Ming Jian

[josh stout]

I get confused sometimes between the kirttimukha, kala, yaizi, and makara. The makara with the upturned nose and water diety aspects seems very close to Yaizi, while the kirttimukha and the kala seem to be the same thing. For purposes of dating and placing swords, the big eyed, big nosed kirttimukha seems to be definitively Tibetan and Ming, except that I have these shuang jian I have posted before, that seem to be neither Tibetan nor Ming.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j65/p ... ion346.jpg

I suspect that in border regions stylistic aspects may hold out much longer than they do in well traveled areas. The clue would be the loss of refinement in the details.
Josh

[Scott M. Rodell]

Ming dynasty jian in the Ming dynasty painting, Shi Ne Wen Dao (Shine, an Emperor of 16 Kingdoms period, asking the way), from the collection of the Chengdu Classic Book Store. Painted by Xie Shicheng who worked from 1488 to 1547.

[Scott M. Rodell]

Note the open pommel with the loop of cord thru it that was a common feature of Ming period jian, Qing dynasty jian pommels were solid.

[Nik]

Looks like the cross-guard is a simple curved bar ?

[Scott M. Rodell]

Note the open pommel with the loop of cord thru it that was a common feature of Ming period jian, Qing dynasty jian pommels were solid.

This example, the personal sword of the Ming Jiaqing Emperor*, shown here being carried by an attendant, also has a loop has a loop thru pommel, but with a much smaller hole than the above example. Also note how the scabbard to bound around the edge by a metal rim, this is another common characteristic of Ming jian that Qing period jian lacked.

[Freebooter]

Thank you Scott for bringing these images to the forum for all to view.

I am interested in viewing the Jian mentioned as being in the leeds armoury at the start of this thread, the link is broken though. Are there images available from anyone for posting?

Best to all for the new year ahead.

Gav

[Peter Dekker]

Hi,

This be the one:


It is best drooled over in the pages of this excellent book:
LaRocca, Donald J., et. al., Warriors of the Himalayas: Rediscovering the Arms and Armor of Tibet (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2006).
It features a thorough description and some nice full-color pictures as well as some comparable examples.

-Peter