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Jian

For other uses, seeJian (disambiguation).

TheGian(Mandarin Chinese:[tɕjɛ̂n],Chinese:Kiếm,English approximation:/dʒjɛn/jyehn,Cantonese:[kim˧]) is a double-edged straightswordused during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention theGiandate to the 7th century BCE, during theSpring and Autumn period;[1]one of the earliest specimens being theSword of Gou gian.Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (18 to 31 inches) in length. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimetre (28-inch) blade-length would be in a range of approximately 700 to 900 grams (1.5 to 2 pounds).[2]There are also larger two-handed versions used for training by many styles ofChinese martial arts.

Jian
Single-handedGianand scabbard of the 18th–19th century
Traditional ChineseKiếm
Simplified ChineseKiếm
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinjiàn
Wade–Gileschien4
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinggim3

ProfessionalGianpractitioners are referred to asGian ke(Chinese:Kiếm khách;pinyin:jiànkè;lit.'sword guests' or "swordsmen"; a term dating from theHan dynasty).[3]

In Chinese folklore, theGianis known as "The Gentleman of Weapons"and is considered one of the four major weapons, along with thegun(staff),qiang(spear), and thedao(sabre). These swords are also sometimes referred to astaiji gianor "tai chiswords ", reflecting their current use as training weapons for tai chi practitioners, though there were no historical gian types created specifically for tai chi.[4]

Parts of theGian

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A guard orhiltprotects the hand from an opposing blade. Guard shapes varied, but often had short wings or lobes pointing either forward or backward, the latter sometimes having an "ace of spades" appearance. EarlyGianoften had very small, simple guards. From theSongandMingperiods onward, guards could featurezoomorphicshapes, or have crossbars and quillons. A minority ofGianfeatured the disc-shaped guards associated withdao.

The gian 's hilt can accommodate the grip of both hands or one hand plus two or three fingers of the other hand. Two-handedjiànof up to 1.6 meters (63 inches) in length, known asshuangshou gian,existed but were not as common as the one-handed version. The longer two-handed handle could be used as a lever to lock the opponent's arm if necessary. Grips are usually of fluted wood or covered inrayskin,with a minority being wrapped with cord.

The end of the handle was finished with apommelfor balance, to prevent the handle from sliding through the hand should the hand's grip be loosened, and for striking or trapping the opponent as opportunity required—such as in "withdrawing" techniques. The pommel was historicallypeenedonto thetangof the blade; thereby holding together as one solid unit the blade, guard, handle, and pommel. MostGianof the last century or so are assembled with a threaded tang onto which the pommel or pommel-nut is screwed.

Sometimes atasselis attached to the hilt. During the Ming Dynasty these were usually passed through anopenworkpommel, and in theQingthrough a hole in the grip itself; modern swords usually attach the tassel to the end of the pommel. Historically these were likely used aslanyards,allowing the wielder to retain the sword in combat. There are some sword forms which utilize the tassel as an integral part of their swordsmanship style (sometimes offensively), while other schools dispense with sword tassels entirely. The movement of the tassel may have served to distract opponents, and some schools further claim that metal wires or thin silk cords were once worked into the tassels for impairing vision and causing bleeding when swept across the face.[citation needed]The tassel's use now is primarily decorative.[5][6]

The blade itself is customarily divided into three sections for leverage in different offensive and defensive techniques. The tip of the blade is thejiànfeng,meant for stabbing, slashing, and quick percussive cuts. Thejiànfengtypically curves smoothly to a point, though in the Ming period sharply angled points were common. Some antiques have rounded points, though these are likely the result of wear. The middle section is thezhongrenor middle edge, and is used for a variety of offensive and defensive actions: cleaving cuts, draw cuts, and deflections. The section of blade closest to the guard is called thejiàngenor root, and is mainly used for defensive actions; on some late period gian, the base of the blade was made into aricasso.These sections are not necessarily of the same length, with thejiànfengbeing only three or four inches long.[7][8]

Jian blades generally feature subtle profile taper (decreasing width), but often have considerable distal taper (decreasing thickness), with blade thickness near the tip being only half the thickness of the root's base. Jiàn may also feature differential sharpening, where the blade is made progressively sharper towards the tip, usually corresponding to the three sections of the blade. The cross-section of the blade is typically lenticular (eye-shaped) or a flattened diamond, with a visible central ridge; ancient bronze gian sometimes have a hexagonal cross-section.

Materials

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Anironsword and twobronzeswords from the ChineseWarring States period

Jian were originally made frombronze,thensteelas metal technology advanced. There are some, perhapsceremonial,Gian which are carved from a single solid piece ofjade.

Traditional gian blades are usually ofsanmei(three plate) construction, which involved sandwiching a core of hard steel between two plates of softer steel. The central plate protrudes slightly from its surrounding pieces, allowing for a sharp edge, while the softer spine protects the brittle core. Some blades hadVũ mịor five plate construction, with two more soft plates being used at the central ridge.[9]Bronze gian were often made in a somewhat similar manner: in this case an alloy with a high copper content would be used to make a resilient core and spine, while the edge would be made from a high-tin-content alloy for sharpness and welded onto the rest of the blade.

The sword smiths of China are often credited with theforgingtechnologies that traveled to Vietnam, Japan and Korea to allow sword smiths there to create such weapons as thekatana.These technologies include folding, inserted alloys, anddifferential hardeningof the edge.[10][11]While the Japanese would be more influenced by the Chinesedāo(single-edged swords of various forms), the early Japanese swords known askenare often based on gian. The Korean version of the gian is known as thegeomorgum,and these swords often preserve features found in Ming-era gian, such as openwork pommels and sharply angled tips.

