Longque Saber

About The Entry

Drawing on the standardized form and structure of Ming Dynasty waist sabers, the handmade work blends imperial court aesthetics, traditional forging wisdom, and modern manufacturing techniques, transforming a once-formidable cold weapon into a tangible and experiential contemporary cultural artifact.

The design draws inspiration from the Xiu Chun Saber, a Ming Dynasty imperial guard saber and incorporates the cultural totem of the “Longque saber” recorded in the Book of Jin, expressing the Chinese aesthetics of the unity of etiquette and martial arts. The blade is forged from meteoric iron through repeated folding and hammering, producing natural and delicate patterns reminiscent of dragon scales. After meticulous hand-polishing, the blade surface becomes exquisite. The scabbard features a wooden core, hand-wrapped in copper with engraved floral patterns and finished with gold and silver plating. It is adorned with three white dragon motifs using the traditional gold-and-silver inlay technique. Arranged in sequence along the natural curve of the scabbard, the motifs help create a solemn and understated look. The grip features a wood core wrapped in imitation shagreen and paired with a braided cord, faithfully recreating the typical grip structure of Ming Dynasty waist sabers. This design preserves a sense of historical ritual while ensuring ergonomic comfort in practical use. Crafted from silver-plated copper, the fittings are ornamented with openwork auspicious cloud patterns, carrying symbolic meanings of luckiness while softening the visual weight of the dragon motifs, enhancing overall visual balance. A sword tassel completes the work, conveying the refined aesthetics of traditional Chinese cold weapons.

In terms of craftsmanship, the steel blade is forged using ancient forging techniques and modern temperature control technology. This creates natural patterns with layered depth and flowing lines while also delivering toughness beyond ordinary steel. A clay-tempering process is also applied. By varying the thickness of the clay coating, the cooling rate during quenching is precisely controlled across different parts of the saber. This process allows the edge to achieve high hardness and the body to retain excellent toughness, striking a balance between hardness and toughness and reflecting traditional forging wisdom.