The three-section staff, triple staff, three-part staff, originally sanjiegun (, or ) or sansetsukon in Japanese, is a Chinese
flail weapon that consists of three wooden or metal staffs connected by metal rings or rope. The weapon is also known as 蟠龍棍 ''panlong gun'', "coiling dragon staff". A more complicated version of the
two section staff
The two-section staff or Changxiaobang () is a versatile weapon which originated in China from the ancient Shaolin temple and Shaolin martial arts. It is a flail-type weapon which consists of a long staff with a shorter rod attached by a chain, to ...
, the staves can be spun to gather momentum resulting in a powerful strike, or their articulation can be used to strike over or around a
shield
A shield is a piece of personal armour held in the hand, which may or may not be strapped to the wrist or forearm. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry or projectiles such as arrows, by means of ...
or other defense.
History and use
Although there is no historical evidence to support it, a popular modern-day legend states the weapon was made famous by
Zhao Kuangyin, the first Emperor of the
Song Dynasty
The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the res ...
(960 AD).
Historically made of
white oak
The genus ''Quercus'' contains about 500 species, some of which are listed here. The genus, as is the case with many large genera, is divided into subgenera and sections. Traditionally, the genus ''Quercus'' was divided into the two subgenera ' ...
,
waxwood, or
Chinese red maple, modern staves are constructed from rattan, bamboo, various hardwoods or aluminum. For optimum fit, each of the three sticks should be about the length of the combatant's arm and have a combined diameter that easily fits in the hand . These are connected by chains of rings ; modern versions use ball-and-socket joints.
The total length of the weapon is about the same as the Chinese staff (the
gùn), and greater than that of the single staff (known in Japanese as a
bō
A ''bō'' (棒: ぼう), ''bong'' (Korean), ''pang'' (Cantonese), ''bang'' (Mandarin), or ''kun'' (Okinawan) is a staff weapon used in Okinawa. ''Bō'' are typically around and used in Okinawan martial arts, while being adopted into Japanese ar ...
). The larger size of a three-section staff allows for an increased reach compared to the staff. Some of the techniques are similar to that of the staff, so spinning moves over the head and behind the back, such as helicopter spins and neck rolls, can be practised with a regular staff. Other weapon techniques the three-section staff makes use of are similar to that of the pair of sticks used in
escrima, a simple short chain, a whip, or the two-section staff. It is therefore advantageous for the user to have some familiarity with these weapons. The three-section staff has the advantage of being usable as a long-range (whip), mid-range (flail or two section staff) or a short-range (pair of escrima) weapon. Acting as an extension of the user's arms, the three-section staff can strike, flail, block, choke, trap, disarm and whip, often with different sections of the staff acting at the same time. The chains or binding ropes of the staff are used to entangle an opponent and their weapons. While it has three ranges, the three-section staff is best used as a short range weapon against longer-ranged weapons. In this configuration, a skilled practitioner can nearly simultaneously block an opponent's strike, trap his or her weapon, and disarm them while executing their own strike with the free end of the staff.
While some martial artists have held that the three-section staff was used on the battlefield to entangle horses' legs or to strike around shields, the complexity of the weapon and the length, difficulty of use, lack of sharp tips or edges and other advantages of such traditional battlefield weapons as
spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fasten ...
s,
polearms (such as the ''
yan yue dao''),
swords and so forth meant that the triple staff was more likely restricted to personal self-defense.
One significant weakness of chained weapons in general is a lack of control. At long and intermediate ranges, the strike of one ends not upon impact but on recoil; even the greatest martial arts masters must use valuable time regaining control of their weapon. Due to the length of the staff sections relative to the length of joining chains, the weapon suffers less from a lack of control than other more flexible chain weapons. In short range mode there are no control issues because the end sections are firmly in hand, and the middle section is unable to move independently. Training with the three-section staff is particularly difficult because it is a multi-mode complex weapon, and is not recommended for beginners. Foam covered versions are now sold to aid in training, but the blows received from the ends on recoil are a relatively rare risk. Instead, the greater danger is the painful impact of the chains or metal parts of the staff that the chains are anchored to upon the hands of the user. This occurs when the staff is improperly used in short range mode and the relative positions of staff sections are rapidly changed, serving as a strong deterrent to casual users. However, motivated self teachers will find the three-section staff and other flexible weapons to be the easiest to learn effectively. This is because flexible weapons provide instant feedback to the user. When used improperly, flexible weapons will either impact upon targets other than those desired, put the user off balance, injure the user, or otherwise be obviously out of control.
