Yue Axe, Liangzhu Culture (c. 5,400 to 4,300 BCE). Jade. Length 17.2 cm, Width 10.9 cm, Thickness 0.3 cm. Unearthed from Fuquanshan Site, Qingpu District, Shanghai. © Shanghai Museum

The character '王', a Chinese term for king, originates from the pictograph of yue axe, which depicts an axe's cutting edge facing downward. The character '父' (father) derives its form from the image of a human holding an axe-from scepter as a symbol of power. With no traces of use, jade scepters signify kingship and military power.