Chinese Sai

[lenmccoy]

Hello,
Question for the experts. I know various southern styles like Five Ancestors Fist use what Okinawan's call a sai. Any one know how far back in Chinese history they go? Are they ever a symbol of police authority like they were on feudal Okinawa? And I know someone (wish I could remember which magazine) suggested they evolved from butterfly knives. Anyone know how far back in time butterfly knives go? Anyone think this might be a real evolution?
Thanks for any wisdom.
Respectfully,
Len McCoy

[kenneth fish]

They are a Southern Chinese weapon, and are depicted in late Ming dynasty texts.

[yeniseri]

The Okinawan sai shares part of its history with Southern China since the Crane system has its origin around Fujian The development would be to see if Fujian sai development mirrors that of Okinawa or the former came into its own within the Okinawan sphere of martial influence, where it took off to what we have today

[jonathan.bluestein]

Southern Mantis and various Hakka arts also feature this weapon.

[kenneth fish]

here is the entry on Baidu. The Sai may be traced back to 16th century China. The Japanese adopted them, and brought them to Okinawa during their occupation of the islands.

http://baike.baidu.com/view/1041648.htm

[wayne hansen]

Don't forget Indo and the phillipines

[taiwandeutscher]

And here a source from Hongkong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiW6DTBbQHE

[palmslam]

The Sai's we used in White Crane one side covered hand one side was pointed out like Japan style, Ying /Yang sai. Lots of stabbing and breaking bones.

V/r
S. Manning

[P. Li]