Chinese Jewelry — History, Tradition, Culture, and Artifact

Ring in Chinese Culture

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Around 5,000 years ago, the ring was used as decoration by both men and women in the tradition of China.

 

About 2,300 years later, silver and gold rings were used by King’s wives. 

 

If they were during menstruation or pregnancy, they would wear a gold ring on the left hand, implicitly telling their king or emperor that they weren’t convenient; when they were available, they would wear a silver ring on the right hand.

 

Beautiful and valuable rings were also used as awards, which soon became popular among civilians.

 

About 1,900 years ago, ring became a Keepsake of Love in Chinese Culture. 

Earring in Tradition of China

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Earring has about 8,000 years of history, which was originally used as decoration or protection from evil forces in the tradition of China.

 

Thousands of years ago, ancient Chinese would hang two little pendants on their hat or hair ornament (like the Zan), to use them as earplugs when they needed to rest.

 

The earplugs were then regarded as a representative of self-discipline and introspection, a highly required characteristic in Chinese culture, for being a good way to avoid hearing and believing anything, before careful consideration.

 

Gradually, these two pendants turned into earring, a decoration specifically wore by women. 

Bracelet and Armlet

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Bracelets and armlets appeared in the Neolithic and became popular around 2,700-2,500 years ago.

 

They were usually made of jade, silver, or gold and sometimes embedded with gems.

 

They were only worn by women and were later used as a keepsake of love in Chinese culture.

 

Later, some bracelets were also made of beads or stones that could be worn by both women and men, because of Buddhism’s popularity.  

Necklace and Collar

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Since the Neolithic, people started to wear things on necks, to keep records or serve certain functions in worship ceremonies. 

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Gradually, different types of necklaces were used more as a means to decorate.