Zheng Yi Sao Pirate Sword

Ian · 6th March 2025, 08:48 PM

Gustav, you raise some very salient points about the depiction of this woman. A movie frame sounds like a good possibility—taken from a movie about this famed pirate—or advertising for it. In which case the appearance of a strange sword may be artistic license rather than historical fact. Do we know much about the movie industry in China in the 1930s?

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.

M ELEY · 8th March 2025, 04:23 AM

She was indeed the most successful pirate in recorded history, having a 'flotilla' of over 10,000 pirates! The sketch that Gustav posted from 1830's is a famous depiction. In it, she looks like she has a belabang sword as discussed in Jim's pirate thread. Not unheard of that pirates carried whatever sword met their fancy or that they could lay their hands on. In Annis and May's monumental "Swords for Sea Service", we see documented naval swords in the Maritime Museum that you would not expect, including cavalry swords, basket-hilts, etc. Officers could carry whatever they pleased before specific patterns were introduced in the late 18th. Likewise, pirates even more so could carry whatever they chose, but did tend to copy the sailors of their era.

6th March 2025, 08:48 PM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,363	Gustav, you raise some very salient points about the depiction of this woman. A movie frame sounds like a good possibility—taken from a movie about this famed pirate—or advertising for it. In which case the appearance of a strange sword may be artistic license rather than historical fact. Do we know much about the movie industry in China in the 1930s?

7th March 2025, 03:17 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	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.

8th March 2025, 04:23 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	She was indeed the most successful pirate in recorded history, having a 'flotilla' of over 10,000 pirates! The sketch that Gustav posted from 1830's is a famous depiction. In it, she looks like she has a belabang sword as discussed in Jim's pirate thread. Not unheard of that pirates carried whatever sword met their fancy or that they could lay their hands on. In Annis and May's monumental "Swords for Sea Service", we see documented naval swords in the Maritime Museum that you would not expect, including cavalry swords, basket-hilts, etc. Officers could carry whatever they pleased before specific patterns were introduced in the late 18th. Likewise, pirates even more so could carry whatever they chose, but did tend to copy the sailors of their era.