Abstract: Promoting the "creative transformation and innovative development of excellent Chinese traditional culture" is currently an endeavor at the national level. Against this background, this paper analyzes through comparative analysis method the modern transformation history of Chinese sword art, European fencing, and Japanese kendo, aiming to rejuvenate the sword culture - an excellent representative of traditional martial arts culture. The conclusions are as follows: (1) As mankind entered modern society, European fencing took the lead in modern transformation towards civilization, competition, and gamification at the end of the 18th century, and developed from the duel pattern of "drawing swords and determining life and death with one attack" into the game pattern of "who can stab or slash the other without hurting the other". As a result, it has entered the lane of rapid development as a competitive sports game and has been spread worldwide. (2) Japanese swordsmanship began its modern transformation at the end of the 19th century, and completed its leap "from art form to Ken Do" in the early 20th century, and was unified and named "Kendo", which not only civilized and gamified the sport, but also further elevated it into a way to cultivate spirit and a practical way to cultivate the national spirit; (3) Around the 1930s, the Chinese swordsmanship also underwent a modern transformation. Although it took the basic shape after several attempts, it was interrupted for various reasons and was then put on hold for a long time, and remains in obscurity until now. In addition, the conventional names such as "Ji Jian" (sword fencing) and "Jian Dao" (sword Dao) have been buried as a result of the spread of foreign cultures; (4) In order to regain its vitality in the new era, the Chinese swordsmanship should, on the one hand, continue the unfinished path of modern transformation, on the other hand, highlight its unique cultural characteristics, so as to contribute to the great cause of national rejuvenation.

Key words: Chinese swordsmanship, European fencing, Japanese kendo, modern transformation