Chinese Antiques Collectors Community
中國古物交流區會
Representative Bronze Sword
The period at China about the century beginning (BC300~20) was very dark, called Warring state. The viziers near the weak emperor desired to hold the power and enlarged their contorl using extreme cruel methods. They spoiled themselves and enjoyed sex, so had "wine pool and naked women woods” description. They killed people as eating foods. They dominated their cohort and people strictly and violently. The swords they used to exaggerate their glory rank were luxury with decoration, also having a golden coating. Although that period is far from today, but the casting technology in sword has been fully developed, some techniques are beyond the present. These swords have a fine composition. It is astonished that it has eutectic point of Cu-Sn, with atomic ratio 5:1. Beyond this point the sword becomes brittle. Beneath this point the sword becomes ductile. The matrix color of it reveals as silver but the surface is dark with tin oxide which is caused by oil quench. This compact oxide film prevents the sword going further oxidation. So it may survive as its original and still has a sharp edge to cut meat. The more information about bronze swords you can find at Dr. Yie's book.
戰國青銅劍代表
西元前三百年至西元二十年時期是中國最黑暗的時期，稱之為戰國時代。由於王室衰微，諸侯並起，各個均戮力於擴張自己的勢力，嚴密而殘酷地控制軍隊與百姓，造成生靈塗炭。相反地，這些諸侯安於享樂，放縱自己，因而有『酒池肉林』之流傳。然而，他們在武器上的發展與炫燿，卻是古科技史上非常大的進步，他們所使用保護他們的劍，窮極奢華，裝飾以不同的花印、刻字、造型，更令人驚異的是鑄造的技巧與今日工藝不相上下，甚或有過之，其鑄造成分是冶金學的共晶點，銅錫比為五比一，錫成分高於此點，劍將變脆，低於此點，劍將變軟。而錫在油淬後形成密緻的氧化膜，以致劍雖經兩千多年，仍維持原來的型態，具有銳利的刀刃可切肉。更進一步青銅劍之資料請參考易博士著作。
