Language: Mandarin Chinese
Description
The hǔqiāngyíng（虎槍營）or "Tiger Spear Division" was set up in the 23rd year of Kangxi (1677). They were the best horseback archers drawn from the Eight Banners Vanguard, Guard Division, and Firearms Division. They served as imperial guards while the emperor was in the imperial hunting grounds of Mulan, an area full of wild animals such as bears and the large Siberian tiger.
Their spear, the hǔqiāng（虎槍）or "tiger spear" was a traditional Manchu hunting spear, with its two stoppers to prevent the spear from penetrating so deep that the animal could reach the wielder. They are related to Siberian large game hunting spears with the same feature.
Top left: Left a member of a Qing imperial hunting party with a tiger spear worn through his belt.
Top right: the Qianlong emperor and his tiger spearmen hunting tiger.
Bottom left: Left a magnificent antique tiger spear I photographed in the Palace Museum in Beijing, with sunken panels inspired by Indian push daggers.
Bottom right: A more standard antique tiger spear I photographed in the Beijing military museum in 2008.
