A replica of the sword of King of ancient Yue State -- a weapon that restored a defeated state -- will be displayed in a local building on Huaihai Road in Shanghai through February 28.
The sword, which is as legendary to the Chinese people as is King Arthur's sword in the West, is on display to the public free of admission, according to Jiao Tong University, which created the replica.
The original sword, one of the most exquisite examples of early metallurgy in China, was unearthed in Hubei Province in 1965, but has never been displayed to public.
Carefully crafted from the original, university officials expected locals could appreciate the rare antique from the replica.
The king, Gou Jian, reigned the Yue State during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-467 BC). His kingdom was defeated by the State of Wu, but Gou Jian was able to lead his army to victory over the invaders 10 years later after reminding himself of the humiliation of defeat by sleeping on thorny firewood and tasting the bile from a gallbladder every day.
The replica is 55.6 centimeters in length and 4.6 centimeters wide, and weighs about 936 grams, closely approximating the original. Each side of the sword is inlaid with turquoise, and eight Chinese characters are carved on one side meaning King of Yue State made it for his own use.
"Notice the checked pattern on the blade. Making that took a combination of 68 complicated processes," said Zhan Shaosi, a renowned bronzeware expert.
(Eastday.com January 23, 2003)
