Sword of Goujian, King of Yue

The Sword of Goujian, King of Yue was excavated in December 1965 from Wangshan Chu Tomb M1, Jiangling, Hubei Province. Measuring 55.6 cm in length and 5 cm in width, the sword features a disk-shaped pommel flared outwards, cast with eleven delicate concentric circles. The blade is entirely adorned with black lozenge-shaped patterns of enigmatic character. Its guard is sumptuously inlaid with blue glass and turquoise, forming exquisite decorative patterns. The overall form is dignified and elegant. Near the guard on the obverse of the blade, two columns of eight characters are inscribed in bird script, reading, “King Jiuqian of Yue made this sword for his own use.” Scholarly research has confirmed that Jiuqian refers to Goujian. These eight characters serve as a definitive testament to the sword’s prestigious provenance and the sovereign status of its owner. This sword was unearthed sheathed in a lacquered wooden scabbard, and when drawn, retained a sharp gleam, striking the eye.

Exquisitely crafted, the sword of King Goujian of Yue has survived for more than 2,500 years with its decoration still well preserved. The blade maintains a sharp, lustrous sheen and shows no trace of corrosion, earning it the reputation as “the finest sword under heaven.”