The knife has been at the service of Man for nearly 2.5 million years. Weapon or tool for cutting: the knife has become the universal sharp object. From its use have been born multiple superstitions. Offering a knife plunges you into the heart of one of them. Positive or negative. But, each belief shares the same antidote: the knife is offered in exchange for a coin. Discover the symbolism of knives, ancient superstitions and the birth of a new tradition.
The knife: an object with strong symbolic representation
Initially made of wood, bone or stones, knives progressed with the advent of metallurgy around 9,000 years before our era. With metal (bronze, iron and then steel), blades made it possible to slice and cut more easily. The knife became an object sought above all for hunting and combat.
The knife then acquired a strong symbolic representation. That of the power and the power of its blade. That of death given, but also that of life preserved thanks to food or the battle won. Knives are the prerogative of clan or family leaders. Later, the knife will also symbolize agility in the kitchen, certainly that of a chef.
Giving a knife: beliefs linked to the sharpness of the blade
Pocket knives, hiking knives or kitchen knives : knives are not common accessories of everyday life. They participate in our collective memory. And the sharpness of their blade connects us unconsciously or consciously to its symbol: life and death. Offering a knife becomes a thoughtful and supervised act.
The Knife Gift: A Superstition Based on Fear
There are many beliefs surrounding knives. But they all evoke fear. Here is a selection of some superstitious thoughts.
- By giving a knife to a person, you lose your power and might to them.
- The knife cuts the bond of friendship or love.
- Giving a knife to someone is an offense: the recipient of the gift would not have the means to acquire it.
- No one gives a knife to a loved one: they could seriously injure themselves.
- The knife gift can incite crime: it brings bad luck.
In Japan, the knife is a gift given to help a person.
In Japan, the knife represents a gift loaded with a benevolent intention. The Japanese knife is a continuation of the samurai sword. A formidable weapon wielded by master warriors. Its blade is sharp, but the object has a strong spiritual dimension. When a Japanese person offers a knife, it is to help or protect a person.
The quality of the blade symbolically allows the recipient of the gift to free themselves from their difficulties by cutting the thread that connects them to them. A symbol of strength and power, the knife as a gift presents a virtuous perspective here. According to tradition, offering a knife was appreciated during the bad years of life, the yakudoshi in Japanese. Thanks to the knife, the recipient, man or woman, felt supported in their difficult period.
Exchanging a Coin: The Common Antidote to All Superstitions
Every superstition has a talisman. For the gift knife, the sharp metal of the blade finds its counter-power in the exchange with a solid, powerful and evocative product: the coin. The best thing is to slip this coin into the knife's packaging. You are sure that the recipient of the gift makes the virtuous exchange. The popular adage then becomes reality: a knife is not given, it is bought!
Good to know: the amount of the coin is of very little importance. The type of knives either. Laguiole, Opinel or Japanese knife: it is the action of exchanging the knife with the coin that matters.
The knife as a gift: a new tradition freed from superstition
Like Japan, another tradition is developing. A conception of the gift based on recognition and transmission. It is thus a mark of trust when a father offers a knife to his son. But also the recognition of the passage to adulthood. Between friends or lovers, man or woman, the knife offered aims to show a person his attachment.
At the bottom of a pocket or on a kitchen table, knives are the companions of a lifetime. When you use a knife received as a gift, you think of the person who gave it to you. Knife blades no longer separate, they bring together.
Maison Damas, the online store for Japanese knives
Do you want to offer a knife ? Discover the Japanese knives from Maison Damas. These kitchen knives are made in the tradition of Japanese cutlery. Quality knives equipped with an exceptional blade in Damascus steel. Each knife benefits from an elegant design: aesthetic handle and blade decorated with the natural engraving of Damascus steel.
Maison Damas knives are sold individually or in sets of 2 to 6 items. Your gift will be delivered in a beautiful case. Don't hesitate to complete your purchase with useful accessories: sharpening steel, wall bracket or chef's apron.
