used on the battlefield, paired with a shield. Straight, double-edged
swords, or long swords (as I have designated them in this book),
remained in limited use as personal weapons of self-defense or perform-
ance weapons. They were generally lighter weight and less durable than
single-edged, curved swords. The long sword was a more elegant
weapon, and the weapon of choice for female sword dance performers,
officials, and some expert warriors.
Fencing with a long sword was still taught in the Three Kingdoms period,
and occasionally had practical applications. Tian Chou was described as
someone who“liked to read books, and good at long sword fencing.”^20 Cui
Yan“liked long sword fencing, and loved military affairs.”^21 Xu Shu, as a
young man,“liked [knight] errantry and long sword fencing.”^22 “When All
under heaven was in chaos, Lu Su studied long sword fencing and horse
archery...discussed martiality and practiced martial arts.”^23 When muti-
nous soldiers attacked thefirst emperor of Wei in his tent,“[He] with a long
sword in his hand killed several tens of men.”^24
A single-edged sword is a more durable weapon in general and much
more effective in cutting or slashing attacks, something discussed in the
previous chapter. By shifting to a cutting weapon for closefighting, the art
of fencing for the vast majority of practitioners must also have changed. If
we recall the difficulties that thefirst emperor of China, Qin Shihuangdi,
had in drawing his long sword when attacked by the assassin Jing Ke, it is
also clear that the very manner of unsheathing a curved sword in close
quarters is different, and easier, than unsheathing a straight sword. This
would have changed dress and deportment, as men who wore a sword
established ways to sit, stand, and ride that allowed them ready access to
their weapon.
Long swords were still worn as part of court dress by emperors, cour-
tiers, and officials. Indeed, it was pointed out in theSongshuthat the long
sword was the weapon of the ruler and that“from the ruler [down] to the
gentlemen (shi), all wear long swords. Since the Jin dynasty [they] began to
illustration 9.Bronze long sword, possibly Han Dynasty, Laufer
Collection. Courtesy of the Field Museum and Ernest Caldwell. Photo by Ernest
Caldwell.
The Northern and Southern Dynasties 83