Language: Manchu
Source: Classical literature

The tashi gida or "tiger spear" was a large hunting spear in use by the Qing dynasty Tiger spear division. It was called hǔqiāng (虎槍) in Chinese.

Tasha gida

"tasha gida"

Source

It appears in the 1766 Huángcháo lǐqì túshì (皇朝禮器圖式) or "Illustrated Regulations of the Ceremonial Paraphernalia of the Dynasty" which in turn was based on a 1759 manuscript. See below the original page and my translations:

Qing Tiger Spear

"According to the design of the 14th year of Qianlong.

Regulations of the dynasty; Tiger Spear Division's Tiger Spear: Spearhead made of forged steel. Overall 8 chi 3 cun long. Spearhead is 9 cun long, with triangular tip and center ridge. Shaft is 7 chi 4 cun long, made of white waxwood. At the top of the shaft are tied two transverse pieces of deer antler, 1 cun long. There is a horn ferrule at the end of the shaft. The spearhead is covered with a leather bag, wrapped with birch bark. It is carried by tying it to a leather belt."


Converted to cm:
Overall: 290.5 cm
Head: 35 cm
Shaft: 259 cm

 

Some examples

tiger spears in artwork and museum collections

Top left: Left a member of a Qing imperial hunting party with a tiger spear worn through his belt.

Top right: the Qianlong emperor and his tiger spearmen hunting tiger.

Bottom left: Left a magnificent antique tiger spear I photographed in the Palace Museum in Beijing, with sunken panels inspired by Indian push daggers.

Bottom right: A more standard antique tiger spear I photographed in the Beijing military museum in 2008.

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With floral overlay, kinatah, typical for the period.

€5500,-

A what? Yes exactly. An extremely rare piece, the only example I am aware of in published collections at…

€7500,-

A standard pattern Qing military saber, but with the rare addition of a label in Manchu.

€1900,-

Of classic shape, with a leaf-shaped blade on a socket, connected by a cast bronze base.

€375,-

With a very fine Nepalese blade, but kard-like hilt and scabbard.

€3500,-

Early type with very shallow notch in the blade and little flare in the pommel.

€2750,-