An array of ancient weapons introducing visitors to more than 150 specimens of white arms (weapons which do not use explosive materials) from around the world is currently on display at the Zhongshan Public Assembly Hall (中山公民會館) in Taipei.
The exhibition consists of the personal collection of Kaohsiung Ancient Weaponry Association senior counselor Chi Te-jung (紀德榮), an ancient weapons aficionado and collector.
Weapons are prime examples of different civilizations’ technical proficiency and artistic mastery, he said, adding that he has collected more than 150 armaments over the span of his career.
Chi has been an ancient arms dealer for 30 years, but at first he did not pay much attention to the artistic value and historic meaning of each piece until his exchanges with arms collectors taught him to appreciate the unique life of every weapon, he said.
His knowledge of weaponry has grown along with his collection, and he can recount the story of every article in his collection, including the way a sword was ground and sharpened, a blade’s steel texture and craftsmen’s fine workmanship, he said.
“There are countless treasures in my collection,” he said.
Bearing a sidearm was universally seen in ancient civilizations as a status symbol, and swords were commonly gifted as a token of friendship, with some weapons as refined and delicate as any work of art, he said.
Weapons can be seen as the exemplification of an era’s aesthetics, even being introduced as parts of poetry and lyrics, he said.
The exhibition, which runs until tomorrow, showcases about 150 swords and knives from all periods of all civilizations, including European foils from the 17th to 18th centuries and sabers from the 19th century, as well as ancient Chinese swords and Japanese samurai swords, he said.
Swords by modern Chinese master craftsmen such as Shen Guang-long (沈廣隆) and Liu Wen-tao (劉文濤) are also on display, Chi said.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at