Ou Yezi

Ou Yezi was a renowned swordsmith from the State of Yue during the late Spring and Autumn period and, alongside Gan Jiang, ranked among the greatest sword-forging masters of his age. Legend holds that, commissioned by King Yunchang of Yue, he journeyed across famed mountains, excavated the Cishan Mountains, diverted the Xie Stream to extract iron ore, and forged five celebrated swords—Zhanlu, Juque, Shengxie, Yuchang, and Chunjun. Later, he collaborated with Gan Jiang to cast three further masterpieces: Longyuan, Tai’e, and Gongbu—blades whose completion astounded the realm. The region of Longquan—originally named Longyuan after the Longyuan sword—still bears this name today and remains world-renowned as the ‘Hometown of Treasured Swords’. Ou Yezi embodies the ideals of artisanal mastery and unwavering sincerity; swordsmiths and metalworkers venerate him as their patron deity, and the General Ou Yezi Temple in Longquan stands as a lasting tribute, its forge fires burning continuously for over a millennium.