The knife is one of the ancient tools of mankind. Since the first stone with sharp edges was hammered, this cold and gleaming object has been closely intertwined with the development of human civilization. It is not only a guarantee of survival but also an extension of power. Moreover, over the long years, it has been endowed with profound cultural connotations far beyond its physical form.

On a practical level, knives serve as a boundary marker dividing civilization from barbarism. In ancient times, our ancestors relied on stone knives and bone knives to dissect prey and cut food, thus obtaining a more efficient source of nutrition. It is also the primary key to transforming the world, used to sharpen wooden spears and cut skins, thus opening the prelude to the creation of tools. With the advent of metallurgy, copper knives, iron knives and even steel knives came into being one after another, and their forms also varied according to their uses. In the kitchen, the slicing knife is light and precise, while the bone-cutting knife is steady and powerful. The chef's skills are perfectly displayed through their sharpness. In the fields and at the edges of the land, as the sickle cuts through, vast tracts of crops fall with a thud. They carry the joy of harvest and the support for survival. In the hands of artisans, engraving knives and carving knives transform into the tentacles of creativity, engraving eternal beauty on wood, stone and jade.

However, the duality of the knife was predestined from its very beginning. This same sharp blade can both sustain a living and deprive one of life. Therefore, it naturally became a symbol of force and power. Historically, the sword was the courage of a warrior and a stern force that determined the outcome of battles and the rise and fall of empires. It is also the manifestation of the law and a tool for enforcing the ultimate verdict on the execution ground. This association with power and authority has led to the accumulation of images of fortitude, boldness and justice in the culture. The term "knife and pen official" in ancient China vividly reveals that the knife, like the pen, has the power to record and judge.

Beyond practicality and warfare, the knife has also entered the spiritual realm. In Japan, the sword is regarded as the soul of the samurai. The forging process is almost a sacred ritual, and what is refined is not only a sharp blade that can blow hair and cut hair, but also a spiritual carrier of tenacity, loyalty and honor. In traditional Chinese culture, the precious sword is also an accessory of heroic spirit, related to righteousness and commitment, carrying the beautiful story of "presenting a precious sword to a hero".

Up to now, although the original function of the knife as a tool and weapon has been largely replaced by modern technology, it has not withdrawn from the historical stage.