Uyghur Chuantongxiaodao Making Craftsmanship
01 · Historical Records
The making of Yingjisha small knives is directly interlocked with the division of labor of oasis handicrafts: the blade is forged by a blacksmith, while the handle and scabbard are made separately by coppersmiths and leatherworkers, and finally assembled into one piece in the workshop—a single small knife often representing the craftsmanship of several families. Engraving characters is a rule passed down from the older generation; the blade usually bears the owner's name, a serial number, or an auspicious phrase, so the knife is closer to its person than other objects. Long knives can exceed half a meter, while short ones are about two inches; the length measures purpose, not display.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The Uyghur small knife is a traditional Uyghur handicraft with a distinctive shape and exquisite workmanship—practical yet beautiful. It serves both as a cutting tool and as an object of artistic value, and is deeply loved by the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang. The craft of making Uyghur small knives is mainly transmitted in Yingjisha County of the Kashgar region and Shaya County of the Aksu region. Yingjisha small knives are generally 11–12 cm long; the longest can exceed half a meter, while the shortest are only about two inches. These knives come in varied shapes—crescent, fish belly, phoenix tail, eagle, red-billed chough, lark head, and more—and the blades are usually engraved with characters. The materials used are often steel, brass, yak horn, deer antler, and gazelle horn; the blade is hand-forged from high-quality steel and is exceptionally sharp. The handle is made from copper, bone, and the like, and inlaid with fine patterns using silver, copper, jade, and gemstones; the scabbard is pressed and stamped from cattle or sheep hide. With the massive influx of modern industrial products, the manufacture of traditional Uyghur small knives has been severely impacted; poor market outlets and obstructed production mean few practitioners remain, and the number of artisans mastering the relevant craft is dwindling, with some intricate knives' making techniques facing the danger of being lost. Protecting and developing the craft of making Uyghur small knives has become an urgent matter.
Archival Records of the Production Process
With the massive influx of modern industrial products, the manufacture of traditional Uyghur small knives has been severely impacted; poor market outlets and obstructed production mean few practitioners remain, and the number of artisans mastering the relevant craft is dwindling, with some intricate knives' making techniques facing the danger of being lost.
Forging the blade
Fine steel is repeatedly heated, folded and quenched until the blade is bright and keen.
Engraving the blade
The owner's name, a date or an auspicious phrase is chased into the blade.
Setting the handle
Handles of copper and bone are inlaid with silver, jade and gems, using horn or antler for warmth.
Pressing the scabbard
Cow or sheep skin is pressed in moulds so the pattern takes evenly and the edge stays straight.
Crescent, fish-belly and swallow-tail forms
Crescent, fish-belly, swallow-tail, eagle and bird-head profiles each carry their own forging method.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The making of Uyghur small knives is most concentrated in Yingjisha County of the Kashgar region and Shaya County of the Aksu region; though a thousand li apart, their customs and materials differ slightly—Yingjisha excels at steel blades with bone handles and engraving, while Shaya is closer to the fur and leather trade, doing finer work on scabbards and sheaths. In Yingjisha County, workshops are mostly clustered around the county seat and the bazaars: men forge the blades, women fit the scabbards and do the finishing, and a single knife passes through three or four pairs of hands from the forge to the door. Upur Rahman began learning the craft from a master at age 13, worked at the Yingjisha County Hardware Factory from 1972 to 1982, later became director of the small-knife factory, and in 1988 registered the "Badam Flower" brand small-knife trademark.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Upur Rahman (per the official archives of the associated inheritor): Male, Uyghur ethnicity, born in June 1955, a native of Yingjisha County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Representative inheritor of the traditional Uyghur small-knife making craft, a national-level intangible cultural heritage item in the third batch. Master of arts and crafts of Xinjiang. He loves and excels at making Yingjisha small knives; at age 13 he studied the craft under a master, diligently applied himself, and mastered all aspects of knife making. From 1972 to 1982 he served as a skilled worker at the Yingjisha County Hardware Factory, and formerly served as director of the Yingjisha County Small-Knife Factory. In 1988 he founded the "Badam Flower" brand of Yingjisha small knives and registered its trademark. In 2013, his work "Yingjisha Small-Knife Three-Piece Set" won the Gold Award of the Xinjiang Arts and Crafts New Art Cup, conferred by the Xinjiang Arts and Crafts Association. He emphasizes taking on apprentices and passing on the craft, having trained a large number of highly skilled disciples.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Wufuer Reheman 03-1382
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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