A sword of the steppes

This sword was excavated in the Taklamakan Desert of Central Asia; however, its style matches those of the same period produced in Southwest China. Dated between the 4th and 1st centuries BC, it highlights the beginnings of advanced weapon metalworking in Central and Eastern Asia. Its excavated location, relative to where it was likely manufactured, indicates the cultural movement of Chinese warfare styles in addition to the physical movement of weapons trade across China and Central Asia via the Gansu corridor. Duan Jian is a Chinese-style sword, meaning ‘double-edged’. This clearly marks the object as having traveled from the east, as opposed to some styles of sword further west at this time. In addition to the sword’s style, the materials and manufacturing processes used in its creation are notable.

Material construction

The slender blade of this sword is composed of an unspecified steel alloy, inlaid with gold foil along the bottom portion in decorative sockets. The hilt is composed of bronze, with decorative features. The total length of this sword is measured at 26.75 inches. The multiple metals used in this weapon, and the advanced techniques used to construct it, are indicative of an advanced metallurgy industry that was present in China at this time. However, the precious nature of the metals used, specifically the gold, further indicates the material wealth of the society from which this object originates, that is, outside of its archaeological context. ¹

Technohistorical Significance

Sword technology, as noted by the object catalog, can be traced to the Eurasian steppe as far back as the third millennium BC. These weapons doubled as symbols of status and power. The gold decorations here are eye-catching by design, which indicates the duan jian was a status symbol for someone of means. Additionally, the foreign construction of this sword indicates trade ties between Ancient (possibly Qin Dynasty) China and the ruling powers of Khotan stretching over geographic barriers like the mountains of the Tibetan plateau, as well as the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. The importation of this weapon furthermore signifies a preference for a Chinese style of warfare, or at the very least an awareness of their martial practices and objects. The physical transportation of the sword, as well as the technological movement of duan jian warfare from China to Central Asia show two parallel forms of Silk Roads driven westward motion during the first millennium BC. The interaction among these cultures extends to transmission through conflict and martial prowess, not just bilateral trade relations. This style of sword would go on to be used in China as long as melee weapons have, with an object such as this marking an important nexus in function and fashion for bladed, resource-intensive weapons like swords. ²

Bibliography

• Pyhrr, Stuart W., Donald J. La Rocca, and Morihiro Ogawa. Arms and Armor: Notable Acquisitions, 1991–2002. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2002. 43–44. https://books.google.com/books?id=tu3rasl0_fMC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA40#v=onepage&q&f=false
• Li, Bingjie, Xudong Jiang, Yin Tu, Jianguo Lv, Qiang Fu, Bei Wei, Tao Hu, and Chunxu Pan. “Study on Manufacturing Process of Ancient Chinese Bi-Metallic Bronze Ge.” Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 12, no. 2 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01021-5.