《武藝圖譜通志》
Muye Dobo Tongji
The Comprehensive Korean Martial Arts Manual
武藝圖譜通志 (Muye Dobo Tongji) is a comprehensive illustrated Korean martial arts manual, commissioned by the Korean King Jeongjo in 1790. There are a total of 4 volumes in this manual, documenting 24 arts of the Korean military.
During the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592 to 1598, the Ming Dynasty Chinese army lent their support to the Koreans and were able to push the Japanese back.
As the Ming Dynasty Chinese shared their fighting and military knowledge with the Koreans, it is no surprise that Muye Dobo Tongji is written based on Chinese martial arts manuals of that time, such as:
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紀效新書 (Ji Xiao Xin Shu) by General Qi Ji-guang
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武備志 (Wu Bei Zhi) by Mao Yuan-Yi
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少林棍法闡宗 Shaolin Staff manual by Cheng Zong You.
Download the entire Muye Dobo Tongji for FREE on the right! This is a huge manual, with a total of 753 pages. I've also added some comments to each page so that you know roughly what each page is about.
(Note that it costs $0.01 because the website shopping system doesn't allow $0 value items. Still, it's as good as free!)
Commander Sword chapter (Jedok Geom)
Fist Chapter
Double-Hand Saber chapter (Ssang Su Do)
Download The Full Muye Dobo Tongji for FREE
Videos
Korean Documentary on Muye Dobo Tongji
Chapters
There are a total of 24 chapters in Muye Dobo Tongji, separated in 4 volumes.
Each chapter describes a different art.
Below are all the chapters. The ones which are hyperlinked have been translated to English.
Volume 1
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Long Bamboo Spear
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Flag Spear
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Trident
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Horseback Spear
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Wolf-Brush (Thorny Spear)
Volume 3
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Korean Sword
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Horseback Double Sword
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Crescent-Saber Polearm
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Horseback Cresent-Saber
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Crescent-Saber Polearm
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Shield
Volume 4
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Empty Fist
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Staff
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Flail
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Horseback Flail
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Korean Polo
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Equestarian Skills
《雙手刀》
Ssang Su Do
Double-Hand Saber
During the war with the Japanese pirates, Ming Dynasty Qi Ji-Quang obtained a Japanese Kage-style sword scroll and subsequently incorporated Long-Saber training for his troops.
Assistance was also given to the Koreans to help them fend off the Japanese invasion. General Qi's Saber manual was later incorporated into the comprehensive Korean martial arts manual, Muye Dobo Tongji.
《提督劎》
Jedok Geom
Commander Sword
提督劎 (Tidu-Jian) is the swordsmanship of 李如松 Li Ru-Song, a Ming Dynasty Commander of Korean descent. During the Imjin-War, when Ming Dynasty sent troops to help defend Korea, Li Ru-Song participated in the assistance and fought against the Japanese.
He managed to take back Pyongyang from Japanese Commander Konishi Yukinaga.
《雙劎》
Ssang Geom
Double Sword
From the 3rd scroll of the Korean manual, Muye Dobo Tongji, is a chapter on 雙劎 (Shuang-Jian), Double Sword.
It gave interesting historical facts, highlighting that wielding 2 swords can be practical in battle, as well as a form of sword dance.
《長槍》
Jang Chang
Long Spear
The Spear is regarded as the King of the Battlefield.
The Chinese Yang Style Pear-Flower Spear is also regarded as the most formidable Spear art, and it was adopted by the Koreans in the formulation of this Spear manual.
