Today, Jian is an event in the sport of Wushu. It is a double-edged straight sword used by the Chinese for the last 2,500.

One of the earliest relics of the Jian is known as the Sword of Goujian. The Sword of Goujian is from the Chinese's Spring and Autumn Period. It was found in 1965 in Hubei Province, China. The Sword of Goujian is renowned for its sharpness and resilience to tarnish. It is presently located in the Hubei Museum.

Historical one-handed versions of the Jian have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (17.7 to 31.5 inches) in length. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimeter (28-inch) blade-length would be in a range of approximately 700 to 900 grams (1.5 to 2 pounds).

There are also larger two-handed versions used for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts.

In Chinese folklore, Jian is known as "The Gentleman of Weapons" and is considered one of the four major weapons, along with the Gun (staff), Qiang (spear), and the Dao (sabre).