The outliers are always interesting, as they help inform what the “norms” really are, and make us question why there might have been an interest to step outside those trends at that point in history. Great summary of this Jian!
That's an interesting sword. Good hypothesis about it being more for a thrust-centric style. Could also be more geared towards speed. Like maybe the guy's grandfather liked heavy swords, but died in a conflict because his blade was too slow. Could speculate forever, but still a very nice blade.
The idea that this jian could have been forged for an older swordsman is an interesting one. As you said, we could speculate forever, but that's not a bad idea at all.
How often do you think swords were made and then unlinked by their owners? I have commissioned a few swords and gave specs I thought i would like only to find that my designs were less functional than I assumed. The sizable investment often turns them into safe queens. Do you think that is something that could have happed historically? Someone commissions a sword, then does not like it. It sits in a safe or protected area because of the value and now we wonder about its origins. It seems an fair assumption the user wanted a light blade but maybe they didn't and that is why it has survived.
Interesting guess. Given how nice it is, the owner likely had the means for many other swords as options, and liked them better. Maybe this was meant to be an heirloom rather than a fighting sword, or for his son at 12 years old. The blade is maybe a bit shorter than normal for a full-grown person?
Elegant. Probably KG is right, and I have a latent leaning towards rapiers. ) If only it were heavier and ears-upped…) Taotie is shamanic (or maybe ancient clans’ totems-inspired).
Appriciate so much you sharing this sword sifu and your perspective on the idea of a young practitioner, makes so much sense and its a beautiful piece to share with us all in all
Can you please recommend the best material(s) for Jian swords for combat use in your opinion? Something thats best overall (strong but can bend a bit to not break easily and stays sharp for a long time and maybe even maybe doesnt get rusty too easily). Thank you!
Accurate to say it has little to no distal taper? I've heard Chinese swords, Jian or Dao, have very little distal taper. Can you guess why that is? For something like Jian should benefit greatly from distal taper. Dao sure not really but jian...
Certainly possible. But there isn’t anything different about the jian someone trained in a taijiquan sword tradition would wield or need, than that of anyone from any other system. All jianke have the same requirements.
The outliers are always interesting, as they help inform what the “norms” really are, and make us question why there might have been an interest to step outside those trends at that point in history. Great summary of this Jian!
Well said, and thanks. Always looking forward to stumbling on the next piece that breaks the mold.
i was wondering what you were talking about when you said grams, glad you converted that in Lbs
We lots of followers in Europe, so we always put in both measurements.
That's an interesting sword. Good hypothesis about it being more for a thrust-centric style. Could also be more geared towards speed. Like maybe the guy's grandfather liked heavy swords, but died in a conflict because his blade was too slow. Could speculate forever, but still a very nice blade.
The idea that this jian could have been forged for an older swordsman is an interesting one. As you said, we could speculate forever, but that's not a bad idea at all.
Love that guard
It’s a classic.
A Beautiful antique
It is indeed.
How often do you think swords were made and then unlinked by their owners? I have commissioned a few swords and gave specs I thought i would like only to find that my designs were less functional than I assumed. The sizable investment often turns them into safe queens. Do you think that is something that could have happed historically? Someone commissions a sword, then does not like it. It sits in a safe or protected area because of the value and now we wonder about its origins. It seems an fair assumption the user wanted a light blade but maybe they didn't and that is why it has survived.
Interesting guess. Given how nice it is, the owner likely had the means for many other swords as options, and liked them better. Maybe this was meant to be an heirloom rather than a fighting sword, or for his son at 12 years old. The blade is maybe a bit shorter than normal for a full-grown person?
Elegant. Probably KG is right, and I have a latent leaning towards rapiers. ) If only it were heavier and ears-upped…) Taotie is shamanic (or maybe ancient clans’ totems-inspired).
Appriciate so much you sharing this sword sifu and your perspective on the idea of a young practitioner, makes so much sense and its a beautiful piece to share with us all in all
My pleasure. If you wouldn’t mind helping us out, please share on FaceCrook, etc…
@@smrsevenstarstradingco.241 Shared
@@charlesghannoumlb2959 Thanks!
Thank you for the presentation. Maybe a blade for a female?
Can you please recommend the best material(s) for Jian swords for combat use in your opinion? Something thats best overall (strong but can bend a bit to not break easily and stays sharp for a long time and maybe even maybe doesnt get rusty too easily). Thank you!
Check out the Cutting Jian designed by Scott M. Rodell- www.sevenstarstrading.com/store/p/ovn08n6bv3vjzzdjc9wa6j6w3qpnxm
Accurate to say it has little to no distal taper? I've heard Chinese swords, Jian or Dao, have very little distal taper. Can you guess why that is? For something like Jian should benefit greatly from distal taper. Dao sure not really but jian...
It would be inaccurate to say there is not distal taper. Chinese jian generally have a continous distal taper.
i think it could be a woman's jian a young man usually over compensates/picks heavier wep
It does look like a spadroon blade. Might be a European trying to fit in.
A woman’s sword.
Possibly.
Possibly used for tai chi?
Certainly possible. But there isn’t anything different about the jian someone trained in a taijiquan sword tradition would wield or need, than that of anyone from any other system. All jianke have the same requirements.
Maybe the owner had a wounded shoulder or elbow, and specifically wanted a lighter blade to continue training without excess strain?
@@KF1 Just about anything is possible. Above it was suggested that it might have also been forged for an older jianke, one perhaps past his prime.
We’ll be offering this sword For Sale at Seven Stars Trading Co. as soon as I return from teaching over in England.
Sold before I could even send out a catalog listing.