Fangtian Ji

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Fangtian ji (方天戟) is a type of ji, a Chinese polearm. It is usually shown as a tall halberd-like weapon with a central spear point and blades on both sides, giving it a decorative, symmetrical look. The fangtian ji is best known as the signature weapon of the warlord Lü Bu in later Three Kingdoms stories and fiction. You’ll see it in Chinese opera, folklore, martial arts performances, and modern media. The exact historical form of the fangtian ji varied and was not standardized. The name combines Fangtian, meaning a top that’s square or symmetrical, and Huaji, meaning “painted” or decorated ji. In practice, it remains a distinctive named variant within the broader ji polearm family.