Chinese Jian Sword

The Jian is a straight, one-handed, double-edged sword that originated in China in the 2nd century BC. The first Jian swords had blades that ranged from 17 to 31 inches in length.

Larger versions of the Jian sword were also used in the practice of certain Chinese martial arts. The first Jian swords were made of bronze, and as metallurgy advanced, swords were made of steel. The blade of the sword was made of three steel plates that were layered on top of each other. The outer plates were of mild steel, while the protruding core was of hard steel. The prominent central plate was essentially a sword blade. Sometimes more than 3 layers were used. The forging technique, which used multiple layers of different grades of steel, eventually made its way to Korea and Japan, where it later led to the development of the famous Japanese katana sword.

 

1. Jian Bronze Sword

Jian is the name for a double-edged straight sword in China. This title has long been used by the Chinese people, approximately since 7th century BC. The first mention of Jian was allegedly derived from the word "Goujian". This word is found on bronze sword artifacts dating from the Spring and Autumn Period (c. 770 to 481 BC).

Sword of Goujian (left) and Bronze Jian artifact (right) 

Historic one-handed versions have blades 45–80 centimeters (18–31 in) long. An average sword with a blade length of 70 centimeters (28 in) would weigh approximately 700–900 grams (1.5–2 lb.). There are also larger two-handed versions that many Chinese martial arts use for training.

Originally Jian, it took the form of a straight double-edge dagger. Estimated to be around 500 BC, Jian found its modern form with varying weight, length and balance in over time. The jian was made to be a versatile cutting and thrusting weapon capable of both striking with effective and accuracy. Although the various forms and schools of Jian swordsmithing are different, the general purpose and use are still not lost.

 

2. Han Jian sword

Han Jian sword is the name for the Jian swords developed during the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). At this time, the use of bronze has been replaced by iron. Jian's sword at this time also became lighter because of its thinner thickness but stronger. The size is also longer and has better sharpness.

Han Jian

The existence of the Han Jian Sword is very important in the history of Chinese swords, because it was the main weapon on the battlefield during the Han Dynasty. The length of the dagger is about 50-70 cm. The blade is slightly wider; the brush is slightly thinner. It is decorated with copper netting. The average length of Han Jian's sword is about 70-90 cm. Han Jian's long sword, average length of 100-110 cm with a hilt that is not too long, about 20 cm long and width about 3.1 cm.

The blade changes from narrow to wide and has a clear belt near the tip of the sword (the purpose of the belt is to reduce the weight of the front of the blade to shift the center of gravity to the back, so the longer the sword. the more obvious it is). The thickest part of the blade is usually about 0.7 cm and the flattest part less than 0.1 cm. The length of the super long sword is more than 120 cm, some reach 160 cm.

  

3. Shuangshou Jian

Shuangshou Jian is a two-handed Jian sword. The Shuangshou Jian is an impressive sword and an impressive weapon, less commonly seen than the shorter Jian. Historically, the Shuangshou Jian was up to 1.6 meters (65 in) tall, and the two-handed grip could be used as leverage to lock an opponent's arm when needed. Shuangshou Jian uses large rings in its construction.

Shuangshou Jian

Balance is an important design feature of any sword, but it becomes especially apparent when using a blade of this length, as the ratio of blade weight to handle changes its characteristics dramatically. The weight of the handle makes the sword easier to control and change direction, but it has less momentum on impact. With a heavier blade, the sword requires more power to control and may be slower, but it is more devastating when it hits.

Shuangshou Jian size comparation

Because of its size, it was primarily a battlefield weapon designed to clear a path in any direction. Like other long weapons such as the spear, it can be a useful tool against an attack. Although it is a two-handed sword and carries considerable weight, it has a surprising amount of one-handed behavior among its behavioral principles, making it an excellent training tool for developing strength and control.

 

4. Tai Ji Jian

Tai Ji Jian is a sword used in the Taijiquan martial art. A straight sword, sometimes with a tassel and sometimes not, is used in traditional taijiquan schools for upper body training and combat. Some schools use different forms, but remain the same type.

Tai Ji Jian

Historically, the Yang and Wu families were involved in the training of officers in the Qing dynasty and taught the Jian technique to their students. Since the historical type of Jian was not created specifically for taijiquan, the forms were designed to use current functional Jian with the appropriate weight, balance, sharpness and flexibility to be effective in armed combat.

The "taijiquan" routines of the Wushu curriculum also use a lighter version of the traditional sword and theatrical versions of traditional sword forms. Wushu uses the Tai Ji Jian sword with a thin blade and makes sound when swung during competition. Mostly there is a tassel on the pommel sword.

Tai Ji Jian for Wushu demonstration

Jian variants used in Tai Ji Jian Wushu demonstration or as training tools in modern martial arts often have characteristics that make them unsuitable for historically accurate combat. These features, such as the extreme thinness of the blade or the high flexibility compared to the historical battlefield level Jian, are intended to add sound and visual appeal to wushu performance.