Detail View: National Palace English: Bronze sword belonging to king Zhougo of Yue
|
Work ID:
|
M01B00068
|
|
Title:
|
Bronze sword belonging to king Zhougo of Yue
|
|
Creation Date:
|
Late Spring and Autumn Period
|
|
Start Year Date:
|
B.C.570
|
|
End Year Date:
|
B.C.476
|
|
Dynasty:
|
09 Spring Autumn Period (770~481 B.C)
|
|
Creation Place:
|
China
|
|
Measurements:
|
Height: 49.5 cm; Weight: 555g
|
|
Material:
|
Bronze
|
|
Form:
|
Jian (sword)
|
|
Type:
|
Bronzes
|
|
Repository:
|
The National Palace Museum, Taipei
|
|
Description:
|
14 characters are inscribed on two sides of the guard in the area where the sword handle and blade are joined. They indicate the weapon's type, owner, country, and period as well as displaying the regional style of the calligraphy. Using the medium ridge as a division, the guard can be separated into two units with their backs to each other. On the front unit are two sides: one with three characters transcribed wuzhougo, and on the other wangzhougo. On the back unit are transcribed zizuo yongjian, indicating that this sword is made for the personal use of King Zhougo of Yue kingdom (circa. 448~441 B.C.) As indicated in the inscription, this weapon is called a jian, or a sword, Yue kingdom's term for weapons with short handles and sharp and slender blades. During the Spring and Autumn period, while soldiers near the central plains still used chariots for fighting their battles, the southern kingdoms of Chu and Yue, much of which were occupied by swamps and wild jungles, fought mostly with soldiers on foot. Since swords were most suitable for close combats, they gradually developed and become widespread in those regions.
|
|
ImageV ID:
|
M01B00068AS002
|
|
Rights:
|
Lee & Lee Communications
|