Late Qing Jian- Chinese Swords and Swordsmanship Series
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- Late Qing Jian- This video looks at a typical late Qing Jian, a type that was made into the early Chinese Republic and is often seen in photos in manuals published during that period, including Taiji Sword by Chen Weiming. Judging from the number of jian of his form encountered today, it appear a fair large number of these were forged. This is perhaps why many today think this is typical Jian. While is a common form of late Qing Jian, is quite a departure from Jian of just 50 to 100 years earlier.
This example has a blade length of 31 1/2”, 80 cm. And it is heavy, 2 lb 3 oz, 992 g. The guard is also wider than was typical for earlier Jian. It also has a wooden scabbard that is clad in metal. A feature that is extremely rare for Chinese swords. This feature is most likely a European influence as Chinese was importing European style military sabers for the New Army based in Tianjin and these had metal scabbards.
In video this Rodell laoshi discusses why these late Jian differ from earlier examples as well as how it handles from the practitioner’s point of view.
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Love the sword lore on this channel. History is always welcome
Great, thanks.
Tell us what you would like to see next?
@@mugenGRTC 陌刀！
Thanks! Always interested to learn more about the variations between the different swords
My pleasure, thanks for watching.
Sweet
Thanks, see you in St. Paul...
Thank you for sharing !!!!
Your support is always appreciated Dai.
Thanks for making these videos. I would love if you would do more videos on authentic period jian. It's so hard to find reliable information on length, weight, fittings, styles, etc.
Thanks, we plan to. Have you seen our earlier video: Chinese Swords & Swordsmanship: Jian - Historical Reality ruclips.net/video/WUmT1SN8J04/видео.html
Another great video!
Thanks!
New Jian Video out this coming Monday... Support the Art, Please subscribe...
Excellent history lesson. Thank you!
This jian, other than the weight and the extra inch of length, looks remarkably close in shape to the cutting jian you designed for Hanwei. Is that because the cutting jian is for training? Do you have any plans for an earlier period jian that you would rather dual with as mentioned in the video?
Actually the Cutting Jian is quite different in overall geometry. Though the late Qing Jian seen in this video is close in weight to the Cutting Jian I designed, the Cutting Jian has a much livelier balance. I will certainly be making more videos about jian as will as other Chinese weapons. Have you seen- ruclips.net/video/WUmT1SN8J04/видео.html
Thank you for your reply.
I have seen the video you linked. I also own a Hanwei jian and find it very lively.
I found the incidental similarities worth mentioning as I find jian fascinating.
Thank you for the continuing education! I look forward to further videos.
Very interesting, thanks for posting! 👍
Glad you liked it. What topic would you like to see covered in future videos?
@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 Maybe a demonstration of some forms? That would be interesting...
@@johnhanley9946 I will think on that. There are some many (unfortunately bad, including in my own lineage) forms videos that I have concentrated on demonstrating skills. In that way I hope to inspire some to go further in the art.
@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 It would be great to see a video explaining your view, I enjoy your content.
Thank you so much
Glad you enjoyed it. Let us know what you would like to see in the future?
@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 types of belt for trasporting weapons
@@nonsononessunooko4066 Thanks for the idea, I would have to use period illustrations for that.
@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969thanks! see you in the jianfa online course👌
Thank you sifu.
Thanks for your support, we appreciate it very much.
I'm not familiar with Chinese use of cavalry, but could it have been used as a cavalry slashing weapon (in a kind of European style)?
No it wasn't for 2 reasons. First, as mentioned in this video, the edge geometry simply would not stand up to that sort of hard use, it is simply too thin. And the Qing used dao exclusively for the military.
When you measure the length of the blade, do you measure from the end of the guard, or from where the scabbard seats inside of the guard?
The standard method it to measure from the base of the guard.
Please let us know what other videos you would like to see from GRTC?
@@mugenGRTC I come from a Japanese martial arts background. Perhaps you could compare and contrast Chinese weapons with Japanese weapons.
You channel very cool!
Could you please introduce the Tang 陌刀？Sorry for I don't know its name in English. It is very powerful in Tang dynasty.
I will keep it in mind, though I tend to focus on the Qing period.
