The Legend of Najiaying Knives: Exploring Yunnan's Historic Muslim Craftsmanship & Halal Culture
[Internet Repost]
What’s the real deal with the knives from Najiaying, Yunnan?
Summary:
Hey everyone, I'm Chituanjun. July was absolute chaos and I was so swamped I didn't have the time or energy to push out new posts. If you've found any awesome spots to eat or hang out in Kunming or the surrounding areas lately, drop a comment or DM me—I'm totally down to check them out once I'm back in action.
Click the card above to follow me
Hey everyone, I'm Chituanjun, and July had me running around so crazy I barely had a second to breathe.
Found any killer food or fun spots around Kunming lately? Hit me up in the comments or shoot me a DM—I'm dying to go explore once I'm free.
As a local, free-roaming Halal food blogger, I suppose this day was bound to come: I received a few dozen kitchen knives sent over by a PR brand. My inner monologue was running so wild I actually started worrying about my personal safety (kidding... sort of).
True to our professional standards, as soon as we got our hands on them, the foodie squad launched into full-on crazy testing mode. One of our team members even paid for it in blood...
Seriously folks, always be super careful when handling knives, and store them safely when you're not using them!
Besides, being the perfectionists we are, we made a personal trip out to the source—Najiaying, Tonghai County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province—to bring you this heavy-hitting feature.
Surrounded by "Flash and Gleam of Blades"
1.
Nagu Town sits in the northwest of Tonghai County, a place famously known as a "land of rites and music." It's a renowned "hometown of handicrafts," where the local residents are primarily Hui Muslims and Han Chinese.
According to historical records, the knife-forging craft in Nagu Town dates all the way back to the Yuan Dynasty.
"As part of the 'Tamma' vanguard troops and accompanying military craftsmen, the ancestors of Nagu applied their exquisite skills and unique techniques to forge top-tier creations in military blades, civilian knives, horse gear, and more."
More than 700 years later, local artisans and businesses are still writing their handicraft history today by building on these fine traditions while blending in modern tech and practical everyday needs.
2.
Another little-known and fascinating story is that knives from Najiaying were once shortlisted as national contenders for the Chinese Tri-Service Honor Guard ceremonial swords.
In early 1992, the Central Military Commission issued an order deciding to revamp the ceremonial uniforms for the Honor Guard. Along with the new threads, the executive and platoon commanders of the Honor Guard were switching out their sidearms for ceremonial swords, shifting from a standard unarmed salute to a much more formidable and solemn saber salute. (Note: Paragraph content is excerpted from the China Archives News, total issue No. 3251, titled "Vowing Loyalty to Forge the 'National Saber'").
The task of researching and designing this ceremonial sword was handed over to the Quartermaster Equipment Research Institute of the General Logistics Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
They first headed to the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution to gather reference materials on ceremonial swords from countries like France, Japan, the US, Sweden, and Italy. Based on China's actual national and military conditions as well as ethnic characteristics, they drafted 3 different sword designs and commissioned over 10 military enterprises and knife manufacturers to make sample blades.
Among them were artisans from Najiaying who took part in the production at the time.
It's a real pity that although we tracked down the person involved and visited their home, we couldn't find the key to the display room. So we missed out on seeing more physical evidence related to it—which honestly just gives us a great excuse for another trip.
3.
Walking down the streets of Najiaying today, you see specialty shops for civilian knives of all shapes and sizes everywhere: scissors, tea knives, nail clippers, unsharpened decorative blades...
Rows upon rows of uniquely shaped knives inside the glass counters reflect that chilling metallic gleam, looking totally badass and giving you a serious martial arts-style adrenaline rush.
Drivers and tourists cruising by can't help but pull over and wander into the shops to check things out. When they spot one they like, they pick up a reliable "kitchen weapon" for themselves, family, or friends.
Honestly, once you've got pro-grade gear and that atmosphere, your inner potential just naturally kicks in.
Take me for example: ever since I got my hands on a reliable knife, the frequency of me heading into the kitchen to prep ingredients has seriously shot up.
