Nurhachi's Jian
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At the Palace Museum in Shenyang* there are a number of "historical relics" on display including arms. One of the most interesting is this jian -
According to the label at the Museum it belonged to Nurhachi, the Khan who united the Manchu tribes & created the Banner system, laying the foundation for the later Qing dynasty.
I've only see this type of tilting a few times on Chinese jian. The pommels are decorated with pierced open work.
*for more information about this little "Forbidden City" that was the first Manchu imperial Palace before they conquered China, see-
http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/h ... ery81.html
- Peter Dekker
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Interesting...
The rather blunt tip of this jian reminds of those found in the Wujing Zongyao.
(First published in the Song dynasty in 1044 AD)
-Peter
The rather blunt tip of this jian reminds of those found in the Wujing Zongyao.
(First published in the Song dynasty in 1044 AD)
-Peter
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Antique Chinese Arms & Functional reproductions
http://www.manchuarchery.org
Fe Doro - Manchu Archery
Willing is not enough, we must do.
-Bruce Lee
http://www.mandarinmansion.com
Antique Chinese Arms & Functional reproductions
http://www.manchuarchery.org
Fe Doro - Manchu Archery
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Nurhaci's jian
If this sword is attributed to Nurhaci, it could very well mean that it is from his era or had belonged to his household, but I doubt from its configuration that it occupied the position of the saber with openwork iron fittings that is supposedly his, and which has been published elsewhere.
This particular jian may well be a ritual weapon, a type called a "halmari" by the Manchus. It refers to a ceremonial sword used by shamans.
The extremely obtuse "male" point of the blade is interesting. There are two published examples of Taoist ritual jian with similarly "blunt" tip profiles. In fact, those swords go a step further in that the tip angles are slightly concave. These two examples are:
(1) Ming, dated 1403 (Yongle reign), blade and jade hilt inlaid with gold, with later scabbard, Staatlilches Museum fuer Voelkerkunde, Munich (19.5.2)
(2) Ming, Hongzhi reign, 1500, gilt brass hilt, gold inlaid blade, 19th cent. scabbard with inscription dating the sword and documenting its presentation to the the Lingganci (Shrine of Numinous Response), SMfV (19.5.3)
Both are published and illus. in Stephen Little (ed) TAOISM AND THE ARTS OF CHINA (Chicago 2000)
This particular jian may well be a ritual weapon, a type called a "halmari" by the Manchus. It refers to a ceremonial sword used by shamans.
The extremely obtuse "male" point of the blade is interesting. There are two published examples of Taoist ritual jian with similarly "blunt" tip profiles. In fact, those swords go a step further in that the tip angles are slightly concave. These two examples are:
(1) Ming, dated 1403 (Yongle reign), blade and jade hilt inlaid with gold, with later scabbard, Staatlilches Museum fuer Voelkerkunde, Munich (19.5.2)
(2) Ming, Hongzhi reign, 1500, gilt brass hilt, gold inlaid blade, 19th cent. scabbard with inscription dating the sword and documenting its presentation to the the Lingganci (Shrine of Numinous Response), SMfV (19.5.3)
Both are published and illus. in Stephen Little (ed) TAOISM AND THE ARTS OF CHINA (Chicago 2000)
Phil