Ge (weapon)

Ge (weapon)
Information
Weapon type:	Cutting weapon, polearm, ceremonial weapon
Designations:	Ge, Ko
Use:	weapon
Creation time:	about 1500-1027 BC Chr.
Region of origin / ; author:	China , gunsmiths
Distribution:	China
Overall length:	variable
Handle:	Wood
Lists on the subject

On the left is a ge with a filled decorative area in the rear part of the blade behind the handle. You can see a bird with a head comb, one of the animals that had a cultic-religious meaning.

The Ge , outdated Ko , ( Chinese 戈 , Pinyin gē , W.-G. ko , Jyutping gwo ¹ ) is a pole arm of China ( dagger - Halberd ). It was used in large numbers in the Qin Dynasty (221–207 BC).

description

The Ge consists of a bronze blade , the shape of which resembles a dagger. At the upper end the blade is wider and becomes narrower towards the place and is double-edged. The place is slightly rounded. Above the blade there is a tang which is used to attach it to a wooden handle. There are different versions that differ in size, shape and weight. In some designs, the blade is "L" shaped. On the sides, just above the blade, there are holes in some versions for additional attachment to the handle. Leather cords can be pulled through these holes to connect them to the shaft. The forerunner of this weapon consisted of a stone that was pointed and attached to a stick. You can use the Ge as a striking weapon, but also for cutting. It was ideal for knocking riders out of the saddle and when fighting foot troops the blade could be hooked behind the leg and used for a pulling cut. The angle at which the blade stands to the shaft is precisely calculated, otherwise the combination of the holding or cutting effect is not possible. Later forms were fitted with a second blade, placed vertically behind the first blade, and resembling the first in shape. This weapon was called "Ji". Ge are often decorated with the decorations typical of the Shang and Zhou periods, such as taotie , monoculi or kui dragons , and were used for ceremonial purposes and as grave goods .

The most fascinating fact is that these and other weapons such as swords and arrowheads were chrome-plated at that time , something that was only achieved in Europe in 1920. According to modern measurements, the chrome layer was ten to 15 micrometers thick. The blades that were found as grave goods were hardly corroded after more than 2000 years . Swords that were found were still sharp. The Ge as well as other weapons in mass production manufactured. The weapons found had the same weight and composition. There are different versions that differ in shape and size.

The Ge in a historical context

The Ge was one of the earliest Chinese bronze weapons and the dominant weapon of the Shang, Zhou, and Qin periods . In addition to its practical use as a military device, it was also used as a cult object and was often given in large numbers to the buried in the afterlife , especially as a grave object . Textual sources as well as countless archaeological findings from the mentioned epochs testify to this.

Shiji , 23rd chapter / scroll (book about the rites):

古者之兵，戈矛弓矢而已，然而敵國不待試而詘。

The soldiers in the old days were armed with ge , spears, bows and arrows and nothing else. When it was [still] so, hostile countries dared not attempt any [armed conflict] and stopped.

Shangshu , Chapter 4 / Scroll (Book on the Zhou; Section: The Speech of Mu):

王曰：「嗟！我友邦冢君、御事、司徒、司馬、司空，亞旅、師氏，，千夫長、百夫長，及庸，蜀、羌、髳、微、盧、彭、濮人。稱爾戈，比爾干，立爾矛，予其誓。」

The king said: "Oh, you friends of the princes of the countries allied with me, you civil servants - the executives, military officials, building officials and their subordinates - you generals and troop leaders of the thousands and hundreds and you men from Yong, Shu, Qiang, Mao, Wei , Lu Peng and Pu: stretches your ge , lined up your shields up, direct your spears I want to make a speech "!

literature

Zhengyuan Ma, Hsio-yen Shih: Ancient Chinese bronzes. Oxford University Press, 1986, pp. 69, 73, 133, ISBN 978-0-19-583795-7 .
Wangheng Chen: Chinese bronzes: ferocious beauty. Asiapac Books Pte Ltd, 2001, page 173, ISBN 978-981-229-020-5 .
Yang Jwing-Ming, Jwing-Ming Yang, James C. O'Leary: Ancient Chinese weapons: a martial artist's guide. YMAA Publication Center Inc, 1999, pages 3, 4, 38, 39, 123, 139, ISBN 978-1-886969-67-4 .

Web links

Kleine Ge in the Young Museum ( Memento from June 18, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
Große Ge in the Young Museum ( Memento from January 4, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
Complete Ge at Tinypic ( Memento from December 23, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
Various Ge shapes at Christie's auctions, London ( April 12, 2016 memento on the Internet Archive )
Ko in the Young Museum ( Memento from January 23, 2016 in the Internet Archive )

Individual evidence

↑ Zhongyi Yuan, Yuan Zhongiy, 中國旅遊出版社, Terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang , Verlag 中國旅遊出版社, 1993, page 33 ISBN 978-7-5032-0355-8
↑ Ge or Ko in the Pitt Rivers Museum, available online, (English, accessed on December 7, 2010) ( Memento from October 23, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
↑ Aedeen Cremin, Archaeologica: The World's Most Significant Sites and Cultural Treasures , published by Frances Lincoln Ltd, 2007, page 257, ISBN 978-0-7112-2822-1
↑ http://ctext.org/shiji/li-shu
↑ http://ctext.org/shang-shu/speech-at-mu

[1] Zhongyi Yuan, Yuan Zhongiy, 中國旅遊出版社, Terracotta army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang , Verlag 中國旅遊出版社, 1993, page 33 ISBN 978-7-5032-0355-8

[2] Ge or Ko in the Pitt Rivers Museum, available online, (English, accessed on December 7, 2010) ( Memento from October 23, 2012 in the Internet Archive )

[3] Aedeen Cremin, Archaeologica: The World's Most Significant Sites and Cultural Treasures , published by Frances Lincoln Ltd, 2007, page 257, ISBN 978-0-7112-2822-1

[4] ttp://ctext.org/shiji/li-shu

[5] ttp://ctext.org/shang-shu/speech-at-mu