Chunjun (simplified: 纯钧, traditional: 純鈞, pinyin: Chúnjūn, jyutping: seon4 gwan1) was a legendary sword of Chinese lore, said to have been forged by the master smith Ou Yezi (欧冶子). It is often listed among the “famous swords” (名剑 — míngjiàn) of antiquity, alongside Zhanlu, Shengxie, Yuchang, and Juque.
Legend
Chunjun is associated with the Spring and Autumn period and the State of Yue. In tradition, Ou Yezi forged it as one of his masterworks; Chunjun was sometimes said to represent purity or excellence (纯 — chún means “pure”; 钧 — jūn can suggest “balance” or “potter’s wheel” and by extension “standard”).
In Sword of the Yue Maiden
In Jin Yong’s Sword of the Yue Maiden, references to famous swords such as Chunjun help establish the legendary and historical background of the Yue court and the culture of sword-making and famous blades.