The Chinese double-edged straight sword (jian), the “gentleman of weapons,” is the focus of this book. If you are a serious practitioner of the Chinese double-edged straight sword and have an interest in its history and techniques, you’ll enjoy each chapter included in this anthology. May it be a handy reference work for information as well as a source of inspiration for actual sword practice.

According to traditional Chinese martial arts custom, instruction in the lethal arts were transmitted under strict secrecy. At the turn of the twentieth century, the martial arts had started to be taught publically with a focus on health. However, many fighting techniques were not shown or taught. As a result, today some systems are more well-known than others. This anthology brings together some of the lesser-known arts in one volume and some aspects of their theory, application, and plac...