Rattan Shield Company
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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. |
The Rattan Shield Company was a military force in service of the Qing dynasty of China during the 18th century. They were named after their near-impenetrable rattan shields, which featured an ornate tiger design.
History
In 1725, the Company was deployed to the Philippines on the orders of the affluential businesswoman Lee Huiyin, in order to aid Fuma Sukuna and his Shimazu clan ninja in pursuing the members of the Zhang Wei Union. Meeting with Sukuna on an island near the Sultanate of Sulu, the soldiers decided to ambush the Fenghuang's crew as they loaded supplies onto their ship.[1]
The Company's captain ordered his men to charge at the crew, expecting an easy victory, but in doing so they fell into a trap set by the Union members. As soon as they set foot on the beach, the soldiers were bombarded with cannon fire from Yun Pyeong-Gyu's five-barreled cannons hidden in the nearby forest, suffering heavy casualties.[2]
The surviving soldiers managed to block all incoming gunfire by making a turtle formation with their shields, and continued advancing towards the Fenghuang. However, the ship managed to sail away, prompting the Company to turn their attention to Yun and the crew members still on the island. As they entered the forest, the soldiers again fell into a trap and were knocked down by several explosive barrels, which were then ignited by a fire arrow.[2] Undeterred, the shieldmen chased the crew until they ran out of ammunition, at which point the Company retreated and allowed the Shimazu ninja to continue the pursuit.[3]
Behind the scenes
Although fictional, the Rattan Shield Company appears to be loosely based on a type of Qing dynasty special forces troop nicknamed the "Tigers of War" by European missionaries. Renowned for their tiger uniforms and rattan shields, records of these elite troops first appeared in the late 18th century, making their appearance in Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple slightly anachronistic.[4]
The rattan shield itself predates the creation of any unique military force trained in its use. The Chinese military was known to utilize this type of shield since at least the time of the Ming dynasty, as recorded in General Qi Jiguang's 16th-century military manual Jixiao Xinshu (紀效新書; "New Treatise on Military Efficiency"), and it continues to be used to this day in various cultural and religious dances, rituals and martial arts.[4]
Gallery
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Company shieldmen making a turtle formation -
The shieldmen being knocked down by barrels
Appearances
References
