Why a sword, not a knife or a stick? Because the sword is slender, it is easier to carry on the body than the knife and stick. Compared with the sword, the sword is lighter in weight, but sharp enough for self-defense. Shorter than a stick, more deadly. Therefore, in peacetime, whether to wear a sword is the best recognition of a man's ability to be literary and martial. In ancient times, any man who could wear a sword must have a good family background, a certain degree of knowledge and clean clothes. Secondly, he has a certain martial arts foundation and self-defense ability, although not necessarily very powerful. But he is definitely not an ordinary person, otherwise he can't afford to use a sword at all. The biggest possibility is that he is a knight-errant, or a show-off dignitary. These people were all important people in ancient times.
In our country, there is a record in Shan Hai Jing that can be traced back to the sword. The gentleman is in the north, sword? , can be described as a sword gentleman. It embodies the ancient people's very intuitive criteria for judging gentlemen. By the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, wearing swords had become a necessity for nobles. Perhaps dignitaries may not be able to use words and skills, but because of their status symbols, they will also wear swords on their clothes. Because the materials used in swords and gem ornaments can show whether the family background is strong or not, nobles will wear swords when they go out, whether they tend to be positive or driven by the wind.
Later, in the prosperous Tang and Song Dynasties with relatively few wars, the sword also represented the aesthetics and courage of an adult man. Sabre became a symbol of men's courage and self-esteem. A perfect gentleman should be brave and resourceful. Among weapons, the sword stands out because of its elegant design. In the west, European noble knights also travel with swords, basically for the same reason.