To experience the versatility of both single-staff and three-section staff, some manufactures have created a combination weapon made out of metal. The three sections, linked by chains as customary for this type of weapon, screw together to form one single staff. The transition to full staff to sectioned staff can be done in mid-combat with a few twists. Against an opponent, the transition is often masked, adding an element of surprise to the following attacks.
The ends of three-section staffs sometimes break, but can be replaced with pieces of similar weight and thickness to the other parts.
The three-section staff was brought to
Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
from
Fujian Province by
Shinko Matayoshi, who incorporated it in
Matayoshi Kobudo
Matayoshi Kobudo is a general term referring to the style of Okinawan Kobudo that was developed by Matayoshi Shinpo (又吉眞豊) and Matayoshi Shinko (又吉眞光) during the twentieth century. Martial arts have been practiced by the Matayo ...
with two ''
kata
''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements made to be practised alone. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practis ...
'' (''sansetsukon dai ichi'', ''sansetsukon dai ni'') after 1935. Kobudo sansetsukon typically have shorter (usually 50–60 cm.) yet thicker (about 4–5 cm. in diameter) staffs. The sansetsukon is not to be confused with ''san bon
nunchaku
is a traditional Okinawan martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks (traditionally made of wood), connected to each other at their ends by a short metal chain or a rope. It is approximately 30 cm (sticks) and 1 inch (rope). A person w ...
'' (三本ヌンチャク).
Three-section flails
*Lian Zhu Shuang Tie Bian (連珠雙鐵鞭, lit. 'Linked bead double iron whip') is a variant of
two-section staff (Tie Lian Jia Bang 鐵鏈夾棒, lit. 'Iron chain with clubs') flail that has two connected striking ends. It could be an early predecessor of the three-section staff.
*Double-headed Flail (連珠棍 Lang Ya Lien , Langyalian) has long center staff and a shorter flail head on each end.
In popular culture
*
San Te, character played by
Gordon Liu
Gordon Liu (Lau Kar-fai ); born Sin Kam-hei () August 22, 1951) is a Chinese martial arts film actor and martial artist. He played the lead role of San Te in '' The 36th Chamber of Shaolin'' (1978) and its sequels, and later played two roles in ...
invents the three-section staff in ''
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
''The 36th Chamber of Shaolin'', also known as ''The Master Killer'', ''Shaolin Master Killer'' and ''Shao Lin San Shi Liu Fang'', is a 1978 Hong Kong kung fu film directed by Lau Kar-leung and produced by Shaw Brothers, starring Gordon Liu. ...
''.
*The three-section staff is one of
Ling Tong
Ling Tong () (189–217), courtesy name Gongji, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He started his service under Sun Quan when he was still a teenager and, throughout his ...
's primary weapons from the ''
Dynasty Warriors'' series.
*
Hideyoshi Toyotomi uses the three-section staff as his main weapon in the ''
Samurai Warriors'' series.
*In the webcomic ''
Homestuck'', the character Terezi at one point uses this as a weapon of choice, the alternative title of "Dragon Staff" referring to the character's recurring theme of the aforementioned mythological creature.
*In ''
Bleach'', Ikkaku Madarame's sword has the supernatural ability to transform into either a spear or a bladed three-section staff and rapidly switch between these forms.
* The
2003 version of ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' features three-section staffs; one used by one of the Triceraton All-Stars, one by a warrior on the Battle Nexus Tournament, and a mystical one used by
Mikey during the war with the Tengu
Shredder.
*The
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with their f ...
TV series ''
Arrow
An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers ...
