Sentence | Li-chi-hsien
Edit | Chestnut Hat
The word swordsman sounds like it has a mysterious and ancient atmosphere. It seems to be able to take us back to the era when ancient martial arts were prevalent.
At that time, swordsmen were the elite of the samurai, who used swords as companions and martial virtues as the criterion to walk the rivers and lakes and guard justice and peace. When we think of a swordsman, we think of a chivalrous warrior dressed in flowing robes and holding a sword.
The image of the swordsman is also often used in various literary works, whether it is a movie, TV series or novel, the swordsman is a charismatic character. "The Sword of the Third Young Master" is a martial arts novel written by Gu Long, which tells the story of a swordsman.
The protagonist Xie Xiaofeng is the third young master of Shenjian Villa, he is a person with superb swordsmanship and talent, and his life is full of legends.
In fact, the image of a swordsman walking the rivers and lakes with a sword is largely a romanticized depiction of martial arts novels and film and television works. In ancient times, the carrying of weapons was restricted.
The special meaning of the sword in ancient times
Before understanding this question, let's first talk about what is a sword? The significance of the sword in ancient Chinese society is far more than an ordinary weapon, but also a status symbol.
In the ritual system of the Zhou Dynasty, the wearing of swords, especially those decorated with jade, became a sign of nobility. The Zhou Rites record the specifications of the swords that should be worn by the nobles of different ranks, which is a reflection of their social status.
Therefore, at that time, the sword was more of a symbol of social rank and honor, rather than just a weapon of war.
As for the common people, they are usually not allowed to carry weapons in peacetime, but in wartime, the state may conscript civilians into the army, at which point they will be given weapons for military use. However, these weapons were generally relatively ordinary weapons, distinct from the ornamental swords worn by the nobility.
Sabre way
In ancient China, there were many ways to carry a sword out of the house, one of which was the one-ear hanging method. This method, in which a saber is tied around the waist with a rope, originated from the custom of the northern nomadic tribes to tie a short sword around their waist in preparation for cutting grass and meat.
In the early Western Zhou tomb in Zhangjiapo, Chang'an, Shaanxi Province, a bronze sword was found on the right side of the waist, because the sword had no scabbard and had a ring near the head of the sword, which was a typical one-ear hanging sword method.
In the vast area north of the Yellow River on the mainland, until the Western Han Dynasty, this type of short sword was quite common, and both national and local museums have collections.
However, with the rapid development of the Central Plains civilization, the length of the sword continued to increase, and the use of the one-ear suspension method to wear the sword, when walking, the sword would swing around the waist, which was really indecent to the nobles of the Central Plains.
As a result, this saber style gradually decreased. Instead, there was a binaural suspension, which tied ropes to both sides of the sword, making it more stable to hang around the waist.
In addition, there is also the use of scabbards and sword belts, which protect the blade from damage, and sword belts that hold the sword around the waist or shoulder.
Ancient Chinese carried swords out in a variety of ways, ranging from the primitive one-ear suspension method to the more stable two-ear suspension method and the use of scabbards and sword belts. These methods not only reflect the wisdom and skills of the ancients, but also reflect the social customs and cultural habits of the time.
In ancient times, could you carry a weapon when you went out
In ancient times, the emergence of weapons was closely related to human production activities. Originally, the concept of a weapon was not clear, and as long as it could be used for attack, whether it was wood or stone, it could be considered a weapon. With the advent of bronze, mankind gradually entered a long era of cold weapons, and the weapons at this time mostly referred to swords made of bronze.
In the early days of the Cold Weapon Age, the line between weapons and farm tools was not clear. Farm tools can be used not only for farming, but also as weapons when necessary. The nine-toothed nail rake used by Zhu Bajie in "Journey to the West" is both a farm tool and a weapon.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, iron tools were not yet widespread, and bronze farming tools were expensive, making it difficult for ordinary people to buy. As a result, they prefer to carry wooden or stone tools out of the house, which can be used for farming, mowing grass, and are not prohibited by the government.
In the Warring States period, iron tools gradually became popular, and the wars were frequent, so the control of civilian weapons in various countries was relatively relaxed, and the people could use weapons at will.
According to the "Historical Records", Feng Chen, a native of Qi, once swam with a sword, and even unscrupulously played the long sword three times in the mansion of Meng Weijun, and the long sword was the long sword.
After Qin Shi Huang unified the world, in order to reduce the circulation of weapons among the people, he strengthened the control of weapons.
Jia Yi's "On the Passage of Qin" wrote: "Collect the soldiers of the world, gather the Xianyang, sell the Fengdi, and cast it as the twelve golden people." This also reflects the Qin Dynasty's great control over metal weapons.
In the Han Dynasty, the system of the Qin Dynasty was inherited, and the control of weapons was stricter, and the famous general Zhou Yafu of the Western Han Dynasty was punished for hiding weapons without permission. From the division of the Eastern Han Dynasty at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the turmoil of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the people's demand for weapons is increasing day by day.
During these periods, due to social turmoil, in order to protect themselves, the people bought and privately cast weapons, such as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and other heroes, their weapons were privately cast. This phenomenon of free circulation reflected the social instability and the people's sense of self-defense at that time.
However, with the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, social order was gradually restored, and the government began to strengthen the management of weapons. The Tang Law clearly stipulates the types of weapons that are prohibited from being kept privately, and violators will be severely punished.
Despite this, the government's relatively lax management of cold weapons such as swords also reflects the openness and tolerance of Tang culture.
The Song Dynasty inherited the Tang system, but allowed the use of short weapons such as the "Pu Dao" among the people, which not only reflected the humane management of the government, but also reflected the people's need for self-defense.
However, in the Southern Song Dynasty, the government began to completely prohibit the possession of weapons and the practice of martial arts among the people, which also led to the strong cadres and weak branches in the later Southern Song Dynasty.
During the Yuan Dynasty, due to the needs of rule, Kublai Khan, the ancestor of the Yuan dynasty, became extremely strict in the management of civilian weapons. This strict administration, while consolidating power to a certain extent, has also restricted the freedom of the people.
During the Ming Dynasty, the emergence of firearms made the government begin to restrict the circulation of firearms, but the restrictions on cold weapons were not strict. The Qing Dynasty inherited the Ming system, and the restrictions on firearms were stricter, but as the situation changed, in the late Qing Dynasty, the restrictions on firearms also became smaller, and as long as the government allowed the government, firearms such as shotguns could be used.
In Chinese history, the management of civilian weapons has been adjusted with the changes of the times. For the most part, the needs of ordinary people and their economic situation limited their need for weapons, so the official management of short weapons such as swords was relatively relaxed.
These short weapons can be used both as production tools and as self-defense. However, for the scholar class or people with martial complexes, they often choose to wear weapons such as swords to go out. These weapons are not only a symbol of their status, but also a tool for their chivalrous deeds.
With the changes of the times, the real swordsman has gradually disappeared into the long river of history. However, the spirit represented by the swordsman - the pursuit of justice, the refinement of martial arts, and the cultivation of the heart is always worth learning and inheriting.
In modern society, although we no longer need to wield a sword, the spirit of a swordsman can still inspire us to strive for excellence in life, maintain integrity, and bravely face difficulties and challenges.