Serpent spear

Serpent spear (Chinese: 蛇矛) is a class of ancient Chinese polearms. Its spearhead is wavy in shape, resembling the movement of a snake. The wavy spear blade also increases pulling resistance, enabling the disarming of an opponent’s weapon, and thus differs slightly in use from ordinary long spears.

In the fiction Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the general Zhang Fei’s weapon is called "1.8-zhang Serpent Spear" (丈八蛇矛), also known as the "1.8-zhang Steel-Piercing Spear" (丈八點鋼矛). Its exceptional length increases its reach and destructive power. Some works depict the spear tip as forked snake tongue shape; being difficult to thrust in, it further highlights Zhang Fei’s strength.

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