Contents
The Jian sword is the “weapon of masters” for its lightness, elegance and rapid changes of rhythm. It uses two edges, cuts and lunges, requiring more skill for deflections since its blade is not very thick.
With this weapon you work a lot on balance and changes in posture to correctly perform attack, evasion and counterattack techniques.
The Jian straight sword has a double-edged blade that began to be used 2,500 years ago in China. Some sources say that the Jian appeared in the 7th century BC. during springs and autumns. This period represented an era in Chinese history between 722 B.C. and 481 B.C. The blade of this sword varies between 45 and 80 cm. and the weight also varies depending on the sheet.
A sword with a 70 cm blade. It weighs between 700 and 900 grams. There is also some sword version of the Jian sword that is used to practice Chinese martial arts styles.
In Chinese culture, the Jian straight sword is considered one of the 4 greatest swords in history, along with Gun (Staff), Qiang (Spear) and the Dao (Sword).
The parts of the Jian are:
La Guarda: protects the hand from the blade of the sword used by the opponent. The shape of the guard is described as two short wings pointing forward or backward. There are also some Jian swords with disc-shaped guards.
The Handle: depending on the Jian sword that is used; The handle is one-handed, one-and-a-half-handed or even greatsword (two-handed). The greatsword was not as popular as the one-handed sword Jian. For a better grip, the handle is usually made of grooved wood or covered in leather.
The Knob: is located at one end of the handle offering better balance and also prevents the sword from sliding. The knob is attached to the tang. Most Jian swords of the last century are mounted with a threaded tang into which the pommel is screwed.
The Sheet: is divided into three sections for different attack or defense tactics. The tip of the blade is the Jianfeng, which was intended for quick cuts. The central zone is called Zhongreen and is used for a variety of offensive and defensive actions. The section of the blade closest to the guard is called Jiángen and is primarily used for defensive techniques. These three sections are not the same length.
The Jian first appeared in China and was a double-edged dagger created for close combat, used in villages and closed environments. Over time the Jian dagger became a straight-bladed sword that can be used for both stabbing and making precise cuts.
Nowadays there are many Chinese martial arts such as Taiji Quan and its practitioners train with the Jian sword. However, today most Jian are flexible and are used for ceremonial purposes and not for actual combat.
