Ge (ceremonial knives)

Refers to a type of dagger-axe, or halberd, used for display by Shang elite in Bronze Age China. They are single- or double-edged blades with short hafts, though length, shape, and motif varied and evolved over time. Many bronze ge were functional weapons, while later examples are ground from materials such as nephrite and are presumed to be purely ceremonial. Bronze ge may have been among the first objects created in Chinese foundries.