This thread was inspired by my mention of the Iron Sparrowhawk cataphract cavalry of Western Xia on another thread. When doing research on the Iron Sparrowhawks, I found out about a battle in 1041 in which the Song infantry defeated an Iron Sparrowhawk attack using a new weapon called the formation-cleaving sword (pizhendao). Here are the primary sources.

Dongzhai Jishi 東齋記事 by Fan Zhen 范镇 (1007-1088), chapter 2:
元昊叛時，楊侍讀偕進神楯、劈陣刀，嘗以步卒五百人試于殿廷。其法，外環以車，內比以楯，楯刻獸狀，設機使開闔，所以驚馬，亦以禦箭，當時人皆非笑之。其後王吉陣於兔毛川，賊以鐵鷂子束陣，弓弩不可施放，乃以劈陣刀披其甲、豁馬膁，馬奔逸，墮崖壑死者不可勝計。自陝西用兵，惟兔毛川勝捷者，由劈陣刀也。鐵鷂子，賊中謂之「鐵林」，騎士以索貫穿于馬上，雖死不墮，以豪族子親信者為之。

Translation: During the rebellion of Yuanhao [1004-1048, founder of Western Xia], the Hanlin Scholar Yang Xie [980-1048] presented magic shields and formation-cleaving swords to the throne, and a trial of these weapons was held in the palace hall. The tactic for their use was to surround the troops with carts on the outside and protect them with the shields on the inside. The shields were carved with the appearance of wild beasts and fitted with mechanisms to lift their covers and reveal the carvings, thus startling enemy horses. They were also used as protection from arrows. At that time, everyone criticized and ridiculed the shields. Later, when Wang Ji used this formation at the Rabbit Fur River, the rebels surrounded it with Iron Sparrowhawks, and bows and crossbows could not be used at such close range. Wang Ji's men then used the formation-cleaving swords to split open the Iron Sparrowhawks' armour and slit the horses' shanks. The other horses galloped away, and those cavalrymen who fell of the cliffs to their death in the ravines could not be numbered. Eversince the beginning of the war in Shaanxi, only the Battle of the Rabbit Fur River has been a great victory, and it was thanks to the formation-cleaving sword. The Iron Sparrowhawks are called the Iron Forest by the rebels. The rider's armour is tied to the horse with ropes, and he does not fall from the horse even when dead. These riders are all recruited from the sons of aristocrats and their trusted followers.

Song Shi 《宋史》, chapter 197:
庆历元年，知并州杨偕遣阳曲县主簿杨拯献《龙虎八阵图》及所制神盾、劈阵刀、手刀、铁连槌、铁简，且言《龙虎八阵图》有奇有正，有进有止，远则射，近则击以刀盾。彼蕃骑虽众，见神盾之异，必遽奔溃，然后以骁骑夹击，无不胜者。历代用兵，未有经虑及此。帝阅于崇政殿，降诏奖谕。其后，言者以为其器重大，缓急难用云。

Translation: In the first year of the Qingli reign [1041], Yang Xie, the Prefect of Bingzhou, sent Yang Zheng, the Chief Scribe of Yangqu county, to present the 'Dragon and Tiger Eight-formation Diagram' and the magic shields, formation-cleaving swords, hand-swords, steel-chain club, and steel whip that he had designed and made. He also claimed, "The 'Dragon and Tiger Eight-formation Diagram' has unorthodox and orthodox versions and offensive and static versions. At long range, it can shoot at the enemy, and at close range it can attack the enemy with the swords and shields. Even though the foreign cavalry is numerous, upon seeing the unexpected carvings on the magic shields, it will immediately break and run for sure. Then our own crack cavalry can strike them on the flanks, achieving certain victory. There has never been a tactic to match this in all the history of warfare!" The emperor inspected the weapons at the Chongzheng Hall, and issued an edict to commend Yang Xie. Later on, those who commented on these weapons found them to be too heavy and large, and therefore difficult to use in an emergency.

