Emei piercers (simplified: 峨嵋刺, traditional: 峨嵋刺, pinyin: Éméi Cì)1 were stabbing weapons consisting of metal rods with sharp ends. Each piercer featured a ring worn on the middle finger, allowing the wielder to spin and perform elaborate movements during combat.
Overview
Emei piercers were designed for close-quarters combat, emphasising stabbing attacks and rapid spinning techniques made possible by the finger ring attachment. The ring enabled complex manoeuvres that could disorient opponents and create openings for precise strikes.
Description
The weapon consisted of a metal rod, typically 30–40 centimetres in length, with sharpened ends for piercing. A ring attached to the rod fit over the wielder’s middle finger, serving as both a grip and pivot point. This design allowed practitioners to execute spinning attacks, circular blocks, and intricate finger-based manipulations that would be impossible with conventional stabbing weapons.
Appearances
Mandarin Duck Blades
Chang Changfeng, one of the Four Xias of Taiyue, wielded a pair of Emei piercers during the attempted robbery of the Weixin Armed Escort convoy. He employed the weapons when confronting Lin Yulong, using spinning techniques to create elaborate movements. However, Lin Yulong’s superior martial skills allowed him to disarm Chang Changfeng, sending one of the piercers flying through the air to impale itself in a tree branch.
Notable practitioners
- Chang Changfeng — Wielded Emei piercers as his signature weapon (Mandarin Duck Blades)
Behind the scenes
Emei piercers are a real weapon type in Chinese martial arts, traditionally associated with Mount Emei in Sichuan province. The name references the mountain’s historical association with martial arts traditions, particularly those linked to Buddhist and Taoist practices.
The weapon’s design with finger rings allows for spinning and intricate techniques that would be impossible with conventional stabbing weapons. In wuxia fiction, Emei piercers are often depicted as elegant weapons requiring both dexterity and precision, making them popular choices for skilled fighters who favour finesse over brute force.
See also
- Four Xias of Taiyue — Faction whose member wielded this weapon
- Chang Changfeng — Practitioner of Emei piercers