28. A Bronze Sword That Survived Millennia and Was Still Sharp When Recovered
The Jian sword, known in Chinese folklore as “The Gentleman of Weapons”, is a double-edged straight sword that typically features a guard in the shape of a stingray. Grips are usually made of fluted wood or covered in ray skin, and the handle has a pommel for balance, for trapping or striking an opponent, and to prevent slipping through the user’s hand. Jians have been in use for at least 2600 years and probably far longer. The earliest recorded mention of them dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period (771 – 476 BC).
By the sixth century BC, Chinese bronze sword production techniques had reached an advanced stage, and laminated bronze jians with copper sulfide and chromium oxide coatings to resist corrosion became common. The effectiveness of such anti-corrosive techniques can be seen in the Goujian Sword, roughly 2600-years-old, which was recovered from a tomb in 1965. Although the tomb had been soaked in underground water for over 2000 years, the recovered sword had resisted tarnish and still kept a sharp edge.
