泰峨 ⇐ 文章草稿

[Anonymous]

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

== Bibliography ==
* ''Shiji · Biography of Li Si'': "[One] obtains jade from the Kun Mountains, possesses the treasures of Sui and He, dangles the pearl of the bright moon, wears the sword of '''Tai'e''', and rides the horse of Xianli." (Original: 「致昆山之玉，有随和之宝，垂明月之珠，服'''太阿'''之剑，乘纤离之马」) Legend has it that the Tai'e sword was cast by Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang during the Spring and Autumn period; it is also written as "Tai'e" (泰阿).

* ''Zhan Guo Ce · Strategies of Han I'': "As for the swords and halberds of the soldiers of Han... [such as] Longyuan and Tai'e, on land they can sever horses and oxen, and in water they can strike swans and wild geese." (Original: 「韩卒之剑戟，……龙渊、太阿，皆陆断马牛，水击鹄雁」)

* ''Yue Jue Shu'' records: "Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang chiseled Mount Ci, drained its stream, and extracted the iron essence to make three iron swords: the first called Longyuan, the second called Tai'e, and the third called Gongbu." It also records: "If one wishes to know Tai'e, observe its pattern; it is towering and majestic, like the waves of flowing water..." (Original: 「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。」又載「欲知泰阿，观其釽，巍巍翼翼，如流水之波；……」)越絕書 卷十一 越絕外傳記寶劍第十三

=== Symbol of reign ===
* ''Book of Han · Volume 067'': "Holding the Tai'e upside down, handing its handle to Chu." (Original: 「倒持泰阿，授楚其柄。」) This is also the origin of the idiom "wikt:en:授人以柄|授人以柄".

* ''Zizhi Tongjian · Volume 263'' · Tang Records 79 · Third Year of Tianfu, Reign of Emperor Zhaozong: "...From this point on, the handle of the Tai'e fell into his grasp." (Original: 「……自是太阿之柄，落其掌握矣。」)

* ''Youxue Qionglin · Volume 3 · Human Affairs Category'': "When the subordinates are strong and the superiors are weak, it is called 'the tail is too big to wag'; when the superior's power is seized by the subordinate, it is called 'holding the Tai'e upside down'." (Original: 「下強上弱，曰尾大不掉；上權下奪，曰太阿倒持。」)

Ancient Chinese swords
Qin Shi Huang