Digital versions of the Sword of Gou Jian, a major historical relic in China, were sold out in seconds on Friday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Digital versions of the Sword of Gou Jian, a major historical relic in China that has stayed sharp and whose patterns remain clear after more than 2,000 years, were sold out in seconds on Friday.
The most famous king of the Kingdom of Yue (2032-222 BC), Gou Jian was known for his life story. In 494 BC, the Kingdom of Wu invaded and defeated Yue. Its king, Fu Chai, captured Gou and made him his slave. Gou pretended to be docile and humble, enduring all humiliation. After three years, Fu Chai released him.
However, upon returning home, Gou laid plans for revenge. He sent a female spy to coax Fu to distance himself from officials. Gou also gained the loyalty of the army and prepared for war for more than 10 years. In the end, Wu was conquered by Yue and Fu Chai committed suicide.
The sword of Gou Jian, after being unearthed in Hubei province in 1965, has been a major treasure of the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan, Hubei province. It shows advanced design and production techniques for weapons during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). It is 55.6 centimeters long and 5 cm wide, with delicate engraved words and mysterious black rhombus patterns. It is decorated with blue glaze and turquoise.
Digital versions of the Sword of Gou Jian, a major historical relic in China, were sold out in seconds on Friday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
On Friday, the museum announced the release of digital versions of the sword in cooperation with tech giant Alibaba. Netizens were able to buy and admire the sword through the Alipay platform. Some netizens commented that it is difficult to see the sword clearly as it is kept in a glass cabinet at the museum. But the 3D version shows every detail. A viewer can zoom in and out and see a perfectly restored version of the original.
Wang Xianfu, deputy director of the museum, said the hope is to "promote traditional culture in a way that favors young people" — referring to digital technology. Only 10,000 digital swords were offered at a cost of about 20 yuan ($3.1) each. They were sold out within several seconds at noon.
The museum has about 260,000 relics in its collections, including bronzes, lacquer ware, wood items and bamboo scripts.
Digital versions of the Sword of Gou Jian, a major historical relic in China, were sold out in seconds on Friday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Digital versions of the Sword of Gou Jian, a major historical relic in China, were sold out in seconds on Friday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Digital versions of the Sword of Gou Jian, a major historical relic in China, were sold out in seconds on Friday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
