#chineseswords

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Republican Era Chinese Jian with clearly visible differential heat treating of the edge plate that creates a very hard edge. This harden edge makes it excellent for cutting, and it holds its edge quite well. However, the same hardness than makes for superior cutting effectiveness also means that the edge is relatively brittle. For this reason, Chinese Sword Arts standardly deflect with the blade flat rather that parrying with the edge.

Hard blocks with sanmai (three plate) type swords, those of China and Japan, with the edge can lead to a catastrophic failure of the blade.

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Qing Bannerman The Dao was standardly slung with the hilt back in this fashion during the Qing period. Judging from this Bannerman's embroidered changpao and leopard skin jacket he is no doubt a high ranking officer. 

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Emperor Taizu depicted fighting a Leitai Match. Chinese Print

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Chinese Dao (Sabers) are slung from the waist edge down. And so when racked on a sword stand, the edge is down, not up. Edge up racking is a Japanese method of presenting Katana and is incorrect for Chinese Swords. Image is of a Cloud Ladder Unit Saber (健銳營雲梯刀圖) from the Qing Imperial Regulations.

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After my weekly Sword Art Webinars, I occasionally presents an informal "Show & Tell" of an antique Chinese Sword. In this presentation he shares a Chinese Shuangshoujian, Long Sword or Two-Handed Jian that he is working on restoring, showing what the sword looks like pre-restoration. 

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That's this morning's job done, drawing out a set of Cloud Motif Fittings for a full restoration job for a Qing Oxtail Dao. Drawing the fittings by hand isn't too tricky, I've done enough of these to sketch them free hand from memory. But I like to have a period example on hand for inspiration whenever I draw. Next I will clean the blade to make the polisher's job a bit easier.

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Chinese Sword Stand Mis-identified as Japanese-

Though described as, "Splendid cinnabar lacquer and gilt katana kake carved in the Chinese Imperial manner for four swords. Late 19th century, possibly earlier. Beautifully carved with pierced phoenix bird and lions in the Chinese manner with pillars held by fierce dragons with inlaid eyes," this stand is quite clearly of Chinese style and manufacture. Compare the carving seen here with other examples in this album. Source: https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/japanese-samurai-sword-stand-katana-kake-4038384