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Jianzhou fine swords

Type Object Region China Time c. 960–1368

Jianzhou fine swords refer generally to fine-steel blades from Jianzhou in Fujian (around present-day Jian'ou and Jianyang), part of the same norther…

Timeline

  1. c. 1000–1127Jianzhou · JianzhouIn the Northern Song, Jianzhou's smelting and forging industry flourished; Ouyang Xiu called Jianzhou swords the finest under heaven, and forging, quenching and scabbard-fitting techniques formed a local brand, together with Jian ware ceramics constituting northern Fujian's handicraft landscape.
  2. c. 1291–1300Jianning Circuit · Jianning CircuitIn the Yuan dynasty, Jianning Circuit still produced fine-steel swords, some as local tribute or military supply, also sold overland and by sea to prefectures of Jiangnan. Physical survivals are scarce, based mainly on cross-verification of local gazetteers and texts.
  3. c. 1350–1368Jianning Circuit · FujianThe late-Yuan peasant wars reached Fujian, damaging forging workshops; demand for Jianzhou swords as military materiel fluctuated, and the local brand's reputation was gradually supplanted in the Ming by swords such as those of Longquan.

Sources