The twin hook sword is also known as the qian kun ri yue dao, or "Heaven and Sun Moon Sword," or the shang guo, the "Tiger Hook Sword." There is no record of this weapon ever being used by the Chinese military; it seems to have been developed exclusively by martial artists such as the Shaolin Monks.
Perhaps because it is both difficult to wield and flashy-looking, the twin hook sword is very popular with present-day martial arts aficionados, and appears in many movies, comic books and video games.
Learn about the History of the Shaolin Temple. (Can you keep track of the number of times invaders burned it to the ground?)
See a Timeline of Shaolin History.
Read about the battles between the Shaolin Monks and Japanese Pirates.
