The place of the martial arts changed in the Warring States period from
a skill exclusively of the elite to an instrument of the state. Try as the many
states, large and small, might, however, they could not fully subordinate
martial skills to their will. The martial arts were a threat to state authority
unless they were part of that structure. Like other skills, martial arts could
be bought and sold by anyone. Having escaped the bonds of culture and
class, martial arts were now broadly available, and beyond control. There
would thus always be a certain tension between the government and the
martial artist because martial artists possessed a skill that could threaten
the state’s authority but could not be entirely controlled by the state.
Swords and Swordsmanship
Straight, double-edged bronze swords劍(jian) were developed during the
Western Zhou, but were initially quite short; they probably functioned as
weapons of desperation rather than for offensivefighting, much like the
curved, single-edged bronze knives刀(dao) found earlier. It is nevertheless
important that these stabbing weapons emerged in the same period,
though over centuries, as halberds, with their stabbing spear head.
Slowly and subtly, it seems, warriors were learning to become pointfight-
ers, rather than edge or dagger-axefighters. This new orientation in
weapons design must have reflected new martial arts. The short, eleven-
to eighteen-inch-long blades, of the Eastern Zhou period lengthened to
about twenty-two inches by the late Spring and Autumn period. These
longer swords developed in the southern Chinese states, particularly in Wu
and Yue, probably becausefighting in the south was more infantry based.^6
The level of workmanship on Chinese bronze swords from this period
could be stunning. One of the most famous swords was made for Jiu Qian,
the king of Yue, also known as Goujian. Not only was itfinely decorated,
with designs on the blade, inlaid blue glass on the hilt, and an inlaid gold
inscription but it was also treated with sulfide to prevent corrosion. Other
fine blades of a similar nature have also been found, though these weapons
are thefinest of their kind. Most warriors would have fought with much
plainer swords. These were personal weapons for close combat and of little
use from a chariot.
At least for some warriors, swords replaced short-hafted dagger-axes
for close combat by the late Spring and Autumn period. Swords are far
moreflexible in combat, allowing for a much greater range of attacks and
defenses. Their use increased across the Warring States period, as produc-
tion responded to demand for the new weapon. The other great advantage
36 The Warring States Period