青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)始于商代。那個(ge)時(shi)候,它(ta)的(de)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)身(shen)(shen)一(yi)般較(jiao)短(duan),形狀就(jiu)像柳樹的(de)葉子(zi),制(zhi)(zhi)作也比較(jiao)粗糙。春秋(qiu)晚期以后,青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)的(de)制(zhi)(zhi)作達(da)到(dao)成(cheng)熟,“越王勾踐”的(de)故事就(jiu)發(fa)生(sheng)在(zai)這個(ge)時(shi)期。此(ci)時(shi)的(de)青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),劍(jian)(jian)(jian)身(shen)(shen)普遍被加長到(dao)五六十厘米。一(yi)把青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)主要由劍(jian)(jian)(jian)身(shen)(shen)和(he)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)莖兩部分(fen)組成(cheng),所謂劍(jian)(jian)(jian)“莖”就(jiu)是劍(jian)(jian)(jian)的(de)把手。在(zai)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)莖和(he)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)身(shen)(shen)之(zhi)間還有一(yi)塊凸起來的(de)隔板,叫(jiao)做(zuo)“格(ge)”。比較(jiao)講究(jiu)的(de)青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),“格(ge)”的(de)上(shang)面(mian)都有一(yi)些裝(zhuang)飾(shi)物,以此(ci)顯示使用者(zhe)的(de)身(shen)(shen)份和(he)地位(wei)。這些裝(zhuang)飾(shi)通(tong)常使用玉質材料,所以這種(zhong)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)也叫(jiao)“玉首劍(jian)(jian)(jian)”。西漢以后,鐵制(zhi)(zhi)兵(bing)器完全取代了(le)青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)兵(bing)器,青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)從(cong)此(ci)退出了(le)歷(li)史舞臺。
秦始皇兵馬(ma)俑(yong),作為“世界第八大(da)奇跡(ji)”,是二十世紀最偉大(da)考古發現之一(yi)!隨同兵馬(ma)俑(yong)一(yi)道,同時出土(tu)一(yi)批青銅劍,劍身(shen)光亮平滑,刃(ren)部磨紋(wen)細(xi)膩,地下沉睡兩千多年,光亮如(ru)新,鋒利無比。
無獨有偶(ou),考(kao)古(gu)(gu)隊在(zai)挖掘春秋古(gu)(gu)墓時,意外發現一(yi)把越(yue)王(wang)勾(gou)踐劍,做工精(jing)細(xi),削鐵(tie)如泥,兩大(da)考(kao)古(gu)(gu)發現立即傳(chuan)遍大(da)江南(nan)北,更大(da)奇跡還在(zai)后面,經過科研人員(yuan)檢(jian)測,寶劍鋒面有一(yi)層鉻鹽化合物(wu),此(ci)為千年不銹(xiu)之故。
這(zhe)一(yi)發現轟(hong)動世界(jie),因為這(zhe)種鉻鹽氧化處理方法,是近代(dai)先進工藝,德國在(zai)(zai)1937年,美國在(zai)(zai)1950年先后發明(ming)并(bing)申請專利。
眾所(suo)周知,鉻(ge)是(shi)一(yi)種(zhong)稀有金(jin)屬,熔點(dian)高達4000攝氏度,提取(qu)甚為不易。現(xian)(xian)代科學發明(ming),竟(jing)然出(chu)現(xian)(xian)在公元前兩百多年前?又有誰能想象,秦始皇(huang)手中之(zhi)劍,竟(jing)然是(shi)現(xian)(xian)代科學結晶?層(ceng)層(ceng)謎(mi)團,孰是(shi)孰非,只能成為千古(gu)之(zhi)謎(mi)。