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THE sword typifies ancient Chinese weapons by virtue of sharpness and durability. However, with the increase of firearms use in modern warfare, swords are no longer the weapon of choice on the battlefield.

Nonetheless, Longquan County, which boasts the age-old and superb sword-forging techniques, both maintains the ancient craftsmanship and boosts its development. The county is dotted with workshops and owns the top swordsmiths in the country.

Many of them were included on the national list of intangible cultural heritage inheritors.

Now an exhibition in Gushan Pavilion of Zhejiang Museum displays 46 modern swords and seven antiqued swords from Longquan artisans. Visitors can learn about its long history and glory days through the exhibits on view.

According to historic archives, the birth of the Longquan sword dates to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) when ancient kingdoms took swords as the main weapon in battlefield and encouraged smiths to forge sharp weaponry. Ou Yezi was believed the creator of Longquan sword and made the county the production center.

Along with their development, the swords were also complex creations. As the exhibition shows, common varieties include Longyuan, Xuanwu and Tianzi.

The making of a Longquan sword goes through a total of around 20 procedures that include tempering, forging, smoothing, carving, embedding and polishing, to ensure the swords boast four major traditional features — toughness, sharpness, strength and softness.

The displayed Longyuan Sword measures 101 centimeters in length and 3.5 centimeters in width. Connoisseurs consider it epitomizes best-quality Longquan swords.

In addition to specific varieties, the sword styles vary according to different eras. The displayed Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) sword reflected the integration of Chinese and exotic cultures. As an opening dynasty, Tang craftsmen drew experience from western ethnics during the cultural exchanges and then melded them into original designs.

In the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), a well-hammered sword often symbolized a person’s social status. Usually, swords were a common accessory rather than a weapon for the upper class. The forging demands workers fold and hammer the red-hot iron repeatedly, more than 7,000 times. The folding removes impurities, while the multiple layers combine hardness with ductility to create toughness.

Since the sword evolved into an icon of hierarchy, many swordsmiths started to make the designs more auspicious and exquisite. Gilded gold and silver, engraved patterns and embedded gems were used to ornament the shining weapon. Meanwhile, such beautiful swords aimed to carry down auspiciousness and peaceful conception.

In ancient times, the sword was also considered with immortal power that could ward off evils. The exhibited Chiming sword was carved with mythical creature patterns and copper ornaments. It is believed with magic power to prevent devils.

Date: Through April 23 (closed on Mondays)

Venue: Gushan Pavilion, Zhejiang Museum, 25 Gushan Rd