Sword Artisan Jiang Xiaowu: Inheriting Craftsmanship with Dedication, His Longquan Swords Stand Out from the Crowd
Jiang Xiaowu is from Chatian Town, Longquan City. He is the general manager of Zhejiang Jiang's Swords Co., Ltd., a senior arts and crafts master in Zhejiang Province, the vice president of the Longquan Swords Association, a leader in the arts and crafts industry, and a chief technician. In 2015, he was rated as the representative inheritor of the third batch of intangible cultural heritage "Longquan Sword Forging Technique".
Walking into the Wutan Industrial Zone where Jiang’s Sword Co., Ltd. is located, one is greeted by the sight of a production workshop filled with busy figures. Jiang Xiaowu, the company’s general manager, told reporters that crafting a sword from raw material to finished product involves more than 20 processes, including smelting, forging, chiseling, filing, pattern engraving, copper inlaying, cold forging, quenching, and polishing.
Jiang Xiaowu began learning sword-making from a master at the age of 17. Initially, he did not take up the craft out of passion; instead, he was driven more by the pressure of making a living. Now, over 20 years later, it is this piece of "iron" in his hands that has shaped his success. Despite the hardships and setbacks along the way, his affection for swords has grown deeper and deeper—transforming him from an unknowing blacksmith into a representative inheritor of the Longquan Sword Forging Technique.
With more than two decades in the sword-making industry, Jiang Xiaowu has long made a prominent name for himself and thrived in the field. He has always attached great importance to technological innovation in sword production, and has dedicated himself to researching and developing new sword-making techniques. He excels in innovative sword design and the creation of new-concept swords. His works have been exhibited in national, provincial, and municipal arts and crafts exhibitions on multiple occasions. Among them, Kangxi’s Imperial Saber won the "Ming and Qing Residence Cup" Gold Award at the 3rd Zhejiang (China) Fine Arts and Crafts Expo, and Tengkong (Soaring) claimed the "CITIC Cup" Gold Award at the 4th Zhejiang (China) Fine Arts and Crafts Expo... He has also obtained 10 national patents, including 2 utility model patents and 8 design patents.
In the eyes of some, sword-making is a traditional industry where mere replication of ancient weapons suffices. However, Jiang Xiaowu holds a different view. He argues that as times change, people’s aesthetic perspectives also vary, so sword-making must embrace innovation and designs must keep pace with the times. Therefore, in his opinion, a successful sword is not just a result of "copying and pasting" ancient models; it must also embody elements such as symbolic meaning, cultural connotation, and proper packaging.
Innovation is indispensable, but how to innovate and make the swords he produces stand out in the industry has been the focus of Jiang Xiaowu’s exploration over the years. He said that nowadays, many people buy swords only as home decorations or collectibles, and rarely use them in daily life. However, the "Great Han Tea Sword" he developed—specifically designed for Pu’er tea (used to pry or cut compressed tea cakes)—extends the role of swords from "being displayed" to "being used". "Only by integrating swords into people’s daily life and production can everyone gain a better understanding and familiarity with them, and this has always been the direction of my efforts," he added.
"No matter how perfectly crafted a sword is, it remains just a sword. But when infused with cultural essence, it gains life and a soul," Jiang noted. In his view, a successful sword is also a cultural product; local cultural characteristics can be incorporated into sword design. This not only makes his products unique but also better promotes local culture. "Swords are part of our local culture. As a practitioner in this field, I have the obligation to inherit and carry it forward," Jiang told reporters, emphasizing that he bears an inescapable responsibility for inheriting the sword-making craft and spreading its associated culture.
To this end, in 2017, Jiang’s Sword Co., Ltd. launched a school-enterprise cooperation with Longquan Secondary Vocational School (the preparatory body of Longquan Celadon and Sword Technician College). The company dispatched master craftsmen to train students, awarded scholarships to outstanding performers, and provided targeted employment opportunities for students in need. Up to now, the cooperation between the two parties has lasted for more than a year, achieving remarkable results.
Source: Longquan on the Palm
