Chinese Folk Customs | Quanzhou Hairpin Culture

Hairpins, an ancient Chinese hair ornament art, carry thousands of years of history and beauty. Since the Han Dynasty, flowers have become an embellishment for women's hair. In the Tang Dynasty, the fashion of hairpins became popular and became a popular decoration for the court and the people. In the Song Dynasty, the custom of men wearing hairpins with flowers reached its peak. The emperor's bestowal of flowers became a ritual system, and literati and scholars also expressed their feelings with hairpins. Hairpins with flowers are not only a symbol of beauty, but also a cultural heritage. It blooms with eternal charm in the long river of history, telling the ancients' yearning and pursuit for a better life.

With the changes of the times, the production process of hairpins with flowers is also constantly developing and innovating. From the initial simple jade inlay to the later gold and silver inlay and gemstone inlay, the production process of hairpins with flowers has become more and more sophisticated, and the shapes have become more and more diverse. Under the inheritance and development of craftsmen from generation to generation, hairpins with flowers have gradually formed a unique artistic style and become a treasure in Chinese traditional culture.

1.Artistic origins

In front of the spring breeze, the flute blows the rain obliquely, and the hairpin flowers are upside down on the crown when I am drunk. The police flower is a traditional culture that has existed in my country, especially in Fujian, for thousands of years. People from generation to generation have worn flowers for beauty and love themselves with flowers, which lasts forever. As Mr. Zhou Guoping said: "Culture is the flower of life. Without the origin of life, culture is just an artificial flower." Spring is here, and the bluestone steps are long, and you can catch a glimpse of them when you are watching the flowers; the east wind passes by, and Jiangnan is easy to rest here.

Quanzhou police flower originated in the Song Dynasty and has a history of nearly 1,000 years. It originated from the hair accessories of ancient palace ladies and later evolved into a unique handicraft. Quanzhou Hairpin Flower is known as the "Fairy among Flowers" and is famous for its delicate, exquisite and elegant style.

2. Production process

The traditional production process of Quanzhou hairpins is very complicated and requires multiple processes, including wire cutting, wire laying, inlaying, coloring, etc. With the improvement of craftsmanship. Modern hairpin production pays more attention to detail processing and adopts more sophisticated craftsmanship, such as inlaying, carving, weaving, etc., to make hairpins more exquisite and unique. At the same time, with the advancement of science and technology, some modern technologies have also been applied to hairpin production, such as 3D printing, laser cutting, etc.

The main materials for making hairpins are metal wire, jewelry stones, and colored pearls. Modern hairpins pay more attention to the texture, durability and environmental protection of the materials. For example, natural pearls and gemstones are used. These materials are cleverly combined to form a variety of floral patterns.

3. Cultural connotation

Hairpins have an important position in traditional Chinese culture. In addition to being used as hair accessories, they are often given the meaning of symbols and blessings, and also carry people's yearning and pursuit for a better life. In ancient times, women wore hairpins not only to decorate their beauty, but also to pray for peace, happiness and auspiciousness. These beautiful meanings and wishes have been inherited and continued through the carrier of hairpins, becoming an indispensable part of Chinese traditional culture. Quanzhou hairpins incorporate local cultural elements. It is not only a handicraft, but also a cultural inheritance and expression.

With the changes of the times and the development of society, the traditional craft of hairpins is also facing new challenges and opportunities. In modern society, people's lifestyles and aesthetic concepts have undergone tremendous changes. As a traditional craft, hairpins also need to keep pace with the times and continue to innovate.

In recent years, more and more Chinese designers and craftsmen have begun to incorporate modern elements into the production of hairpins, creating a series of hairpins with a sense of modernity and fashion. These works not only retain the exquisite craftsmanship and cultural connotations of traditional hairpins, but also incorporate modern design concepts and fashion elements, making hairpins glow with new vitality in modern Chinese society.

At the same time, as a treasure of traditional Chinese culture, hairpins have also attracted more and more attention and love. More and more people are beginning to understand and recognize this traditional craft, and regard it as one of the important ways to inherit and promote traditional Chinese culture. Through continuous inheritance and innovation, this traditional craft will continue to flourish and be passed on in modern society.