What is the weight of a real Han Jian ?

In the year 219 AD, Crown Prince of Wei,  Cao Pi,  wrote a celebratory memorandum on the completion of  nine precious Jian, Dao and Dagger.   

This memorandum is one of the most valuable ancient record of the weight and length of Han Jian and Han Dao. 

In this article, unit of measurement is converted from Han Dynasty units  to  

modern metric and imperial units. 

Note: It is unclear whether weight measurements were blade only or including hand guard, pommel, hilt handle and cord wrapping.   

We assumed weight measurements were for the blade without fittings.

An abridged version of memorandum:

On the 24th year of era of Jian An (219 AD),   

Crown Prince of Wei,  commissioned 

three treasured Jian made with one hundred refinements.   

First Jian I named “Fleeting shadow”   

Length 101.64 cm (40”)

Weight 480.5 g    (1 lb 0.95 oz)

Second Jian I named it “Flowing rainbow”

Length 101.64 cm (40”)

Weight 465 g      (1 lb 0.4 oz)

Third Jian I named it “Glorious edge”

No mention of length and weight on the third Jian.

Crown Prince of Wei 

commissioned three treasured Dao

First Dao I named “Spirited Treasure”

Length 105.51 cm   (41.5”)

Weight 837 g         (1 lb 13.5 oz)

Second Dao I named “Sunset Glory”

Length 104.78 cm (41.3”)

Weight 899 g       (1 lb 15.7 oz)

Third Dao I named “White Beauty”

Length 104.06 cm (40.96”)

Weight 635.5 g     (1 lb 6.4 oz)

These measurements were highly reliable for the following 3 reasons:

First:   

Cao Pi himself was an excellent swordsman and study under different instructors when young and record one of the most accurate fencing encounters between himself and the commander of the elite guards.   

There is no reason for Cao Pi to record other than the true weight and length 

of his newly commissioned treasure.  

He was the crown prince and he had nothing to sell to anyone, just record how excited he was with his new treasures.

Second:  

The measurement make perfect physical and geometrical sense.

When we compare Cao Pi's measurements for his Jian and Dao,

we observed that the Jian and Dao were of similar length 

Jian  101.64 cm, 101.64 cm                     (40", 40")

Dao   105.51 cm, 104.78 cm, 104.06 cm  (41.53", 41.25", 40.97")

The weight of Han Jian were much lighter than the Han Dao 

Jian 480.5 g , 465 g            (1 lb 0.9 oz,  1lb 0.4 oz)

Dao 837 g, 899 g, 635.5 g   (1 lb 13 oz, 1 lb 15 oz, 1 lb 6.3 oz)

Given the similar length of a weapon, the thickness determines the weight.

Jian in general is thinner than Dao, it is because the thickest part of the Jian is at the central spine.  To thin out to the edge of the blade to make a sharp edge, a Jian only have HALF of its width to thin to a sharp edge.

If the Jian spine is too thick, than the edge cannot be very sharp.

The thickness part of the Dao is at one side, and have the full width to thin to a sharp edge rather than half of the width as in Jian.

Dao can therefore be made thicker and therefore much more heavy and still very sharp on the single edge.

These two weapons are build differently and are handled differently.

Third:

Surviving real Han Jian and Han Dao provides collaborating material evidence.

Take the following well preserved Han Jian and Han Dao:

Han Jian # 1 

Eight sided blade,   

Total length 100 cm (39.37"),   

blade length 87 cm  (34.25"),  

weight 491 g             (1 lb, 1.3  oz)

Han Jian # 2

Six sided blade,  

Total length 120 cm (47.24"), 

Blade length 96 cm (37.79"),  

Weight 672 g            (1 lb 7.7 oz)

Han Jian # 3

Four sided blade,  

Total length 105 cm (41.33"), 

Blade length 86 cm (33.85")

Weight 500 g            (1 lb, 1.6 oz)

Han Dao # 1

Total length 112 cm  (44.09")

Blade length 94 cm (37")

Weight  791 g            (1 lb, 11 oz)

Han Dao # 2

Total length 127 cm  (50")

Blade length 105 cm (41")

Weight  1270 g          (2 lb 12 oz)

For Jian,  if the important functioning parameters such as  

hardness, flexibility and elasticity

are to remains the same  

The lighter the Jian it is, the harder it is to forge.

If the Jian is made heavier, of course it will increase the hardness etc.  but the increase in weight will greatly hamper the agile handling of the Jian.

As we know, if we maintain the same weight of a Jian,

when the point of balance is closer to the hand guard, 

the more agile it is the handling.

when the point of balance is away from the hand guard, 

the striking power will increase.

The optimal Point of Balance is determined by the geometry of the blade.   

Han Jian have a POB from the hand guard, around 20 cm.

but due to its superb craftsmanship, it is still very light weight, agile and has excellent handling.

Real Han Jian is a perfect amalgamation of beauty and function,  

They were legendary and were truly the zenith of Chinese Jian

This article is translated from the original Chinese article by Mr. Lau Zai To

Mr. Lau is one of the foremost collector and expert in Han Jian and we are in debt and benefit from his pioneering research work. 

The point of balance of real Han Jian, it is not what most people would have thought.

Using two authentic Han Jian as illustration

An eight side Han Jian : blade length 69 cm [27"]

A four side Han Jian     : blade length 86 cm [33"]

Before any fittings is added to the sword handle,

The POB of the 

8 sides Han Jian is at 23.5 cm [9.25"] in front of  the hand guard

4 sides Han Jian is at 27.0 cm [10.6"]  in front of  the hand guard

Here we have 5 pommel of different sizes, combined total weight is 133.38 gram. 

On average, a pommel weight 26.68 grams [ 0.94 ounces] .

From this we can see, the pommel and the hand guard are not really that heavy. If we ignore the weight of the wood handle and the wrapping cord, the additional weight on the handle by the pommel and the hand guard combine is 48.61 gram, less than 50 grams [1.7 ounces]

We took a pair of hand guard and pommel, and add them to the raw blades.

After adding the pommel and hand guard, 

8 sided Han Jian’s adjusted POB is 20.5 cm [8.07"] in front of the hand guard. 

4 sided Han Jian’s adjusted POB is 23.5 cm [9.25"] in front of the hand guard.  

The POB get drawn closer to the hand guard, however,

 due to the fact that the fittings are relatively light, 

their effect on the weight distribution of the Han Jian

 is not very pronounced.

Here we have 5 hand guards of different sizes, combine total weight is 

109.66 grams. 

On average, a hand guards weight 21.93 grams [0.77 ounces]

As we all know, if we fix the weight of a sword, 

when the center of gravity gets closer to the hand guard, 

the sword is easier and more agile to yield. 

when the center of gravity moves away from the hand guard, 

the striking power of the sword increases.

So it is necessary, to find a POB where it is agile to yield but yet still have enough striking power. 

The answer is in the unique geometry of the Han Jian blade.  

Han Jian blade is long and slim compare to later period Jian.  

Han Jian also have a taper toward the tip of the blade.

The blade geometry determines the weight of the Jian. 

A blade of a 100cm [39.3] Han Jian weight only around 500 grams 

[1 lb, 1.6 ounces].

The blade geometry also determine the best POB, and the center of gravity.

By moving the POB further out from the the hand guard, Han Jian strike an excellent balance.  

The forward POB  increase the striking power, while the total weight is still light,   Han Jian got the exception handling and power that have not been surpassed.

This article is translated from the original Chinese article by Mr. Lau Zai To

Mr. Lau is one of the foremost collector and expert in Han Jian and we are in debt and benefit from his pioneering research work.