'' on the
CW features the use of this weapon on episodes 2 ("The Candidate") and 10 ("Blood Debts") of its 4th season. The weapon was used by villain
Anarky
Anarky is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Co-created by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle, he first appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #608 (November 1989), as an adversary of Batman. Anarky is introduced as ...
during fight sequences against the
Green Arrow and
Speedy
Speedy refers to something or someone moving at high speed.
Speedy may refer to:
Ships
* HMS ''Speedy'', nine ships of the Royal Navy
* ''Speedy''-class brig, a class of naval ship
* ''Speedy'' (1779), a whaler and convict ship despatched i ...
.
* In the manga ''
The Seven Deadly Sins,'' the character Ban uses a 3 sectioned staff to fight although his preferred (but lost) weapon is a 4 sectioned staff.
* In ''
Suikoden II'', Nanami fights with a sansetsukon.
* In ''
Suikoden V'', the hero Freyjadour Falenas fights with a hybrid weapon, which can instantly become a long staff or a sansetsukon.
* In ''
Saiyuki'', Son Goku can have his Nyoibo (magic staff) become a sansetsukon, which he uses on rare occasions.
* In ''
Shin Megami Tensei,'' the Sansetsukon can be bought quite early in the story. Its low attack is compensated by its accuracy and its ability to strike three times in a row.
* In the 2006 movie ''
Fearless
Fearless or The Fearless may refer to:
Psychology
* Lack of fear
* Courage or bravery
Film, television and audio Film
* ''Fearless'' (1978 film), an Italian film directed by Stelvio Massi
* ''Fearless'' (1993 film), an American drama directed ...
,'' the protagonist Huo Yuanjia wields a three-section staff against the Japanese champion Tanaka, who wields a
katana
A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the ''tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge fa ...
.
* In ''
Power Rangers Jungle Fury'' and its Japanese counterpart ''
Gekiranger
is Toei Company's thirty-first entry in the ''Super Sentai'' metaseries. Production began on September 29, 2006 with principal photography beginning on October 6, 2006. It premiered on February 18, 2007 on TV Asahi's 2007 ''Super Hero Time'' prog ...
'', a three-section staff is employed by the Jungle Pride Megazord.
* In the ''
Fatal Fury'' and ''
The King of Fighters'' series,
Billy Kane wields a bō that can become a sansetsukon.
* In the arcade game ''
Martial Champion'', Goldor wields a three-section staff.
* The Libra cloth in ''
Saint Seiya
, also known as ''Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac'' or simply ''Knights of the Zodiac'' (translated from the French title ''Les Chevaliers du Zodiaque''), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It ...
'' features amongst its weapons a pair of sansetsukon.
* In the manga ''
B't X,'' the character Karen uses a sansetsukon as weapon.
*In ''
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening'', Cerberus transforms into the three-section staff with an ice magic type. In ''
Devil May Cry 5'', defeating King Cerberus rewards Dante with an largely upgraded replacement of the original Cerberus weapon. King Cerberus comes with three different magic types which decides a different form (i.e., Fire shifts into a bo staff, Ice maintains its three stick sanhokon nunchakuform by default, and Lightning magically changes into a three-section staff.
* In the
otome game
An , is a story-based video game that is targeted towards women. Generally one of the goals, besides the main idea/goal, is to develop a romantic relationship between the female player/main character and one of the second-lead male characters.
His ...
''Shall We Date?: Ninja Shadow'', Tsubaki Kusunoki's preferred weapon is a ''sansetsukon''. The characters note how unpredictable this makes him in the battlefield.
*In ''
Final Fantasy XIII
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles and later for the Microsoft Windows operating system. Released in Japan in December 2009 and international in March 2010, it is the ...
'' and ''
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII'', the character Oerba Yun Fang wields dual-bladed spears that transform into three-section staffs.
*In ''
Jackie Chan Adventures'', Gan, one of Daolon Wong's Dark Chi Warriors, uses a three section staff. Because they share the same chi, Gan can manipulate the weapon, able to telekinetically return it to his hand.
*In ''
Jujutsu Kaisen'' a three section staff named "Playful Cloud" was utilized to fight one of the antagonists in episodes 19 and 20.
References
Further reading
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Three-Section Staff
Chinese melee weapons
Flail weapons
Polearms