In 1965, a bronze sword carved with eight
characters meaning the sword of King Goujian of Yue, was discovered in an ancient
tomb in Jiangling, Hubei province.
King Goujian lived in 2,000 years ago, and ruled the State of Yue in the late Spring
and Autumn Period. It is said that, when Goujian was defeated by the State of Wu,
he was insulted by the King of that state. Goujian determined to take revenge. Later,
the State of Yue grew stronger and finally defeated the State of Wu and became a
superpower of the time.
The bronze sword is 55.6 cm in total length, and 5.6 cm in length of the sword body.
Though buried for more than 2,000 years, the sword shows no rust at all, and the
sharp blade gleams with cold light as ever. It could lacerate more than twenty pieces
of paper in one time. It is decorated with veiled rhombus patterns. The hilt of
the sword is wrapped with silk thread, and embedded on one side with a blue glaze
and on the other a turquoise glaze.
According to research by experts, Chinese craft workers had mastered such superb
technology of founding sword.
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