Devised by Qi Jiguang in the mid-sixteenth century, this formation relies on discipline and training to make a mixed-arms infantry unit effective. There are deep roots in Chinese military history for this kind of thing, but this is one of the clearest to be described in detail. At the 2022 Chinese Archery Program we did an impromptu enactment. The "impromptu" part meant that I didn't have a chance to check some details, and a few small errors creep in. Also, Qi's formation would have emphasized Ming period guns over bows, but again, the formation has deep roots, and the overall point holds. We're using bare bamboo polls here for the Wolfsbrush "spear"; normally it would still have a nest of branches at the "pointy" end, plus a blade or blades.

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