While we might ask for some
uniformity of accessories during an exhibition, the rest of the
time students are free to add or omit flags and tassels on
weapons. We do NOT attribute any significance to colors of
flags on school weapons. For the most part we have flags on
sabers, thrown weapons and some weapons like the Eagle Kwan
Dao. In these cases the weapons often came with flags. We do like
the visual effect of flags on the Eagle Kwan Daos when
saluting an esteemed guest.
We use colored tassels to
indicate properties of a weapon:
1. red indicates suitable
for a beginner
2. yellow indicates some experience is
needed to handle the weapon
3. black indicates the bearer
is in the military
4. white used to have multiple purposes:
it either indicated the bearer was clergy or was issuing a
mortal challenge. Instead, we use white tassles to indicate
a weapon is either sharp, heavy or long.
5. we MIGHT
designate green tassels for clergy
6. We use blue tassels
on two weapons - the trident and the wolf tooth mace. These
weapons would be used by a teacher or senior student in an
emergency to defend against intrusion.
7. We have seen
tri-colored tassels used on some Bagua Zhang weapons. If we
ever find out if the colors (red-white-yellow) have any
significance,
we'll replace the yellow tassels on our deer
horn knoves and big saber and the white tassels on the long
sword and double-ended spears. No tassles on the bagua
staff. |
