SCARLET SUNRISE JIN JIAN (266 - 420 AD)

Scarlet Sunrise Jin Jian has ornate brass fittings set against smooth scarlet redwood scabbard and handle,  creating a stunning contrast between red and gold, simple and sophistication.   A Jian of exquisite beauty and elegance for collectors and practitioners with refined aesthetic taste.

Blade

Blade only weight:  500 g (1 lb. 6.5 oz)

Sword only weight:  approx. 650 g (1 lb. 7 oz)

Blade length: 90 cm (35.4")

Handle plus hand guard length: 20 cm (7.8")

Total length: 110 cm (43")

Gentle tapering

Width at hand guard: 23 mm   

Thickness: 7.0 mm 

Blade Profile: diamond 4 surfaces

Steel option 1

Folded pattern steel: 1065 carbon steel + T8 tungsten-cobalt-vanadium high-speed tool steel. 

Steel option 2

Manganese High Carbon Mono Spring Steel

Superior heat treatment:  Hardness 55-58 HRC. Blade rebounds to true after 80-90 degree bending,  

Hand polish to mirror shine and sword sharp edge. 

Fittings

High precision cast brass fittings. 

Scabbard

Furniture grade redwood

Fit and finish

We perfected the fit and finish of our swords and the final assembly is meticulously performed by our senior craft masters.  It takes a skill craftsman one whole working day to assemble our sword to a precision fit.

Zu Ti 祖逖 was hailed from a family line of officials. As a child, he was rather mischievous and it was said that he could not read until the age of 14, but he was well-respected for his generosity. Even at his young age, he was very ambitious and became determined to study hard in his teenage years so that he could become a government official.

The country fell into darkness at Zu Ti's time.  The Jin empire was weaken by infighting among royal princes known as the "War of the Eight Princes" and was invaded by the Xiongnu from the North.  The Jin regime had to fled to the safety at the southern side of the Yangtze river and vast territories in Northern China was lost to invaders.

Sometime in the 290s, Zu Ti as a young man became a Registrar of Sichuan, where he befriended with another registrar named Liu Kun. One night, while they were sleeping in the same bed, Zu Ti heard a rooster's crow in the middle of the night. Most people believe it was a bad omen, but Zu Ti kicked Liu Kun awake, telling him "This is not a disagreeable sound." 

The two men got out of their bed and honed their swordsmanship skills. From that time onwards,  early each morning they trained and prepared themselves physically and mentally to take on the daunting task to recover the lost invaded land.  

A Chinese proverb, 聞雞起舞  "Rising at cockcrow to begin action "  is accredited to this story.

In the years to come, Zu Ti would lead his clansman and re-crossed the Yangtze river and reclaimed a large portion of lost Northern land.  During the crossing, Zu Ti stood at the front of the boat, hitting the oar and made a vow,  "If I cannot recover our land, like the current of this river, I shall never return ! ".   Zu Ti led successful military campaigns and recovered large territories and treated the people in the land he reclaimed with care and kindness.  His efforts unfortunately did not result in lasting success due to lack of support within the Jin court.  However, during his life time, no Northern tribes dared to invade his land and people live in peace under his care.  When Zu Ti passed away at the age of 55,  the people under his care mourned for Zu Ti as if they lost their parents.

LK Chen designed the Scarlet Sunrise Jin Jian, in memory of General Zu Ti, in January 2020 in the midst of the darkness and despair of our own time.