Warring States Period, 475-221 BC. A large bronze spearhead, sharpened edge, squared rhomboid point, with a prominent blood ridge and a wide socket, fitted with a fastening hole; inscription reading '6th year of the King, for the left wing of the army'. See for similar spearheads Peers, C.J., Ancient Chinese Armies 1500-200BC, London, 1990, p.17; see also spearheads of the period, excavated at Zhengzhou, at the Guangxi Provincial Museum, Nanning. 300 grams, 26cm (10 1/4"). Property of an East Sussex, UK, teacher; previously part of a Surrey, UK, collection since the 1990s. The mao or spear was used throughout the Bronze Age and Iron Age, and was still being fashioned for use in the Chinese wars of the twentieth century. Chi'in bronze-casters were able to make blades at least as good as the brittle cast iron of the time. During the Warring States period a division of the army was common, denoted by a system of flags: Left Wing (Great Dragon); Right Wing (White Tiger); Vanguard (Red Bird): Rearguard (Black Tortoise); C-in-C with Bodyguard (Great Bear Constellation"). This spear belonged to a soldier of the Great Dragon. [No Reserve] Condition Report Fine condition, excellent shape.