A Surprisingly Well-Preserved Sword
The Goujian Sword features significant distal taper, or decreasing thickness. The edge is only half as thick as the base of the blade near the handle. That is combined with subtle profile taper, or decreasing width, from blade base to tip. Like other jian swords, its blade is comprised of three sections: the tip, middle, and root. Jian tips typically curve smoothly to a point, and they are used to thrust, slash, or make quick cuts. The middle is for deflection, or for drawing and cleaving cuts. The root, closest to the handle, is mainly for defense. By the sixth century BC, Chinese bronze sword production techniques had reached an advanced stage, and laminated bronze jians with copper sulphide and chromium oxide coatings to resist correction became common.
The Goujian Sword was a perfect example of the effectiveness of such anti corrosive techniques. The tomb and sword had been soaked in underground water for over 2000 years. Nonetheless, the Goujian Sword had resisted tarnish, without any trace of rust, and still retained its sharp edge. Today, the Goujian Sword is regarded by China as one of the country’s greatest archaeological discoveries and greatest national treasures. It is as legendary to the Chinese public as King Arthur’s Excalibur is in western culture. With the key difference being that the Goujian Sword is not mythical, but real. These days, visitors can view the sword on display at the Hubei Provincial Museum in Hubei, China.