Long sword by Yi Sun-sin

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.341

Category

Arms & Armor

Era

조선시대(1594년)

Designated year

2023

Location

아산시, 충청남도— 충청남도 아산시 현충사길 126 (염치읍)

Coordinates

36.806547, 127.031199Kakao address conversion

This English description was machine-translated and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the original Korean text for details.

Great Swords of Admiral Yi Sun-sin. Admiral Yi Sun-sin's great swords measure approximately 2 meters in length and comprise a matching pair each fitted with its own scabbard. The hilts are wrapped with ray skin over wood and lacquered in red, while the single-edged blades curve slightly toward the spine. The upper portion of each blade bears inscriptions of verses composed by Yi Sun-sin himself: 'A three-foot sword sworn to heaven, mountains and rivers tremble' (三尺誓天山河動色) and 'One sweep to cleanse, blood stains mountains and rivers' (一揮掃蕩血染山河) — records that correspond with the Complete Works of Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1795). The tang of each sword bears the carved inscription: 'Made in the 4th month of the Gapoh year (1594) by Tae Gwi-ryeon and Yi Mu-saeng' (甲午四月日造太貴連李茂生作), clearly establishing the creation date and makers. These swords follow the Joseon-period military sword tradition while incorporating Japanese forging elements such as the tang-peg method, X-pattern hilt wrapping, and blade curvature, demonstrating the cross-cultural exchange of swordsmithing techniques and holding high military historical and academic value.

Location