ABSTRACT
A more accurate estimate of the number and type of swords available at any time depends less on the archaeological record which at the best must always remain haphazard than upon historical judgements on the size of armies and modes of combat". Training in the wielding of a sword requires also training in the use of a shield; and swordsmen must know how to fight in unison with their comrades. It is rather to be doubted that the sword bearing section of a pre-Han army was merely an armed rabble of peasants and "paupers." Burton Watson discusses the possibility of Ch'in's using iron swords and is cautiously Sekino's article. William Trousdale also refers to William Watson, China in this same note. Watson discusses the possibility of Ch'in's using iron swords and is cautiously Sekino's article.
