Tai'e

Tai’e (Chinese: 太阿 also written as 泰阿, Pinyin: Tài ē), is a legendary ancient Chinese sword. It is traditionally considered to be Qin Shi Huang’s sword,^{[1][failed verification][2]} and in ancient Chinese culture it is a symbol of power and reign.^{[3][original research?]} Legend has it that the Tai'e sword was cast by Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang during the Spring and Autumn period.^[4][5]

The Chinese idiom "Shou Ren Yi Bing" (授人以柄) originally referred to handing the hilt of the Tai’e sword.^{[3][original research?]}

Name

Tai (太) means "great" (interchangeable with “泰”). E (阿) refers to a hill, and by metaphorical usage means something to rely on—a support or pillar.

References

1. 司馬遷, ed. (1959). "李斯列傳". 史記 (1 ed.). 北京: 中華書局. 致昆山之玉，有隨和之寶，垂明月之珠，服太阿之劍，乘纖離之馬。
2. 陈, 景元. "秦始皇拔不出长剑的妄言".
3. 班固 (2007-08-01). 汉书. Vol. 67. 北京: 中华书局. ISBN 978-7-101-05703-4. 倒持泰阿，授楚其柄
4. Milburn, Olivia (2008). "The Weapons of Kings: A New Perspective on Southern Sword Legends in Early China". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 128 (3): 434–435. ISSN 0003-0279. JSTOR 25608404. Full access available to users of The Wikipedia Library.
5. 李步嘉. 越绝书校释. 中国史学基本典籍丛刊. 北京: 中华书局. ISBN 978-7-101-09118-2. 欧冶子、干将凿茨山，洩其溪，取铁英，作为铁剑三枚：一曰龙渊，二曰泰阿，三曰工布。……欲知泰阿，观其釽，巍巍翼翼，如流水之波；……