Dagger-axe

Gē with engraved decoration of a tiger, Warring States period (475–221 BC)
Eastern Zhou bronze dagger-axe
Dagger-axes and variants
Two dagger-axes (left), alongside four jis

The dagger-axe (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade–Giles: ko) is a type of polearm that was in use from the Longshan culture until the Han dynasty in China.[1] It consists of a dagger-shaped blade, mounted by its tang to a perpendicular wooden shaft. The earliest dagger-axe blades were made of stone. Later versions used bronze. Jade versions were also made for ceremonial use. There is a variant type with a divided two-part head, consisting of the usual straight blade and a scythe-like blade.

  1. ^ John S. Major, Constance A. Cook (2016). Ancient China A History. Taylor and Francis. p. 48. ISBN 9781317503668.