#mingsword

[steelandcotton]

Ming Period Painting depicting an official escorted by two guards carrying Two-handed Chinese Long Sabers over their shoulders. 

Source: https://baike.sogou.com/v73729660.htm

[steelandcotton]

Ming Period Jian as Depicted in Sāncái Tú Huì, 三才圖會. Note the “V” shaped angular tip that was a common feature of Ming Jian.

[steelandcotton]

The Ming period ran from 1368 to 1644, so examples of period jian are quite rare and are presumably often refit. Example of armor from the Dynasty are almost nonexistent. Fortunately we can turn to period paintings for a look at the arms and armor of the time. This illustration is a close up from the Cónglánhuàn Jī Tú (丛兰宦迹图). It show a high official (Cong Lan 丛兰) in a scale armor vest with a typical Ming jian at his hip. The jian exhibits features common to Ming jian, namely that banded scabbard, the narrow shaped guard, and the open pommel with sword tassel running through it.

[steelandcotton]

Close up from a fine, Ming period daoist painting of gods holding written spells, attendants and horsemen, Ming dynasty, 17th century.

Note the mounts of the jian with fairly typical fittings for the period, namely the band running along the top edge of the scabbard, the scabbard suspension bands, and the open pommel.

Source: https://www.bukowskis.com/en/auctions/586/9-a-fine-daoist-painting-of-gods-holding-written-spells-attendants-and-horsemen-ming-dynasty-17th-century

[steelandcotton]

An Old Lady Feeds a Hero

By Guo Xu (1456–c.1529)

Note the typical Ming style Jian, open pommel, banded scabbard.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guo_Xu_album_dated_1503_(6).jpg

[steelandcotton]

Working on Thanksgiving...

Enjoying some free time during Thanksgiving, sketching out a new design for a sword guard. I am working on a new design for another project with Ryan Sword, a Ming General's Jian. The guard will have a pair of dragons and is inspired by a late Ming iron Hushou (sword guard) I recently acquired. This example had been remounted on a Japanese sword at some point, possibly have been acquired as a trophy during the Imjin Wars.