The Profound Art of Chinese Sword (Jian)

The Jian (Cantonese: gim), a narrow-blade, double-edged sword, has been respected as the "King of Short Weapons" in China for millennia. Wielding the Jian requires the highest of skill, and the sword user must strive to the heights of spirit and morality. In addition to the obvious self-defense uses, swords were commonly carried by scholars for their elegance. Also, because of its beauty, the Jian has always been popular for use in dance.

Although the art of the sword has enjoyed a glorious past, its future is uncertain. Modern culture leads people away from its study for several reasons. First, the gun replaced the sword as a personal weapon over a century ago because of its ease of operation and concealment, and greater killing potential. This leads people to believe that sword techniques have no practical value. Second, there are few masters qualified to teach, and thereby to preserve, the artistry of handling the sword. Finally, proficiency in sword techniques requires much time, patience, and practice, and few people today seem willing to exert the energy necessary to learn the ancient art of the Chinese sword.

The study and practice of sword techniques, however, like that of any martial art, has value far beyond that derived from merely perfecting the technique due to its intrinsic historical value. This art form has been developing for over 4,000 years and represents a great development of human culture. Sword training promotes good health. Like any sport, perfecting the art of the sword requires extensive physical training, which results in a strong, finely-tuned body. Sword technique retains its personal defense value because it trains one’s perceptions and reactions, allowing for quick and correct response to any situation. Finally, the most important aspect of the art of the sword remains its moral value. The practitioner must learn patience, perseverance, and humility. If the student persists and concentrates, sword art will strengthen his spiritual confidence and power. Click to learn how Chinese medicine treats Fungal Pneumonia.

Sword sequences are commonly named for a mountain near where the sequence was created such as Kun Wu Jian, for a style of Gongfu, such as Taiji Jian, or for the person who composed the sequence such as Qi Men Jian. It can also be named by the creator of the sequence as he pleases, such as San Cai Jian (Three Powers Sword).