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Lot Essay
This bronze blade with six faceted sides is known in Chinese as a pi. This type of blade would have been attached to a long wooden shaft measuring approximately three meters to form a weapon similar to a mao (spear). The pi originated during the Shang dynasty and became increasingly popular during the Warring States period. Blades bearing dedicated inscriptions, such as the present example, signify the high quality of craftsmanship and were typically commissioned for nobles or court officials of the highest rank.
The detailed inscription carved on this blade highlights its importance, indicating not only the roles of officials involved in its production but also the high status of its intended owner. The inscription may be translated as: “In the fourth year, Prime Minister Jian Xinjun [supervised], Han Jia of the State Right Treasury [oversaw], Bladesmith Wu Ji forged [the piece].” The inscription identifies Jian Xinjun as the supervising official. According to Zhan Guo Ce (Strategies of the Warring States), a historical and political text compiled by the Western Han-dynasty historian Liu Xiang, Jian Xinjun served as the Xiang Bang (prime minister) of the Zhao Kingdom from the first to the eighth year of King Daoxiang’s reign, 244-236 BC. As a trusted member of the Zhao royal family and a high-ranking official, Jian Xinjun played a significant role in diplomatic and political decisions during a turbulent period when the Zhao faced threats from the powerful Qin state. He was praised for his negotiation skills with other states as part of efforts to maintain Zhao’s sovereignty. However, despite these efforts, Zhao’s weakening military strength and diplomatic failures ultimately contributed to its downfall during Qin’s campaigns to unify China.
The present pi serves as an important primary document for understanding the history of the Zhao Kingdom. It sheds light on how weapons functioned not only as tools of war but also as symbols of social status. The superb craftsmanship and inscription underscore its significance as a ceremonial or status-bearing weapon. A pi bearing a nearly identical inscription was formerly in the collection of the renowned archaic bronze scholar and collector Chen Mengjia. This example is currently in the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and documented by Wu Zhenfeng in Shangzhou qingtongqi mingwen ji tuxiang jicheng (A Collection of Inscriptions and Images of Shang and Zhou Archaic Bronzes), Shanghai, 2012, vol. 33, p. 409, no. 18031.
The detailed inscription carved on this blade highlights its importance, indicating not only the roles of officials involved in its production but also the high status of its intended owner. The inscription may be translated as: “In the fourth year, Prime Minister Jian Xinjun [supervised], Han Jia of the State Right Treasury [oversaw], Bladesmith Wu Ji forged [the piece].” The inscription identifies Jian Xinjun as the supervising official. According to Zhan Guo Ce (Strategies of the Warring States), a historical and political text compiled by the Western Han-dynasty historian Liu Xiang, Jian Xinjun served as the Xiang Bang (prime minister) of the Zhao Kingdom from the first to the eighth year of King Daoxiang’s reign, 244-236 BC. As a trusted member of the Zhao royal family and a high-ranking official, Jian Xinjun played a significant role in diplomatic and political decisions during a turbulent period when the Zhao faced threats from the powerful Qin state. He was praised for his negotiation skills with other states as part of efforts to maintain Zhao’s sovereignty. However, despite these efforts, Zhao’s weakening military strength and diplomatic failures ultimately contributed to its downfall during Qin’s campaigns to unify China.
The present pi serves as an important primary document for understanding the history of the Zhao Kingdom. It sheds light on how weapons functioned not only as tools of war but also as symbols of social status. The superb craftsmanship and inscription underscore its significance as a ceremonial or status-bearing weapon. A pi bearing a nearly identical inscription was formerly in the collection of the renowned archaic bronze scholar and collector Chen Mengjia. This example is currently in the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and documented by Wu Zhenfeng in Shangzhou qingtongqi mingwen ji tuxiang jicheng (A Collection of Inscriptions and Images of Shang and Zhou Archaic Bronzes), Shanghai, 2012, vol. 33, p. 409, no. 18031.