I think the extra length and the lighter weight correlates to the prevalence of firearms. imo Most of the average combat would be done with standard infantry weapons, which would mean guns and bayonets, or more standard traditional weapons. But, in an arena filled with guns, infantry become much softer targets. Armor is largely abandoned in favor of mobility (lighter weight for fast marching, but also less restrictions for movement, the most critical objective is to point the gun and shoot it). Strikes against an opponent also changes, because fewer people can parry, or block,,, instead of engaging an opponent and overcoming them, you simply get in range and strike. There is no block, there is no parry, if you get them first you get them, just like with guns. So, swords benefit from a bit of length, because they can reach opponents more easily, and they can be lighter because you can find a soft target more easily, while most traditional swordfighting simply never arises. In the "wilderness", traditional duels and militia fights might remain as they were, but government forces would always be upgraded when possible, and in those places where guns were prominent, swords are more useful if they are more similar to sabers and broadswords, which in practice only cut a target, and not much else. (it's possible to arrange for a duel, but it's unlikely that one will happen during police actions or military actions),,,, just my reaction/opinions.
I notice none of your Jian samples are adorned with a tassel. Is that a bit of irrelevant decorative fluff?
Some swords, jian but particularly dao, had a loop that ran through the hole in the grip. This allowed the sword to hang from the wrist if knocked from the hand or to pause to shoot a bow without having to re-scabbard. But long tassel like tassels were only used for decoration when jian were hung on a wall.
Hello! New subscriber, referred to your channel by Sifu Kuttel. If I may ask, what is the origin of the 'sword fingers' often formed by the non-sword wielding hand? I had read somewhere that this was to simulate the carrying of a small dagger, which may have been common in days past... Thank you in advance!
Given that the footwork and strategy jianfa generally employs is designed to keep one at a distance where one is free to move and optimizes the use of the jian itself, I don't see the fingers simulating a dagger a very plausible suggestion. Does it make sense to close into a short and dangerous distance when you can easily and safely deliver a telling blow from distance? Clearly no.
The sword fingers is actually a daoist mudra associated with Xuanwu, the major deity of Wudang Mountain.
@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 Thanks so much for the information!
@@TonyHookedonVanlife No worries, my pleasure.
Scott, has the GRTC permanently moved out of DC? I remember it being in the city, but I googled recently and got a Virginia address.
You are really selling me on chines swords. I am missing A rigth lower leg and am wondering if I could learn to use this type of sword. I have no ankle movement and my knee id A little restricted. So getting into low stances is tough for me. I do really want to try. i'll be looking for A place near me to train. I'm A katana fan boy and it's been interesting to find out what swords influenced it's design. You have A great channel
Thank you.
I don't see why you couldn't learn the Art of Chinese Swordsmanship. You can start with the first 2 months at Half Off the usual Subscription rate with code: cut50 -- www.chineseswordacademy.com/membershipsandcourses
Is that an original piece or a recreation cuz the fittings are really nice.
"Late Qing" as in before 1911 as in antique.
@@scottm.rodellgrtc2969 it looks so pretty
@@camrendavis6650 Thanks.
“青锋剑“means "green edge sword".
青锋 means "sharp-edged". Historically the word "青锋" and "剑" are interchangeable.
@@whodywei You have to distinguish between literal meaning and derived meaning. 青锋剑originally refers to two particular swords, both are famous historically. That is why sometimes people use the term generally for all swords. Being sharp is a common attribute for a good sword, hence the general term of "利剑“。 But the character "青“ by no means means "sharp" directly. It means more of a cold steel metal color and a new edge (vs. a used hence dull edge).
@@whodywei I think your explanation is right.
Its a deliberately oversized overweight sword for training ..so you learn to use your regular sized sword easier.. . Training swords i do believe are a chinese invention the oldest ones are cast bronze and date from the era of the great wall maybe earlier
But nowadays we know that is better to use a sword lighter than normal,to train technique,because a heavier one is going to mess up the hand eye coordination.
Perhaps a calvary sword
Chinese stopped using jian as cavalry weapons by the Yuan dynasty.
: ) spoko
Ta nan Tang ta fu yu shie
Explanation seems iffy
Why?
If I may, I have handled over 3,000 antique Chinese swords, including everything in the Met's reserve collection. And have owned over 600 pieces that I bought and sold as a dealer of Chinese antique arms and armor. My observations are based on over 2 decades of study. If you have some other information to offer, please do. You may also find this video: Chinese Swords & Swordsmanship: Jian - Historical Reality, worth viewing- ruclips.net/video/WUmT1SN8J04/видео.html
Scott, I'm 45 and have been following your work for a very long time. I don't mean any disrespect. Nevertheless...
@@Baihu108 it just felt very speculative (reasoning for length and thickness)
I can't afford ancient swords and so I've been making my own for 30 years. Often I make them a particular size or weight distribution for a reason, but not always. Sometimes it's random or improvisation due to circumstances or material
@@tbishop4961 None taken, just having a friendly chat.