Shields in the world of wuxia

[Ken Cheng]

In ancient and medieval combat, the arm-carried shield was often an indispensable weapon. That said, we almost never see it in wuxia stories...at least not among major characters. Did any wuxia character carry a shield as part of his/her regular weaponry?

[SkineePanda]

Didn't the two brothers that Xiao Feng fought at the mansion were shield-fighters? Xiao Feng took a shield or two from them and sliced a swath through the fighters then the brothers killed themselves because they live and die with their weapons.

[Ken Cheng]

Didn't the two brothers that Xiao Feng fought at the mansion were shield-fighters? Xiao Feng took a shield or two from them and sliced a swath through the fighters then the brothers killed themselves because they live and die with their weapons.

I remember them carrying large sabers, but not shields. Then again, DGSD '81 (TVB) is not known for its accuracy.

Shield props must be EXPENSIVE (or too heavy/awkward), because we rarely see them in TV wuxia adaptations (occassionally, we did see them in movies, but soldiers carried them, not wuxia warriors).

[IcyFox]

Higher-skilled people didn't need them I guess.
A shield is going to be useless when faced with XF's or GJ's XL18Z anyway.

But GWM did use his wheel as a shield sometimes.

[Extremer88]

Armies use shields such as the Liao Army in DGSD when XF is fighting against them, and the Mongol Armies in ROCH and HSDS, but seldom in Wuxia.

I believe if Guo Jing and Huang Rong decide not to make the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre, they might as well make them into a heavenly shield and dragon shield, strong against any weapons, durable and unbreakable. Then it makes more sense since shields are much larger than swords and sabres, much more space to slot in Jiuying Zhenjing manual or Peach Blossom Island map etc.

[K2Grey]

The one time the shield showed up was in Juxian Manor. Those 2 brothers both had shields and carried some weapon as well. I believe the shields had sharp edges and could be used to put people in two pieces etc. In the DGSD 2003 adaptation they tossed out the weapons and instead had the brothers swing the shields around on chains (well, it's not like anyone cares about accuracy anyway).

[TommyH]

I always see soldiers and armies using shields because I guess it was needed to block arrows and blows. But I don't think any wuxia hero should need a shield considering the swiftness and agility of the hero.

[kyss of the sword]

zhuo butong used a shield during the end of roch. he used two actually to block the mongoilan archers arrows but he threw them away when setting the camp on fire. he then got hit by two arrows. plus using a shield is akin to using armour, which Haung yaoshi also did.

[TommyH]

I don't think shields would be much use against a strong opponent whom's swordplay and inner power is powerful.

[Da Bao]

I can't really think of any Wu Xia characters using shields... but then again, most of them wouldn't need or use shields.

[Siven]

The only reason they don't use shields is that having to carry a big round metal thingy makes them look less cool. A sword or sabre is elegant and easy to take along or conceal, but a shield inevitably makes you look like a turtle. You'd never get any girls that way.

Of course there're exceptions, such as one GL character that lagged a metal trunk around which he assembled into various weapons on the spot. But I don't think he was very popular with the ladies.

[TommyH]

The only reason they don't use shields is that having to carry a big round metal thingy makes them look less cool. A sword or sabre is elegant and easy to take along or conceal, but a shield inevitably makes you look like a turtle. You'd never get any girls that way.

Of course there're exceptions, such as one GL character that lagged a metal trunk around which he assembled into various weapons on the spot. But I don't think he was very popular with the ladies.

I don't think not attracting girls would be the reason. A shield pretty much useless against strong enemies so why use a shield? Shields are only good for wars (for the soldiers).