From 1885 to Today: The Story of Shen Guang Long's Six Generations of Sword Craftsmanship
Share
When choosing a Tai Chi sword, you might ask:Who is the craftsman behind this sword? How many years have they been making them? How long has this craft been passed down?
These questions point to a practical consideration:the quality of a sword largely depends on the experience and heritage of the sword maker. Clear differences emerge in accumulated craftsmanship, material understanding, and quality control standards between a family of sword makers that spans six generations and over a hundred years, and a workshop that has just started.
I. Origin: 1885, Shen Chaoqing (First Generation)
The history of Shen Guang Long can be traced back to1885 (the eleventh year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty). That year,Shen Chaoqing (First Generation) began specializing in casting Longquan swords, opening his furnace to forge them. This marked the beginning of the Shen family's sword-making enterprise.
Nine years later, in1894 (the twentieth year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, year of Renyin), Shen Chaoqing's son,Shen Tingzhang (Second Generation), established the"Shen Guang Long Sword Forge" under the Ren workshop designation in Longquan City, Zhejiang Province. This was the year the "Shen Guang Long" brand officially came into existence.
Since then, Shen Guang Long Sword Forge has become a renowned family of sword makers in Longquan, where the craft is passed down from father to son in an unbroken lineage.
II. Shen Tingzhang (Second Generation): Champion of the Grand Competition
Shen Tingzhang (1867—1925), also known as Tingquan, with the courtesy name Jinren. He was originally from Lishui, later moved to Longquan, where he opened the Renzi iron forge (Shen Guang Long) and devoted himself to studying sword-making techniques.
In 1914 (the third year of the Republic of China), Longquan County Magistrate Yang organized a"Longquan Sword-Forging Masters Grand Competition" . In this contest, which brought together master sword makers from all over Longquan,Shen Tingzhang emerged as the "Sword Champion" . This victory brought great renown to Shen Guang Long in the Longquan sword-making community.
Furthermore, in1898, Shen Tingzhang forged a Longquan sword for Liao Shoufeng, the Qing Dynasty Governor of Zhejiang; in1915, the works of Shen Guang Long Sword Forge won a gold medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
III. Shen Huanzhou, Shen Huanwen, Shen Huanwu (Third Generation)
After Shen Tingzhang,Shen Huanzhou, Shen Huanwen, and Shen Huanwu (Third Generation) took over the mantle of sword making.
During the third generation's tenure, Shen Guang Long Sword Forge crafted swords for several important figures:
In 1939, they forged a sword for Yu Jishi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the 20th Army Group of the Republic of China
In 1941, they forged a sword for Bai Chongxi, Minister of the Military Training Department of the Republic of China Military Commission
In 1942, they forged a Longquan sword forChiang Kai-shek
In 1956, Shen Huanzhou and Shen Huanwu forged a Longquan sword forMao Zedong.
In 1963, an eight-person core group including Shen Huanzhou, Shen Huanwu, Shen Xinpei, and Shen Wurong established theLongquan Sword Production Cooperative (i.e., Longquan Sword Factory) within the Shen Guang Long Sword Forge on Xinhua Street, with Shen Huanzhou serving as the first director. This was an important milestone for the industrial production of Longquan swords.
IV. Shen Xinpei (Fourth Generation): From Cooperative to Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor
Shen Xinpei (Fourth Generation), son of Shen Huanzhou. He learned sword-making techniques from his elders since childhood, experiencing the complete journey from the cooperative to the restoration of the family business.
In 1972, Shen Xinpei forged a Longquan sword forUS President Richard Nixon as a national gift.
In 1979, Shen Xinpei was received by and photographed with national leaders includingDeng Xiaoping.
In 1991, Shen Xinpei was awarded the title ofZhejiang Provincial Master of Arts and Crafts.
In 1993, Shen Xinpei's "Sun and Moon Qiankun Sword" and "Sun and Moon Qiankun Saber" receivednational invention patents. In the same year, the Sun and Moon Qiankun Sword, Sun and Moon Qiankun Saber, and folk martial arts practice swords won theGold Award at China's First Martial Arts Equipment Review Conference.
In 1996, the Sun and Moon Qiankun Sword and Saber were designated as theofficial equipment for the Chinese Martial Arts Championships.
In 1998, Shen Guang Long Sword Forge was recognized as a"China Time-Honored Brand" by the Ministry of Domestic Trade.
In 2007, the forging technique of Longquan swords was included in thefirst batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, and Shen Guang Long Sword Forge was designated as a project protection unit. In the same year,Shen Xinpei was named a representative inheritor of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage project "Longquan Sword Forging Technique".
