] Variants

There are various kinds of gun (pronounced g-oo-en), and they include the following:

• Monkey Staff (Chinese: 猴棍; pinyin: hóugùn)
• Biangan (Chinese: 鞭杆; pinyin: biāngān)
• Mad Demon Staff (simplified Chinese: 疯魔棍; traditional Chinese: 瘋魔棍; pinyin: fēngmó gùn)
• Tianqi Staff (simplified Chinese: 天齐棍; traditional Chinese: 天齊棍; pinyin: tiānqí gùn)
• Staff of Five Tigers and Goat Herds (simplified Chinese: {{{s}}}; traditional Chinese: {{{t}}}; pinyin: wǔ hǔ qún yáng gùn)
• Nunchaku (simplified Chinese: 二节棍; traditional Chinese: 雙節棍; pinyin: èrjié gùn; literally "two section staff")
• Taiji Staff of Thirteen (simplified Chinese: 太极十三秆; traditional Chinese: 太極十三杆; pinyin: tàijí shísān gǎn)
• Taiji Quarterstaff (simplified Chinese: 太极大秆; traditional Chinese: 太極大杆; pinyin: tàijí dà gǎn)
• Taiji Staff (simplified Chinese: 太极棍; traditional Chinese: 太極棍; pinyin: tàijí gùn)
• Staff of Eight Fairies (Chinese: 八仙棍; pinyin: bāxiān gùn)
• Bagua Seven Star Rod (Chinese: 八卦七星竿; pinyin: bāguà qīxīng gān)
• Flail (simplified Chinese: 梿枷; traditional Chinese: 槤枷; pinyin: liánjiā)

The types of gun normally used nowadays for exercises and competitions are the bailangan (simplified Chinese: 白栏杆; traditional Chinese: 白欄杆; pinyin: bái lángān) and the nangun (Chinese: 南棍; pinyin: nángùn).

Traditionally, the gun is made out of a material called wax wood, rather than bamboo as many people might think. Wax wood is strong, yet flexible, making it ideal as a material for the gun. The gun is fashioned with one thick end as the base and a thinner end near the tip, and is cut to be about the same height as the user. Today, more modern versions may be purchased made with metal and rubber parts.

[edit] See also

• Chinese martial arts
• Ji, halberd
• Nangun, Southern staff
• Three section staff
• Two Section Staff
• Gun for firearms
• Quarterstaff
• Bō, Japanese staff
• Bâton français, French staff
• Jogo do Pau, Portuguese staff

[edit] External links

• Some Basic Staff Tutorials

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gun (staff)

v • d • e Types of Chinese weapons Short Swords Dadao 大刀 · Dao 刀 · Hudie Shuangdao (Butterfly Sword) 蝴蝶雙刀 · Jian 劍 · Liuyedao 柳葉刀 · Nandao 南刀 · Niuweidao 牛尾刀 · Piandao 片刀 · Yanmaodao 雁毛刀 Long Swords Changdao 長刀 · Miao Dao 苗刀 · Wodao 倭刀 · Zhanmadao 斬馬刀 Polearms Guandao 關刀 · Ge (Dagger-Axe) 戈 · Gun 棍 · Ji 戟 · Nangun 南棍 · Podao 朴刀 · Qiang 槍 · Yueya Chan (Monk's Spade) 月牙鏟 Roped/Chained Liuxing Chui (Meteor Hammer) 流星錘 · Sheng Biao (Rope Dart) 繩鏢 · Jiujie bian (nine section whip) 九節鞭 · Sanjie Gun 三節棍 · Shuangjie Gun 雙節棍 Projectile Huochong 火銃 · Huoqiang 火槍 · Nu 弩 · Shouchong 手銃 · Tu Huo Qiang 突火槍 · Zhuge Nu 諸葛弩 Handheld Chui 錘 · Emeici 峨嵋刺 · Lujiao Dao (Deer Horn Knives) 鹿角刀 · Hook Sword 鉤 · Ji Lian 鷄鐮 · Fenghuo Lun 風火輪

Contemporary Wushu v • d • e
Main Taolu Events	Sparring
Changquan • Dao • Qiang • Jian • Gun	Sanda
Nanquan • Nandao • Nangun	Related
Taijiquan • Taijijian	International Wushu Federation
	World Wushu Championships