Qi State knife money at The British Museum, London

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Knife money from the Warring States period retained many features of real tools, such as the ring and strengthening ridges on the handle. Northern states issued knife money, while those in the north-east also did so. Knife Money shares a similar shape with actual knives used during the Zhou period. They seem to have evolved alongside Spade money in northern China. Qi knives are attributed to the State of Qi and are found primarily in the Shandong area. Circulation appears to be limited outside this region. Archaeology confirms they date back to the Warring States period, despite controversy over their issue date. Three Character Knives, Four Character Knives, and so on, refer to the number of characters in their inscriptions. Some consider the three horizontal lines and mark below on some reverses as part of the inscription. The inscription refers to the establishment of the State of Qi, possibly occurring around 1122 BC, 894 BC, 685 BC, or 386 BC, depending on historical interpretation.