The Jian, 'The Gentleman of Weapons'
Surrounded by the heat and flickering light of the forge, the Chinese blacksmith worked long and hard to forge a Jian, or sword. That sword then hung at the waist of a Chinese noble, in court debating policy, and on the battlefield enacting policy. But it would see far less use there than the crude spears wielded by the Chinese peasants fighting on their lord's behalf.
The bronze Jian thus shows its cultural use as a status symbol. By its ornateness, it displays the wealth and power of its owner. How does this compare to the Kariophili?