Staff (stick)

"The Magic Circle" by John William Waterhouse: a witch draws a magic circle with her staff.

A staff is a large, long, thick stick or stick-shaped object used to help with walking, as a status symbol (such as a sceptre), as a component of traditional barrel making, or as a weapon.

Types

Weapon

Main article: Stick fighting

Examples of staves in Western Martial Arts include the English quarterstaff and the French bâton, and there are many martial arts, such as Italian Liu-bo, based around such staff-like weapons.

A red oak short staff.

The Indian Silambam staff has been used as a weapon since at least the 2nd century, evident from references in ancient Sangam literature of the time. The martial art associated with the Silambam staff is also known as Silambam. This staff was later incorporated in several Malay martial arts such as Silat. Another type of Indian staff with its own fighting technique (also used by the Indian police forces) is the Lathi.

The Chinese staff is called gun (棍 pinyin gùn). Its practise is commonly divided into two main areas: Northern staff techniques (influenced by spear play) and Southern staff techniques. Many styles and techniques exist but the best known outside of China is the Shaolin Temple staff techniques as practised by the monks in Chinese medieval times (Tang dynasty 10th century-11th century) and later by their disciples in pre-modern China (17th century-20th century) by anti-Manchu/Ching dynasty revolutionaries (Han Chinese patriots) prior to the widespread use of firearms. The techniques made their usual dissemination throughout the rest of Asia to be blended in with other countries' native fighting techniques.

The plural form of staff was originally staves (compare wolf, wolves and knife, knives), and in British and International English this is still preferred. In American English the usual plural form has become staffs, except in fantasy literature. The old English plural form staves collectively describes the wooden sticks bound by iron hoops to form traditional wooden barrels.

Several Japanese martial arts include the use of a short staff known as a jō, or the longer bō.

Police forces have used sticks for centuries - actually, since specialized police forces have been trained for anti-riots tactics; before that, artillery or standard cavalry units were used. For the "t" shaped stick used by police forces, see tonfa.

Ceremonial and practical use

Main article: Staff of office

There are many forms of staff used as a staff of office; an item which symbolises a position, rank or prestige. In China, there are two types of staves: the wenren zhang ("the scholar staff")（文人杖） which is a symbol of status, and the shiyong zhang（實用杖）("practical staff") which has more practical uses. Compasses, telescopes, weapons, and even medicine could be put within the much thicker shiyong zhang to be taken out when necessary. The zhang (杖） itself could often be used as a kwun (棍), a fighting stick.

Magical artifact

Staves are a traditional prop for the elderly and infirm, and this has led to their association with wisdom.

The ability of a staff to perform wonders is also featured prominently in the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Moses and Aaron, in their task to liberate the Hebrews from Egypt and deliver them to the Promised Land, employ staves. The staves are capable of performing miraculous feats to demonstrate the power and authority of God.

Staves are also associated with wizards and other users of magic and sorcery. Haraibou (literal translation meaning 'purification stick') were staves that were used by the miko (Japanese female exorcists) to fight demons in Japanese lore.

Shepherd's crook

In Western Europe, shepherds traditionally carry a staff that has a pronounced hook at the top, which enables them to catch sheep by the leg or neck. The hook can be made by bending the end of the staff or by adding a ram's horn. These appear to have developed in the late medieval period. However, a crook shaped staff or heka was one of the symbols of the Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt.. It was the symbol of the shepherd-god Osiris. A stylised crook or crosier is the symbol of a bishop in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.

In popular culture

Staves are often featured in various media as a weapon, a magical artifact, a symbol of status or power, a simple walking stick, or a combination of these attributes. Many role-playing video games feature staves as items that channel magical power and are often used as physical weapons as well.

The staff has strong associations as part of Asian martial arts tradition especially in martial arts films. It is also widely considered as a medieval weapon, and is often prominently displayed in various versions of the tale of Robin Hood as the chief weapon of the Merry Men.

The staff is one of the possible starting weapons in the popular computer game Mount and Blade. It is popular among some low-leveled players, as it is both a polearm weapon and a blunt weapon, therefore capable of knocking out low-leveled opponents with ease.

See also

• Lathi
• Bō
• Crosier
• Gun (staff)
• Quarterstaff
• Wand
• Danda
• Axis mundi
• Rod (geometry)

External links

• http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/staff.htm
• http://ejmas.com/jmanly/articles/2003/jmanlyart_wolfcosta_0203.htm