The general movement of the sword is that of a swing, a swing towards the other, away from oneself, the end of the individual condition towards the infinity born of dialogue between beings.

Throughout his life and throughout his literary works, François CHENG sought to create a dialogue between the Chinese thinking of his roots and western thought.

The significance of this literary approach is symbolised in correspondences inspired by nature and chosen for his sword.

Bamboo from the East, expressing rigour and grace with its straight stem and the gentle movement of its leaves in jade hues, entwines with the lily, “lily of the valley”, with its white flower, the incarnation of elevation and purity.

Wild geese are the messengers who, like man in the universe, link heaven and earth. Airy, protective and light, they are the guardians of the sword.

On opposite sides of the pommel of the sword:

· on one side, the characters express the essence of Chinese philosophy: “between Heaven and Earth moves the Breath of integrity”.

· and, on the other, not a translation but its corresponding Biblical reference: “the Spirit moves where it will”.

Through these characters, placed together, François CHENG shows that the dialogue between France and China, of which he is the living illustration, finds the routes to convergence in the heights and draws its inspiration from nature and the divine Breath.