> hold Estoc? looking sword instead of Jian or Dao.
Huh!?
That's not a sword, but a jiǎn (锏, not to be confused with the similar-sounding jiàn/剑), literally "iron slip". It's a blunt weapon, kinda like a long truncheon (or slim sword-shaped 'mace'). The weapon is basically a long metal rod (with a distinctively concave rectangular cross-section tapering to a blunt tip) mounted on a sword hilt.
(Note the jiǎn in this picture also has a blunt tip).
Due to the hilt, The jiǎn is handled like a sword (not unlike an European arming sword). It's a pretty nasty weapon that can hit through armor like a mace or warhammer while being well-balanced enough to allow rapid strikes and parrying. It does require immense strength to handle proficiently though, due to the sheer weight and length (otherwise, might as well use a normal sword or mace).
Since the jiǎn has a rectangular profile anyway, most jiǎn have a somewhat laterally-elongated 'swordguard' even if it's a disc-shaped one. This also offers better hand protection (important since the jiǎn is slower to strike than a dao or jiàn).
Jurchen jiǎn in particular are cruciform-shaped in the Song/Jin era. The cross guard have little (blunt) axe-shaped protrusions at the end like that depicted here, likely to let it deflect heavy blows (like an opposing jiǎn).
(Note that the girl here is dressed as Jurchen heavy cavalry, with the distinctive 'iron pagoda' armor.)
(This blog post contains some example of cross-shaped jiǎn.)
Overall, the weapon is related 'conceptually' to the Japanese jitte and Okinawan sai (blunt sword-shaped weapons with evolvingly lengthened 'crossguards' to protect the hand and to trap an opponent's weapons), but the jiǎn is a true battlefield weapon, not a law enforcement tool or personal defense weapon.
That's not a sword, but a jiǎn (锏, not to be confused with the similar-sounding jiàn/剑), literally "iron slip". It's a blunt weapon, kinda like a long truncheon (or slim sword-shaped 'mace'). The weapon is basically a long metal rod (with a distinctively concave rectangular cross-section tapering to a blunt tip) mounted on a sword hilt.
(Note the jiǎn in this picture also has a blunt tip).
Due to the hilt, The jiǎn is handled like a sword (not unlike an European arming sword). It's a pretty nasty weapon that can hit through armor like a mace or warhammer while being well-balanced enough to allow rapid strikes and parrying. It does require immense strength to handle proficiently though, due to the sheer weight and length (otherwise, might as well use a normal sword or mace).
Since the jiǎn has a rectangular profile anyway, most jiǎn have a somewhat laterally-elongated 'swordguard' even if it's a disc-shaped one. This also offers better hand protection (important since the jiǎn is slower to strike than a dao or jiàn).
Jurchen jiǎn in particular are cruciform-shaped in the Song/Jin era. The cross guard have little (blunt) axe-shaped protrusions at the end like that depicted here, likely to let it deflect heavy blows (like an opposing jiǎn).
(Note that the girl here is dressed as Jurchen heavy cavalry, with the distinctive 'iron pagoda' armor.)
(This blog post contains some example of cross-shaped jiǎn.)
Overall, the weapon is related 'conceptually' to the Japanese jitte and Okinawan sai (blunt sword-shaped weapons with evolvingly lengthened 'crossguards' to protect the hand and to trap an opponent's weapons), but the jiǎn is a true battlefield weapon, not a law enforcement tool or personal defense weapon.
