The Sword of Goujian..Hubei Museum

There is no question in my mind that visiting the Museum of Hubei province was one of the highlight

of our China adventure last year. I have read much about the Sword of Goujian and the spear of Fu Chai and to be able to see it close up, given the ok to photograph it, together with the many other famed artifacts...well what more can I say. It was such a huge bonus especially for someone with my passion for history. And being Chinese with a surname that can be traced back more than 5,000 years...well that has some added significance to my visit and my research.

Goujian Sword and Fu Chai Spear

In my previous post about the Sword of Goujian and the Spear of Fu Chai, I had mentioned that there will be more updates and photos on the subject of these two treasured artifacts from ancient China. In this and the next few posts I intend to do just that.

To recapitulate, both of the actual artifacts can be viewed at the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan.

Please refer to my earlier post for details of the museum display etc.





This is the famous Sword of Goujian which is more than 2500 years old. Despite the age, the sword is still gleaming and is very sharp.

There is an interesting story of how this particular sword came to be made for King Goujian. But I shall probably cover that in another post.




This is the reputed spear of King Fu Chai of Wu Kingdom who reigned from 495 BC to 473 BC. His father was King Helu who died from injuries he received in a battle against Goujian's Yue forces.

The spear has Fu Chai's name crafted on it.

It existed at the same time as the Sword of Goujian..making it more than 2500 years old too.

If you look closely at the mid section of the spear head, you can clearly see the groove running from the tip to the base of the head. This is what was known as a " blood groove...for the the blood of the victim to flow out after he has been speared.

Spearhead of FU CHAI...King of Wu !

About 5 months ago, I had a post here which told about the Best preserved sword from ancient times ever discovered. Read about that interesting post here.That sword can be found displayed in the Hubei Provincial Museum...( photo of museum below ). Within the exhibit area where the swords and other precious relics of various ages and dynasties of China's Long history are displayed in all their ancient glory, no electronic camera flashes are permitted to be used.

You can only use your camera without flash.

This is to help preserve the many delicate and fragile items put on display.



Over this 5 months, I noticed that many visitors to this blogsite of mine have been particularly attracted to the story and pictures on the " Sword of Gou Jian, King of Yue ". This included many, many overseas visitors from USA, Europe, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and also Asia. There were also visits from well-known universities and leading organisation from both the USA and UK, as well as Europe.


I have no idea why there is so much interest over this subject or perhaps certain aspects of the subject. However, I can only guess that it could have originated from the same interest that first attracted me....the Sword of Gou Jian!

It is TRULY a most FASCINATING story worthy to be made into several top TV serials and even big screen movies.

The actual SWORD itself must be seen to be believed! What kind of knowledge and technology the ancient Yue people ( or the CHUs ) must have possessed that enabled them to create such an exquisite weapon of such an immaculate and mysterious nature and texture.

Much of the mysterious nature about this sword has been solved in recent years when it was specially tested by some of the most advanced scientific methods available.

The detailed results can be obtained online by googling. They make exciting reading !

Next to this exhibit of Gou Jian's sword lie the personal spearhead of his greatest adversary...King FuChai of WU kingdom. The image above is from the serial "the Great Revival" which I captured off my TV screen. This actual spearhead on exhibit in the museum is also an added bonus. Just imagine....two of the greatest rivals for control and power in the ancient world in China in an unforgettable epic of struggle and survival, both long dead, gone and vaporised but each of their personal weapon of choice has survived to our modern age and time.

What a strange ironic story! But the world and we are the richer for it.

This Hubei museum is certainly worth more than a curtsory visit.
In coming posts I shall put up more pictures and reports of artifacts which can be found within the place.
They are worth seeing.

Hubei Provincial Museum...pamphlets.

There are self-help pamphlets outside the various sections of the museum. Here is a copy that describes the History of the Chu kingdom and their culture.

To read the article, [ enlarged] just click on the picture itself.

As I have many snapshots of the various displays within, I intend to blog about them much later with more historical research and perspective.

Hubei Provincial Museum...entrance ticket

This is the ticket for entry into the museum obtainable free at the entrance office.
The front of this ticket provides a brief description of this must visit
attraction.
The photo shows a grand overview of the grounds.


The reverse of the ticket gives a brief description of what is displayed inside.
There are 4 "must see" artifacts ranked as some of the most important archaeological finds of China. This exquisite blue vase happens to be one of them.