The Ao Naga populace occupies Mokokchung district predominantly, and these people cherish their arts and crafts tradition. The dao holder is an example of many cultural artifacts within the Ao community, standing out as an object of utility and as a platform for creativity. The rectangular ao dao holder is painstakingly carved out of wood according to the exact measurement of the dao, the traditional all-purpose tool, for farming and cutting. It has one defining characteristic: a longitudinal slit running through the center for firmly holding the blade flat in place and protecting the user when the dao isn't in use.
Engravings adorn one side of the holder, which usually includes geometric designs, tribal signs, or figures from nature. The carvings have not only aesthetic purposes but also symbolic affiliations to status, clan, or ancestry. Such detailings show how much the Ao people take their common tools as symbolic expressions of identity and aesthetics.The rectangular dao holder represents the harmonious marriage of functionality and aesthetics intrinsic to the Ao tribe. It mirrors the intrinsic wisdom of the people in form, utility, and metaphor-channeled through a mere sheath, turning it into a reflection of culture and traditional wisdom.