The “Jian”( double-edge sword) is one of the ancient weapons, known as the "king of a hundred weapons." The Jian has undergone thousands of years of evolution and development, becoming more sophisticated over time. The various parts of the Jians are named differently. The components of the Jians are as follows:
The Jian consists of the blade and the hilt.
The blade includes:
- Edge: the sharp front end of the blade;
- Ridge: the raised central line of the blade;
- Slope: the sloping parts on both sides of the ridge;
- Guard: the outer edge, the sides of the blade;
- Back: the combination of the ridge and the slopes.
The hilt includes:
- Tang: the handle of the hilt, which can be flat or round;
- Guard: the handguard between the tang and the blade, also known as the guard, ring, or sword guard;
- Pommel: the rounded end of the tang, also known as the pommel;
- Ring: the circular ornament on the tang;
- Wrap: the rope wrapped around the tang;
- Lanyard: a leather cord attached to the pommel, used for hanging on the wrist for easy access;
- Tassel: a decorative tassel attached to the pommel, also known as a sword knot, used for ceremonial purposes.
Additionally, Jians are usually accompanied by a scabbard, also known as a "room," which is worn over the blade to protect it and for ease of carrying.
The hilt includes the guard and the tang, with most swords also having a pommel.
Shoulder: some swords do not have a guard, instead, they have a shoulder, which is the thickest part of the blade.
Ring: some swords have a ring-shaped object on the tang.
Pommel: the top of the hilt, usually with a hole for threading a cord.
Guard: also known as the handguard, it is an oval-shaped part between the blade and the hilt used for protection.
Scabbard: also known as a sword sheath or room, it holds the sword. Made of iron or wood, covered with sharkskin, and decorated with lacquer or black paint, sometimes adorned with jewels.
Tang: an old term for the hilt of a sword.
Room: another term for the scabbard.
Tip: another term for the end of the sword.
Guard: also known as the sword guard.
Tassel: a decorative ornament tied to the end of the hilt. In modern swordsmanship, there are distinctions between long and short tassels.
Sword knot: a decorative tassel attached to the hilt. There is a distinction between ceremonial and combat swords.