Uygur traditional knife making techniques

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Uygur traditional knife making skills

Applicant: Yingjisha County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Project No.: 905

Project No.: VIII - 122

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Yingjisha County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Protection unit: Yingjisha County Cultural Center

Introduction to the traditional knife making skills of Uygur people:

Applicant: Yingjisha County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Uygur knife is a traditional handicraft of Uygur nationality. It has unique shape, exquisite production, practical and beautiful appearance. It can be used as a knife and has artistic value. It is deeply loved by people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Uygur knife making skills are mainly spread in Yingjisha County in Kashgar region and Shaya County in Aksu region.

Yingjisha knife is generally 11-12 cm long, the longest can be more than half a meter, and the shortest is only about two inches. These knives have different styles, such as crescent, fish belly, phoenix tail, eagle, red billed crow, lark head and so on. The production materials are usually steel, brass, yak horn, deer horn, yellow sheep horn, etc. the blade is made of high-quality steel by hand forging, which is extremely sharp. The handle is made of copper and bone, inlaid with exquisite patterns of silver, copper, jade and gemstone, and the scabbard is made of cattle and sheep skin.

With the emergence of a large number of modern industrial products, the manufacture of Uygur traditional knife has been greatly impacted, the market is poor, and the production is hindered. Therefore, there are few practitioners, and fewer and fewer craftsmen master the relevant production skills. Some complicated knife production skills are in danger of being lost. It is urgent to protect and develop Uygur knife making skills.