Zheng Yi Sao Pirate Sword

Jim McDougall · 7th March 2025, 03:17 PM

Apparently China had a notable number of films from the silent era into 1930s, even including "The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes".
Reciprocally, the west had a range of films derived from novels written based on Chinese characters such as the 'Charlie Chan' series from Earl Derr Biggers books from 1919 into films from 1926.
The "Mask of Fu Manchu" (from the book by Sax Rohmer) was in 1932.

Naturally while historically significant as far as the study of film production, these movies created unfortunate stereotypes and considerable 'license'.
I have not seen the Chinese films, nor stills etc. but it would be interesting to see what sort of contexts and character they would have used regarding artistic license.

Again, in my view, following representations of arms portrayed in these kinds of contexts is unlikely to be helpful in estimating those used by historic figures in reality. It would be more reliable to study more period accounts pertaining to the persons or groups being examined and the weapons contemporary to them.

I will say however that in more modern times it seems researchers have established a much better benchmark for accuracy in weaponry in use along with other details in many films etc. As always there are exceptions.

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7th March 2025, 03:17 PM	#13
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,196	Apparently China had a notable number of films from the silent era into 1930s, even including "The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes". Reciprocally, the west had a range of films derived from novels written based on Chinese characters such as the 'Charlie Chan' series from Earl Derr Biggers books from 1919 into films from 1926. The "Mask of Fu Manchu" (from the book by Sax Rohmer) was in 1932. Naturally while historically significant as far as the study of film production, these movies created unfortunate stereotypes and considerable 'license'. I have not seen the Chinese films, nor stills etc. but it would be interesting to see what sort of contexts and character they would have used regarding artistic license. Again, in my view, following representations of arms portrayed in these kinds of contexts is unlikely to be helpful in estimating those used by historic figures in reality. It would be more reliable to study more period accounts pertaining to the persons or groups being examined and the weapons contemporary to them. I will say however that in more modern times it seems researchers have established a much better benchmark for accuracy in weaponry in use along with other details in many films etc. As always there are exceptions.