After the Western Han Dynasty (201BC-25AD), as a result of the development in smelting technology, bronze swords were replaced by those made of iron. Swords made of steel with high or medium carbon content began to appear, but these did not exit in vast numbers until after the period of the Three Kingdoms (AD220-280).

With the passage of time the value of swords in fighting and self-defence gradually diminished but the art of swordplay continued to improve as a form of health-oriented exercise. Today it is not only widely practised in China, but is gaining increasing favor among wushu lovers in many other countries and regions as well.