I'm having problems attaching the images I want, but I'm sure everyone will know what I'm talking about. It's that weapon wielded by Sha Wujing in Journey to the West and Sagacious Lu in Outlaws of the Marsh, referred to as a Monk's Staff in Sidney Shapiro's translation. It resembles a wooden pole with a crescent moon blade attached to one end and in some versions a wedge-like "shovel" on the other. I've heard it referred to as a Monk's Spade in modern Wushu routines.

Did this weapon historically exist? If so, does anyone have pictures of historical specimens? Seeming as it has featured prominently in two classic Chinese novels, I'm led to believe it must have seen some military use. It doesn't look like it would have been a very effective digging tool. I'm also curious as to how the crescent would've been attached to the shaft. In Outlaws of the Marsh, Sagacious Lus' was said to have weighed an astonishing 63 jin. Such an enormous weight could only be achieved if the entire weapon was cast out of metal I'd imagine. But such talk belongs to the realms of fiction, in reality the shaft would've been wooden I'd wager.

This weapon is called the Yueyachan (月牙鏟). A traditional "Buddhist" weapon. Originally there exists only the shovel side which is known as the Fangbianchan (方便鏟). This was not a 'weapon' as such but a shovel in which a monk would carry around with them and used as a tool for various things. The most sterotypical one would be to scrap any roadkill off the road and to dig a hole to bury them.

The 63 jin is pure fantasy existing only in Outlaw of the Marsh.

What was the crescent end used for or what did it symbolise?

The Fangbianchan while not designed as a weapon but were employed as one when needed. The crecent was added for tactical purpose rather than religious significance. I am not sure when it was first added but considering it has been shown in Ming novels (Heros of the Marsh, etc), I think it is safe to say that was it began at least as early as that.