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Sword with Ornamental Fittings
Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE)
Not on view
Iron swords with jade fittings were prevalent during the Western Han dynasty. The use of jade fittings began in the Eastern Zhou (771–256 B.C.), when they appeared on the pommel and guard of bronze swords. By the Western Han, iron had replaced bronze, and jade adorned not only the pommel and guard but also the tip and slide of the scabbard. These four fittings formed a standard combination, and a sword adorned with the full set became known as a yuju jian, or “jade-fitted sword.” They were not intended for battle but, rather, to be worn by royals and elites.
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