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The sword (jian) is one of the weapons used in Chinese martial arts and Qi Gong. Made of a double-edged blade with a sharp tip, it requires dexterity and practice to be used as a fearsome weapon in close combat. This is probably the most aesthetic weapon of Chinese martial arts, and also the most subtle. In Qi Gong and Taiji Quan, the sword has to progressively become an extension of the arm and should be used with softness and precision, to allow a better focus of the mind.