Editing Jian (section)

==Historical use==
[[File:Sword (Jian) with Chevrons LACMA AC1998.251.20.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Bronze jian of the [[Warring States period]]]]
Originally similar to bronze double-edged daggers in varying lengths, jian reached modern lengths by roughly 500 BC. Though there is significant variation in length, balance, and weight of the jian from different [[History of china|periods]], within any given period the general purpose of the jian is to be a multipurpose cut and thrust weapon capable of stabbing as well as making both precise cuts and slashes, as opposed to specializing in one form of use. Although the many forms and schools of swordsmanship with the jian vary, the general purpose and use is still not lost.

During the [[Qin dynasty|Qin]] and [[Han dynasty|Han]] dynasties, the first two dynasties which united China, jian from the by then defunct Chu dynasty were very highly regarded. [[Chu (state)|Chu]] became particularly famous for its swords after conquering the state of [[Yue (state)|Yue]], who had previously been famous for their swords, and who credited their sword techniques to a southern woman of unknown ancestry referred to as [[Yuenü]].

Among the [[Terracotta warriors]] in the tomb of [[Qin Shi Huang]], figures representing officers were originally armed with jian made from an alloy of copper, tin, and other elements including nickel, magnesium, and cobalt. Several double-edged bronze swords have been recovered by modern archaeologists, but most were stolen centuries ago along with the [[polearm]]s and [[bow and arrow|bows]] of the enlisted men.<ref>{{cite journal | pmc=6449376 | year=2019 | last1=Martinón-Torres | first1=M. | last2=Li | first2=X. | last3=Xia | first3=Y. | last4=Benzonelli | first4=A. | last5=Bevan | first5=A. | last6=Ma | first6=S. | last7=Huang | first7=J. | last8=Wang | first8=L. | last9=Lan | first9=D. | last10=Liu | first10=J. | last11=Liu | first11=S. | last12=Zhao | first12=Z. | last13=Zhao | first13=K. | last14=Rehren | first14=T. | title=Surface chromium on Terracotta Army bronze weapons is neither an ancient anti-rust treatment nor the reason for their good preservation | journal=Scientific Reports | volume=9 | issue=1 | page=5289 | doi=10.1038/s41598-019-40613-7 | pmid=30948737 | bibcode=2019NatSR...9.5289M }}</ref>

Historical ''jian'' wielders would engage in test cutting called ''shizhan'', practicing their skills on targets known as ''caoren'', or "grass men". Such targets were made from bamboo, rice straw, or saplings. Though similar to the Japanese art of [[tameshigiri]], ''shizhan'' was never formalized to the extent that the latter art was.<ref>Rodell 2007, pp. 2, 10, 39</ref>

[[File:10th all china games Jian pair 406 cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Wushu (sport)|Wushu]] jian pair event at the 10th [[All-China Games|All China games]]]]

Today many Chinese martial arts such as [[tai chi]] and their martial artists still train extensively with ''jian'', and [[Kung fu (term)|expertise]] in its techniques is said by many of them to be the highest physical expression of their kung fu. Famous ''jian'' forms include ''Sancai Jian'' ({{lang|zh|三才劍}}), ''Kunwu Jian'' ({{lang|zh|崑吾劍}}), ''Wudang Xuanmen Jian'' ({{lang|zh|武當玄門劍}}), and ''taijijian'' ({{lang|zh|太極劍}}). Most ''jian'' today are flexible tai chi or wushu ''jian'' used mainly for ceremonial or performance purposes and not for actual combat. These swords have extremely thin blades or a high degree of flexibility compared to historical battlefield quality ''jian'', properties intended to add auditory and visual appeal to a wushu performance. These same properties render them unsuitable for historically accurate combat.