In martial art schools wooden swords are used for training, so most martial arts students' first experience with a gian in modern times is with one of those weapons. Before schools were a formal way of passing on sword knowledge, students may begin with a simple wooden stick when training with their teacher.[12]In some religiousTaoistsects, those wooden practice swords have come to have anesotericritual purpose. Some claim that these wooden swordsmetaphoricallyrepresent the discipline of an accomplished student.

Contemporary gian versions are oftenforged(shaped with heat and hammer) and assembled by mostly traditional methods for training of practitioners of Chinese martial arts around the world. These gian vary greatly in quality and historical accuracy.

Contemporary gian are also sometimesforgeries(artificially aged and misrepresented as antiques), for sale to tourists and collectors who cannot distinguish them from true antiques.

Historical use

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Bronze gian of theWarring States period

Originally similar to bronze double-edged daggers in varying lengths, gian reached modern lengths by roughly 500 BC. Though there is significant variation in length, balance, and weight of the gian from differentperiods,within any given period the general purpose of the gian is to be a multipurpose cut and thrust weapon capable of stabbing, as well as making both precise cuts and slashes, as opposed to specializing in one form of use. Although the many forms and schools of swordsmanship with the gian vary as well, the general purpose and use is still not lost.

During theQinandHandynasties, the first two dynasties which united China, gian from the by then defunct Chu dynasty were very highly regarded.Chubecame particularly famous for its swords after conquering the state ofYue,who had previously been famous for their swords, and who credited their sword techniques to a southern woman of unknown ancestry referred to asYuenü.

Among theTerracotta warriorsin the tomb ofQin Shi Huang,figures representing officers were originally armed with gian made from an alloy of copper, tin, and other elements including nickel, magnesium, and cobalt. Several double-edged bronze swords have been recovered by modern archaeologists, but most were stolen centuries ago along with thepolearmsandbowsof the enlisted men.[13]

HistoricalGianwielders would engage in test cutting calledshizhan,practicing their skills on targets known ascaoren,or "grass men". Such targets were made from bamboo, rice straw, or saplings. Though similar to the Japanese art oftameshigiri,shizhanwas never formalized to the extent that the latter art was.[14]

WushuGian pair event at the 10thAll China games

Today many Chinese martial arts such astai chiand their martial artists still train extensively withGianandexpertisein its techniques is said by many of them to be the highest physical expression of their kung fu. FamousGianforms includeSancai Jian(Tam tài kiếm),Kunwu Jian(Côn ngô kiếm),Wudang Xuanmen Jian(Võ Đang Huyền môn kiếm), andtaiji gian(Thái Cực kiếm). MostGiantoday are flexible tai chi or wushuGianused mainly for ceremonial or performance purposes and not for actual combat. These swords have extremely thin blades or a high degree of flexibility compared to historical battlefield qualityGian,properties intended to add auditory and visual appeal to a wushu performance. These same properties render them unsuitable for historically accurate combat.

Military use

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Since 2008, officers in theChinese navyare issued with ceremonial swords resembling the traditionalGian.[15]Each sword has the owner's name engraved on the blade after graduation from themilitary academy.[16]

Taiji gianand sword drill

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At present, thetaiji gianforms are normally practiced for exercises purposes just like tai chi. The trainings are less on the physical form of the weapon and more on gaining greater balance and co-ordination through performing the slow movements. So the tai chi swords for everyday exercises are normally different from the swords mentioned above. Generally speaking, they are not dangerous, round edged without sharp blade, retractable for the convenience in use.

Mythology and legacy

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"TheEight ImmortalsCrossing the Sea. "[17]The figure on the lower left wears aGianon his back

There are severalTaoist immortalswho are associated with theGian.One example isLü Dongbin.ThebodhisattvaMañjuśrī(Ch:Văn thùWénshū) is often depicted holding aGian,which is then referred to as the "sword of wisdom".

Jianfrequently appear inwuxiafiction and films. The swords or the techniques used to wield them may be effectively or explicitly supernatural,[18]and the quest for such swords or techniques may be a major plot element.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Ebrey 1999,p. 41.
  2. ^Rodell 2003, p. 19
  3. ^Lorge 2011,p. 69.
  4. ^Rodell 2003,p. 20.
  5. ^Sugawara 1998,p. 204.
  6. ^Zhang 1998,pp. 38–39.
  7. ^Rodell 2003, pp.22-23
  8. ^Zhang 1998, pp.37-38
  9. ^Rodell 2003, pp.16-17
  10. ^Sugawara 1998, pp.298-299
  11. ^Rodell 2003, p. 17
  12. ^Xia 2017 pp.30
  13. ^Martinón-Torres, M.; Li, X.; Xia, Y.; Benzonelli, A.; Bevan, A.; Ma, S.; Huang, J.; Wang, L.; Lan, D.; Liu, J.; Liu, S.; Zhao, Z.; Zhao, K.; Rehren, T. (2019)."Surface chromium on Terracotta Army bronze weapons is neither an ancient anti-rust treatment nor the reason for their good preservation".Scientific Reports.9(1): 5289.Bibcode:2019NatSR...9.5289M.doi:10.1038/s41598-019-40613-7.PMC6449376.PMID30948737.
  14. ^Rodell 2007, pp. 2, 10, 39
  15. ^Chinese officer with sword
  16. ^Photo of Chinese officer's sword
  17. ^Werner, E. T. C.(1922).Myths & Legends of China.New York: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd.Retrieved2007-03-14.(Project GutenbergeText 15250)
  18. ^Liu 1967, p. 130

References

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Look upGianorjiànin Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Look upKiếmin Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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