Song Shi, chapter 300:
进枢密直学士、知并州。... 偕在并州日，尝论《八阵图》及进神楯、劈阵刀，其法外环以车，内比以楯。至是，帝命以步卒五百，如其法布阵于庭，善之，乃下其法于诸路。其后王吉果用偕刀楯法败元昊于兔毛川。久之，迁翰林侍读学士...

Translation: Yang Xie was promoted to Counsellor and then to Prefect of Bingzhou.... During his term at Bingzhou, he wrote a treatise on the Eight-diagram Formation and presented magic shields and formation-cleaving swords. The tactic for their use was to surround the troops with carts on the outside and protect them with the shields on the inside. The emperor then commanded 500 infantry to form a formation according to Yang Xie's tactic in the audience hall, and found it impressive. He had the tactic disseminated to the various circuits of the empire. Later, Wang Ji did indeed use the tactic of swords and shields to defeat Yuanhao at the Rabbit Fur River. After some time, Yang Xie was reappointed as Hanlin Scholar...

It would be interesting to know whether the formation-cleaving sword came to be standard issue in Song armies; however, there is no clear evidence that it did. Song Shi chapter 195 mentions that in 1042,

枢密直学士杨偕请... 骑兵佩劈阵刀，训肄时以木杆代之。奏可。

Translation: Counsellor Yang Xie petitioned that... cavalrymen be issued with the formation-cleaving sword, and that this be replaced with a wooden pole during training. The petition was approved.

But the formation-cleaving sword is never mentioned again. Chapter 197 states that in 1060,

帝匣斩马刀以示蔡挺，挺谓制作精而操击便，乃命中人领工造数万口赐边臣，镡长尺余，刃三尺余，首为大环。

Translation: The emperor put a horse-chopping sword in a box and showed it to Cai Ting, and Ting said its worksmanship was fine and it was easy to carry and wield. The emperor then commanded the eunuchs to supervise the artisans in making several tens of thousands of swords to be bestowed on officials at the borders. The sword's crossguard was over one chi long, its blade was over three chi long, and its pommel was a large ring.

This is the famous zhanmadao that we have discussed on CHF several times before. But did it replace the formation-cleaving sword, or was it an improved version of the same sword? Did the complaints about the sword-cleaving sword being too heavy and large lead eventually to the development of a lighter and more compact anti-cavalry weapon?

Another question is whether Yang Xie, who is described in his Song Shi biography as "especially interested in military tactics and strategies of the past and present" 尤喜古今兵法, based his Dragon and Tiger Eight-formation Diagram on some knowledge of the Eight-formation Diagram developed by Zhuge Liang 800 years earlier. Almost nothing is known about Zhuge Liang's formation, but the Jin general Ma Long's application of it in the 270s against Xianbi rebels suggests it had an anti-cavalry function, and featured the use of carts as anti-cavalry barriers for crossbowmen.

the wagon defense ring seem to be a pretty widely used method during the ages, both in the east and west. I can recall several meantions of similar tactics through times..

one of the first I can recall is during one of Eastern Jin dynasty's campaign to retake the north. I think it was part of Liu Yu's army that crossed the river only to be surroneded by the oppenents before they could get off the banks, they formed up their baggage train as a ring and shoot the incomming army to pieces using bows and crossbows.

of course , the most well documented tactic of this type of Chi Ji Guang's work during his term in the north, combined with Ming artilery it was a interesting tactic indeed.

My quesiton though, is that if the Iron Sparrowhawks were heavy cavalry with full horsearmor, how did they achieve the great speed and manuvers that was described in Song Shi? (如電擊雲走)

Actually the Northern Wei cataphracts were not shot to pieces - even the giant crossbows proved ineffective against them, and Liu Yu's troops drove them off with another tactic called the 'hammered spear'. See an old post of mine at http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php...t&p=3384010 (some further discussion on page 2 of the thread)



The phrase is actually 若电击云飞 ("like lightning bolts and flying clouds'). It refers not so much to their speed or maneuverability in battle as to their ability to appear out of nowhere, "coming and going suddenly" 倏往忽来.

Oh, it was applied in Eastern Europe, especially in the late stage of the Campaign of Kalka River. The Russians managed to form a circle of wagon so to survive for 2 days or so (can't remember exactly).