Goujian sword

E709527

The Goujian sword is an exceptionally well-preserved, intricately decorated bronze sword from ancient China, famed for its sharpness, resistance to tarnish, and association with King Goujian of the Yue state.

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Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf ancient Chinese artifact
archaeological find
bronze sword
approximateDate 5th century BCE
associatedWith Goujian of Yue NERFINISHED
bladeLength approximately 45.6 cm
bladeType double-edged
category Chinese ritual and military weapon
corrosionResistanceReason carefully controlled alloy composition
high craftsmanship
countryOfOrigin China
culture Yue state NERFINISHED
currentLocation Hubei Provincial Museum NERFINISHED
currentLocationCity Wuhan NERFINISHED
decoration black rhombic patterns on blade
blue crystals in hilt
turquoise in hilt
discoveredDuring excavation of ancient Chu tombs
discoveredIn Hubei Province NERFINISHED
Jiangling County NERFINISHED
discoveryCountry China NERFINISHED
discoveryYear 1965
edgeCondition still sharp when discovered
hiltCovering silk
hiltMaterial wood
inscriptionContent mentions King Goujian of Yue
inscriptionFunction asserts royal authority
identifies owner
inscriptionLanguage ancient Chinese
inscriptionScript bird-worm seal script
length approximately 55.6 cm
manufacturingTechnique differential composition between edge and core
high-tin bronze casting
material bronze
copper
small amounts of arsenic
small amounts of iron
small amounts of lead
small amounts of sulfur
tin
notableFor exceptional preservation
intricate decoration
resistance to tarnish
sharpness
pommelShape circular
preservationState almost untarnished when excavated
significance important artifact of Chinese metallurgy history
symbol of Yue state craftsmanship
timePeriod Spring and Autumn period NERFINISHED
weight approximately 875 g
width approximately 4.6 cm

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

State of Yue associatedWith Goujian sword