Gan Jiang () and Mo Ye () were a swordsmith couple, discussed in the literature involving the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. Some aspects of this material may be considered historical; others are certainly mythological. A pair of swords was forged by and named after them.

History

According to the historical text Wuyue Chunqiu, King Helü of Wu ordered Gan Jiang and Mo Ye to forge a pair of swords for him in three months. However, the blast furnace failed to melt the metal. Mo Ye suggested that there was insufficient human qi in the furnace so the couple cut their hair and nails and cast them into the furnace, while 300 children helped to blow air into the bellows.

Historical records and legacy

Historical texts Xunzi and Mozi from the Warring States period mention the existence of the Ganjiang and Moye Swords.

The official biography of Zhang Hua in the historical text Book of Jin records that the two swords reappeared during the early Jin Dynasty. The swords were later buried at Yanping Ford (present-day Yanping District, Nanping, Fujian). A monument for the swords stands is still present in Yanping District.

Mount Mogan in Deqing County, Zhejiang, is named in memory of Gan Jiang and Mo Ye.

In popular media, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye are referenced in:

  • Fate/stay night Their swords appear as Shirou's and Archer's signature weapons and are represented as a pair of married swords, with their names translated to Japanese: Kanshou (Ganjiang) and Bakuya (Mo Ye).
  • Kingdom The pair is referenced as having made the Bakuyu (Mo Ye) Sword. It was used by a Chu commander named Kou Yoku (Xiang Yi).
  • In Wolong Fallen Dynasty, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye are one of the famous historical weapons from the Spring and Autumn period available for the protagonist to use alongside Ou Yezi's Chunjun, Zhanlu, Yuchang and Shèngxié.
  • In the Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game, the "Swordsoul" archetype of cards draw inspiration from the mythology surrounding this pair, especially the face card of the deck "Swordsoul of Mo Ye".

See also

  • Weapons and armor in Chinese mythology

References

Citations

Sources

  • Birrell, Anne (1993). Chinese Mythology. (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins).