We can easily find traditional silver knives in museums or stores in Korea. These beautiful silver knives have a sad story. They were ornaments and protective means against enemies, but mainly they were used for suicide in the case of a violation of chastity. Women committed suicide with them when they thought they had lost their faithfulness and honesty because in the past Korean society valued fidelity above any other virtues of women. Mothers gave silver knives to their daughters as a marriage gift.

Silver knives originated in China in the Goryeo Dynasty. However, in China they used silver knives not to commit suicide but to protect themselves against enemies. You can see the word "fidelity" carved on the blades of only Korean silver knives. Silver knives became more common in the Joseon Dynasty. They were one of the most common three belongings together with mirrors and combs. The Joseon Dynasty encouraged women's fidelity and gave big awards to virtuous women. During Japan's invasion of Korea in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, many women committed suicide and attacked the enemies with their silver knives. At that time, Japanese were more afraid of women with hidden silver knives than soldiers.

Due to the strong image of fidelity, many people considered silver knives female belongings, but men also carried them. As silver knives became popular and common ornaments, high class people tried to have more expensive ones that made them look prominent. A silver knife showed the owner's class. Sometimes, silver knives are found in tombs. They were believed to protect the souls of dead people.

Silver knives were decorated with amber, ivory, and jade. Decorated silver knives as ornaments were placed on coat strings, and silver knives for self-protection were placed inside the pocket of the upper garment. Some silver knives had silver mini chopsticks, which were used to check if food was poisonous. If silver was put in poisoned food, the color of the silver changed.

Now, silver knives are not used for protection any more, but as a kind of ornament. As an ornament, silver knives make the style of dress antique. To make clothes antique, men as well as women can use silver knives. Silver knives have changed according to the trend of the times.