Looking forward to even more cool stuff ahead
Forged through over 600 years of accumulation and refinement, Najiaying's knives boast battle-tested craftsmanship that is passed down through generations. It's a priceless asset, but one that constantly faces the challenges of a fast-changing market.
After visiting more than a dozen workshops and specialty stores on the ground, my takeaway is this:
When it comes to tapping into their own cultural resources, telling a compelling brand story, proactively innovating, and connecting with contemporary young consumers, Najiaying's civilian cutlery still has a long road ahead for growth.
Finally, let me shout out an outstanding local Halal restaurant in Najiaying—Jieya Restaurant.
According to a good friend, this spot has been open locally for over 20 years. The quality is solid and the prices are super affordable, making it a great pick whether you're grabbing a casual bite, hanging out with family and friends, or hosting a business dinner.
Our foodie squad tried it out, and everyone was licking their chops.
My personal recommendations: Tom Yum chicken, sliced cold beef, and stir-fried wild mushrooms.
The dipping sauce for the cold beef has a sour and spicy kick—super complex and bursting with authentic Yuxi local flavor.
Until next time, Najiaying~
- Restaurant Info -
Name: Jieya Restaurant
Phone: 13887793491; 13887793492
Average cost: 60 RMB (spend as you like)
- Foodie Squad Perks -
For this issue, our foodie squad handpicked the most frequently used home-style kitchen slicer out of hundreds of knives in Najiaying to recommend to you all.
It has a substantial heft, a razor-sharp blade, and serious performance, totally handling all your daily needs for shredding, slicing, cutting strips, and dicing, while fitting right in with the habits of a Chinese kitchen.
If you want to experience the 600-year knife-making magic of Najiaying, why not start with this one?
Any quality issues under non-violent use within 2 years get a free trade-in for a brand new one.
- More Great Stuff -
Don't rush, 30 is just another beginning
I've been gatekeeping a Halal leisure resort in Xishan District, and I really hate to share it
Without our Zhaotong folks leading the charge, Kunming wouldn't have the Halal food scene it has today
What’s the real deal with the knives from Najiaying, Yunnan?
Summary:
Hey everyone, I'm Chituanjun. July was absolute chaos and I was so swamped I didn't have the time or energy to push out new posts. If you've found any awesome spots to eat or hang out in Kunming or the surrounding areas lately, drop a comment or DM me—I'm totally down to check them out once I'm back in action.
Click the card above to follow me
Hey everyone, I'm Chituanjun, and July had me running around so crazy I barely had a second to breathe.
Found any killer food or fun spots around Kunming lately? Hit me up in the comments or shoot me a DM—I'm dying to go explore once I'm free.
As a local, free-roaming Halal food blogger, I suppose this day was bound to come: I received a few dozen kitchen knives sent over by a PR brand. My inner monologue was running so wild I actually started worrying about my personal safety (kidding... sort of).
True to our professional standards, as soon as we got our hands on them, the foodie squad launched into full-on crazy testing mode. One of our team members even paid for it in blood...
Seriously folks, always be super careful when handling knives, and store them safely when you're not using them!
Besides, being the perfectionists we are, we made a personal trip out to the source—Najiaying, Tonghai County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province—to bring you this heavy-hitting feature.
Surrounded by "Flash and Gleam of Blades"
1.
Nagu Town sits in the northwest of Tonghai County, a place famously known as a "land of rites and music." It's a renowned "hometown of handicrafts," where the local residents are primarily Hui Muslims and Han Chinese.
According to historical records, the knife-forging craft in Nagu Town dates all the way back to the Yuan Dynasty.
"As part of the 'Tamma' vanguard troops and accompanying military craftsmen, the ancestors of Nagu applied their exquisite skills and unique techniques to forge top-tier creations in military blades, civilian knives, horse gear, and more."
More than 700 years later, local artisans and businesses are still writing their handicraft history today by building on these fine traditions while blending in modern tech and practical everyday needs.
2.
