The jian, has two sharp edges. Either stroking forwards or backwards, it is very easy to use. Since the Jhou Dynasty it has become an important weapon. To manufacture jian was a popular job, and the martial arts of the jian was also highly regarded. In the book, Wuyue chuciu, there is story about a martial arts contest between a girl and an old ape. King of Yue, Gou Jian, invited a martial arts mistress to his palace to teach him the right way of using the jian. When the mistress was on the way to the palace, she came across an old man called Yuangong. He challenged her and wanted to have a contest with her. She agreed. However when they just started the old man was soon defeated. He jumped up to a tree, changed into a white ape and ran away. When the mistress arrived at the king's palace, she explained the way of using the jian to the king. The king was very happy, because the mistress was very knowledgeable about jian, and she could explain the knowledge in details. The king rewarded her with the title of Yuenyu, and this anecdote was absorbed in the novel, Yuenyu Jian, by Jin Yong.

       The jian made of bronze was a very popular weapon in the Warring State Period. It was an essential weapon for the army, and the skill of manufacturing jian was highly developed. On the unearthed ancient metal vases from both the Shanbiao Town of Henan Province and Chengdu, there are clearly engraved prints about the infantries and sailors who carry jian. In the chapter of ‘Shuojian?in the book of Jhuangzih, it says that "the king Wun of the Jhao Kingdom liked to watch jian contests. So the swordsman kept coming to his palace. Everyday his three thousand guests competed to show their skill in using the jian in front of him, and the number of the wounded and dead persons was more than one hundred each year.

       There are various martial arts forms concerning the jian invented in the wusia novels. There is the form called chongling; literally chong means to soar, and it is the last word of the name of the protagonist Linghu Chong. Ling means the spirit and it is the second word of the name of the female character Yue Lingshan, in the book Siaoao Jianghu by Jin Yong. Linghu and Yue grew up together, and they invented this form together also. It reminds readers of pictures in which two young persons are practicing this form and because they know each other so well, their waving jian are close to one another, but they will never hurt each other. What a marvelous plot created by the novelist; it is beyond the realm of blood and steel swords, but enters the realm of eternal peace.