In 2012, Shen Xinpei was awarded the title of"Chinese Master of Arts and Crafts" .
V. Shen Zhou (Fifth Generation): Apprenticed at 17, took over in 1999
Shen Zhou (Fifth Generation), born in December 1977, into the Shen Guang Long sword-making family in Longquan.
In 1993, at the age of 17, Shen Zhou began to professionally study the Longquan sword forging technique under his father, Shen Xinpei (Fourth Generation).
In 1999, Shen Zhou officially became the fifth-generation head of Shen Guang Long Sword Forge.
After taking over the sword forge, Shen Zhou carried out several verifiable technical innovations based on inherited traditional craftsmanship:
In 2001, the "Sun and Moon Qiankun" saber and sword were designated as theofficial equipment for the 9th National Games Wushu Championships by the National Wushu Administration Center and the Chinese Wushu Association
In 2002, he successfully developed a set of specialized quenching equipment for Wushu sabers and swords,increasing efficiency by more than 20 times and reducing the unit cost of the shaping process by 70%
In 2002, he innovated the"Multiple High-Speed Quenching Process" for sabers and swords, enhancing their comprehensive properties such as elasticity, toughness, and rigidity
In 2003, he developed a rolling press for Wushu swords, replacing manual rough and fine grinding with mechanical roller technology,increasing efficiency by at least 5 times and significantly reducing the labor intensity for workers
He pioneered the"Sunken Color Technique" to forge "Mysterious Pattern Swords" with non-flat patterns, featuring raised and palpable designs that are both visually appealing and tactile
He invented the"Pattern Positioning Technique" to forge a new variety of pattern sword, the "Turtle Pattern Sword"
Shen Zhou's works have also been collected by various institutions:In 2011, the "Chilong Sword" was collected by theChina Arts and Crafts Museum ;in 2012, the "King's Sword" was collected by the China Arts and Crafts Museum.
Regarding personal honors:In 2009, Shen Zhou was named a Master of Arts and Crafts of Lishui City, Zhejiang Province;in 2017, he was designated an inheritor of the Zhejiang Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage "Longquan Sword Forging Technique";in 2018, he was designated arepresentative inheritor of the Zhejiang Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage project "Longquan Sword Forging Technique";in 2019, he was named aZhejiang Provincial Master of Arts and Crafts.
Regarding his philosophy on sword making, Shen Zhou once stated in an interview: "Since the Qing Dynasty, our family has always focused on making practical, usable weapons – how to win is how we make them. Today, many sword forges primarily focus on artistic craftsmanship, but our family is about50% practicality and 50% aesthetics." He believes that if a sword loses its practicality, it loses its purpose.
Shen Zhou insists on the principle ofindependently completing all stages without outsourcing: "Among the sixty or seventy people in our forge, everyone except four or five accountants and administrative staff works on the production line, including myself."
VI. Shen Zhongtian (Sixth Generation)
In 2010, Shen Zhou's son,Shen Zhongtian (Sixth Generation), was born. As the sixth-generation inheritor of Shen Guang Long Sword Forge, he carries the future of this century-old craft.
VII. Quick Overview of Six Generations of Inheritance Timeline
| Generation | Name | Key Year | Key Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Generation | Shen Chaoqing | 1885 | Began professionally forging Longquan swords |
| Second Generation | Shen Tingzhang | 1894 | Established Shen Guang Long Sword Forge; became Sword Champion in 1914 grand competition |
| Third Generation | Shen Huanzhou, Shen Huanwen, Shen Huanwu | 1942 | Forged sword for Chiang Kai-shek; forged sword for Mao Zedong in 1956 |
| Fourth Generation | Shen Xinpei | 1972 | Forged sword for Nixon; became National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor in 2007 |
| Fifth Generation | Shen Zhou | 1993 | Apprenticed at 17; took over the sword forge in 1999 |
| Sixth Generation | Shen Zhongtian | 2010 | Born |
From Brand Story to Product Selection
Understanding the lineage of a sword-making family can help you make a more informed decision when choosing a Tai Chi sword. Thelength, weight, balance point, material, and craftsmanship of a sword are all directly related to the experience of the sword maker.
If you are selecting a Tai Chi sword for practice or competition, feel free to continue browsing the corresponding craftsmanship and product information, or contact our sales team with your requirements – including height, arm length, practice level, and your instructor’s recommendations. We will recommend the most suitable specifications for you.