In the ancient East, as well as ancient Greece, Rome and other countries with ancient history, shields were widely used in combat. In 2000 BC, bronze shields appeared, and then iron shields appeared.

The surface of the shield is usually covered with one or several layers of leather, which can prevent the attack of arrows, spears and swords. It is usually painted with various colorful patterns, signs, badges and so on. With the development of guns, gunpowder and other weapons, shields are gradually abandoned. Although shields can only be used for defense, they are often equipped with knives and guns, which can also exert great offensive ability.

Shield, used for defense when attacking. It can cover the body and resist the killing of enemy weapons. It is usually used with assassination fighting weapons, such as knives and swords. Early shields were made of wood, leather and other materials, painted on the surface, rectangular or trapezoidal in shape, and generally less than three feet in length. It is divided into infantry step shield and chariot sub-shield (small shield).

In the Spring and Autumn Period (even the Warring States Period), the shield was still made of wood and leather, but its shape changed greatly. Most of its upper part is made into a symmetrical double arc, and its surface is painted with exquisite patterns. The height of the shield is generally more than 60 cm and the width is about 45 cm. At that time, the shield, as the main protective equipment in the army, was carried out by specialized personnel during the war to cover the stabbing soldiers and arrows; In the defensive war, shields are set on the city to guard against flying stones and arrows from below.

There are many kinds and shapes of ancient shields. There are rectangular, trapezoidal, circular and dovetail shapes in appearance, and the back is equipped with a grip. Hand-held shields are generally no more than three feet long. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, there was a special shield on the chariot to block the arrow. There are more shields on the city head as protective gear to protect the city. Shields used by cavalry and infantry are often small, flexible and durable. At the "Hongmen Banquet", Fan Kuai, a strong man, knocked down the bodyguard in front of Ji with an iron shield, which is a heavy shield.

In China, there was a shield as early as Shang Dynasty, and Zhou Dun was more perfect. Zhou Li Bing has five kinds of shields in the coming week. Soldiers with shields in their hands can block the attack of enemy weapons, especially bows and arrows. In ancient times when science was underdeveloped, shields were important defensive weapons, so the categories were complicated.

In the Tang Dynasty, there was a kind of shield called Peng Pai (or Side Pai), which refers to a shield made of leather and wood. Its names are knee brand, group brand, lacquer brand, wooden brand, United wooden brand and leather brand. The shapes of shields in Song Dynasty were different. Small shield is used for "ma bu" or "ma bu" or "ma bu" and large shield can be used for siege, with wooden shield and iron shield. Guns and cannons had considerable power in the Ming Dynasty, but their uses were limited, and shields still played a role. Especially on the battlefield against Japan, Qi Jiguang used agile rattan soldiers to defeat the Japanese aggressors.

When the Qing army entered the customs, there was a rattan army. This card is made of hard rattan and shaped like an inverted lotus leaf. Because of its firmness and flexibility, it is quite effective for swords, guns, axes and arrows, and is mainly used by front-line infantry.