Dec 17, 2021
The Ming period ran from 1368 to 1644, so examples of period jian are quite rare and are presumably often refit. Example of armor from the Dynasty are almost nonexistent. Fortunately we can turn to period paintings for a look at the arms and armor of the time. This illustration is a close up from the Cónglánhuàn Jī Tú (丛兰宦迹图). It show a high official (Cong Lan 丛兰) in a scale armor vest with a typical Ming jian at his hip. The jian exhibits features common to Ming jian, namely that banded scabbard, the narrow shaped guard, and the open pommel with sword tassel running through it.