In portraits of Confucius, a sword hangs at his waist; stories tell of the first Han emperor, who was born a commoner, putting down the White Snake rebellion with sword in hand; incorruptible judge Bao Qingtian dispensed justice with a sword given to him by the emperor; and the sword of Daoist immortal Lu Dongbin had magical powers.
至聖先師的畫像中，腰際上配有紫薇劍；出身市井的漢高祖有提劍斬白蛇起義的故事；「冷面殺手」包青天則隨身攜帶尚方寶劍，適時斬奸除惡，伸張正義公理；風流倜儻的劍仙呂洞賓也身背能飛天鑽地的紫陽劍。