Another little-known and fascinating story is that knives from Najiaying were once shortlisted as national contenders for the Chinese Tri-Service Honor Guard ceremonial swords.
In early 1992, the Central Military Commission issued an order deciding to revamp the ceremonial uniforms for the Honor Guard. Along with the new threads, the executive and platoon commanders of the Honor Guard were switching out their sidearms for ceremonial swords, shifting from a standard unarmed salute to a much more formidable and solemn saber salute. (Note: Paragraph content is excerpted from the China Archives News, total issue No. 3251, titled "Vowing Loyalty to Forge the 'National Saber'").
The task of researching and designing this ceremonial sword was handed over to the Quartermaster Equipment Research Institute of the General Logistics Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
They first headed to the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution to gather reference materials on ceremonial swords from countries like France, Japan, the US, Sweden, and Italy. Based on China's actual national and military conditions as well as ethnic characteristics, they drafted 3 different sword designs and commissioned over 10 military enterprises and knife manufacturers to make sample blades.
Among them were artisans from Najiaying who took part in the production at the time.
It's a real pity that although we tracked down the person involved and visited their home, we couldn't find the key to the display room. So we missed out on seeing more physical evidence related to it—which honestly just gives us a great excuse for another trip.
3.
Walking down the streets of Najiaying today, you see specialty shops for civilian knives of all shapes and sizes everywhere: scissors, tea knives, nail clippers, unsharpened decorative blades...
Rows upon rows of uniquely shaped knives inside the glass counters reflect that chilling metallic gleam, looking totally badass and giving you a serious martial arts-style adrenaline rush.
Drivers and tourists cruising by can't help but pull over and wander into the shops to check things out. When they spot one they like, they pick up a reliable "kitchen weapon" for themselves, family, or friends.
Honestly, once you've got pro-grade gear and that atmosphere, your inner potential just naturally kicks in.
Take me for example: ever since I got my hands on a reliable knife, the frequency of me heading into the kitchen to prep ingredients has seriously shot up.
Looking forward to even more cool stuff ahead
Forged through over 600 years of accumulation and refinement, Najiaying's knives boast battle-tested craftsmanship that is passed down through generations. It's a priceless asset, but one that constantly faces the challenges of a fast-changing market.
After visiting more than a dozen workshops and specialty stores on the ground, my takeaway is this:
When it comes to tapping into their own cultural resources, telling a compelling brand story, proactively innovating, and connecting with contemporary young consumers, Najiaying's civilian cutlery still has a long road ahead for growth.
Finally, let me shout out an outstanding local Halal restaurant in Najiaying—Jieya Restaurant.
According to a good friend, this spot has been open locally for over 20 years. The quality is solid and the prices are super affordable, making it a great pick whether you're grabbing a casual bite, hanging out with family and friends, or hosting a business dinner.
Our foodie squad tried it out, and everyone was licking their chops.
My personal recommendations: Tom Yum chicken, sliced cold beef, and stir-fried wild mushrooms.
The dipping sauce for the cold beef has a sour and spicy kick—super complex and bursting with authentic Yuxi local flavor.
Until next time, Najiaying~
- Restaurant Info -
Name: Jieya Restaurant
Phone: 13887793491; 13887793492
Average cost: 60 RMB (spend as you like)
- Foodie Squad Perks -
For this issue, our foodie squad handpicked the most frequently used home-style kitchen slicer out of hundreds of knives in Najiaying to recommend to you all.
It has a substantial heft, a razor-sharp blade, and serious performance, totally handling all your daily needs for shredding, slicing, cutting strips, and dicing, while fitting right in with the habits of a Chinese kitchen.
If you want to experience the 600-year knife-making magic of Najiaying, why not start with this one?
Any quality issues under non-violent use within 2 years get a free trade-in for a brand new one.
- More Great Stuff -
Don't rush, 30 is just another beginning
I've been gatekeeping a Halal leisure resort in Xishan District, and I really hate to share it
Without our Zhaotong folks leading the charge, Kunming wouldn't have the Halal food scene it has today
