Latest revision as of 17:59, 20 June 2025

2024 MTI Liu Chao

Hairpin Flowers

Hairpin flowers are traditional Chinese hair accessories for bun decoration. Their origin dates back to ancient times when people wore simple hair ornaments made of plant flowers, animal bones, and shells for practical, aesthetic, or religious reasons. The Book of Songs mentions, “You give me a peach, I give you a beautiful ornament in return. This is not a return, but a token of lasting friendship,” highlighting the importance of hair accessories at that time.

From the Wei and Jin Dynasties to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, hairpin flowers gradually became popular. Records show that noble-class women in the Western Jin Dynasty often wore Xianbei-style hair accessories similar to hairpin flowers. During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, hairpin flower culture reached its peak. The murals of Princess Yongtai’s tomb showcase exquisite hairpin flowers resembling blooming peonies or fluttering butterflies. In the Song Dynasty, hairpin flowers reflected literati’s interests and aesthetic tastes. Emperor Song Huizong's Painting of Listening to a Zither features simple and elegant hairpin flowers in the characters’ buns.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the production techniques of hairpin flowers became more exquisite and the variety became more diverse. Gold, silver, jade, gemstones, pearls, corals, and other materials are widely used in the production of hairpin flowers. At the same time, the art of jade picking has greatly developed in the Ming Dynasty, making jewelry colorful and uniquely shiny, and becoming a sought after object by aristocratic women. With the transformation of modern lifestyle and the impact of Western culture, hairpin flowers have gradually faded out of daily life. However, in some traditional festivals, folk activities, and specific scenes such as opera stages, hairpin flowers still play an important role and become an important symbol of traditional culture.

The Cultural Connotations of Hairpin Flowers

In ancient times, people believed hair was given by parents and should be cherished. Wearing hairpin flowers showed respect for one’s body and was linked to filial piety. They also have different meanings in different settings.

In traditional weddings, hairpin flowers symbolize beauty and auspiciousness. In Han-ethnic weddings, the bride wears a “phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes” decorated with exquisite hairpin flowers, including dragon, phoenix, and peony elements. Dragons and phoenixes imply a happy married life, while peonies stand for wealth and prosperity. In traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, Yuanxiao Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, people also wear specific hairpin flowers to express their wishes for the New Year and good expectations for life

Hairpin flowers are also connected with ancient etiquette systems. Different identities, statuses, and occasions have different standards for wearing hairpin flowers. In the royal court, there are strict differences in material, craftsmanship, and design between the queen's hairpin and the concubine's hairpin, demonstrating their supreme status and authority.

The Craftsmanship of Hairpin Flowers

In ancient times, various materials were used to make hairpin flowers, including gold, silver, copper, jade, Hetian jade, rubies, sapphires, pearls, coral, wood, bone, and ivory. Each material has its own characteristics, meeting different needs and styles.

In the process of making hairpin flowers, various traditional handicrafts are combined, such as forging, inlaying, and carving, showcasing the exquisite skills and rich imagination of the craftsmen.

The Inheritance and Innovation of Hairpin Flowers in Modern Society

At the level of cultural inheritance, hairpin flowers, as an important carrier of traditional culture, have significant significance for inheritance. On the one hand, some craftsmen in certain regions still adhere to traditional hairpin making techniques, passing down ancient skills through apprenticeship, family inheritance, and other means. On the other hand, hairpin culture has gradually entered campuses and classrooms, becoming an important part of traditional cultural education.

In modern society, hairpin flowers are also constantly innovating and applying. In the fashion industry, designers combine traditional hairpin elements with modern fashion elements to create fashionable and personalized jewelry. In terms of cultural and creative products, a series of products have been developed with the theme of hairpin flowers, such as bookmarks, pen holders, phone cases, etc., allowing more people to come into contact with and understand hairpin flower culture in their daily lives. In film and television works and stage performances, hairpin flowers also frequently appear, presenting the unique charm of traditional culture to the audience.

Terms and Expressions

Hairpin flowers 簪花

Phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes 凤冠霞帔

Kingfisher-feather technique 点翠工艺

Gold-silver hairpin flowers 金银簪花

Cultural inheritance 文化传承

Cultural and creative products 文创产品

Questions

1.What are the main materials used for making hairpin flowers in ancient times?

2.What symbolic meanings do hairpin flowers carry in traditional weddings according to Chinese culture?

3.What are the key steps in making hairpin flowers? Please give examples.

4.List two ways of inheriting and promoting hairpin flower culture in modern society.

5. Which ancient references mentions the use of hairpin flowers?

Answers

1. Gold, silver, copper, jade, Hetian jade, rubies, sapphires, pearls, coral, wood, bone, and ivory.

2. In traditional weddings, hairpin flowers symbolize beauty and auspiciousness.

3. Forging, inlaying and carving.

4. In the fashion industry, designers combine traditional hairpin elements with modern fashion elements to create fashionable and personalized jewelry. In terms of cultural and creative products, a series of products have been developed with the theme of hairpin flowers, such as bookmarks, pen holders, phone cases, etc., allowing more people to come into contact with and understand hairpin flower culture in their daily lives.

5. Painting of Listening.

References

[1]刘倩.“簪花围”民俗网络传播路径探索[J].中国报业,2025,(09):56-58.DOI:10.13854/j.cnki.cni.2025.09.054.

阅读链接：https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=C4JADW50D8usTb_AQre4Koz7sz6y8019mnpvfowuyInf4gFVsQaq5Wtgdea1dhMYneosPsJ4UAIlETELfLHRyd8PPykVJ-X0xytVZFMyS1UStX5lN6QXJKUPai9as7R4S9Ge9GlxXVwXQJHu0rZhrt2mJJD1VhlzNzHyC0bppZov4CTgyP-Nqg==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS

[2]廖培煌,林劲峰.蟳埔簪花师：传承“渔村记忆”守护“文旅顶流”[N].泉州晚报,2025-05-06(004).

阅读链接：https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=C4JADW50D8vzAYpkSF9Z1C9S_7eMn4ET-Tx1wyTV5BZZa-fbiWbnkcVjWJwSD7hXX4o6eHEl5wcZWGunerYxKo8r1G_I-E7UowokUg0ovvUcZ8UKD4N6YdHmEybfFhT4uHVPmx5YPf9GdVxNhdeYryRz0wQVeh7w5gI3A1gRFDwyojA-JJ1QOQ==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS

[3]李思仪.文旅融合背景下簪花文化的创新设计策略研究[J].艺术与设计(理论),2025,2(04):135-139.DOI:10.16824/j.cnki.issn10082832.2025.04.037.

阅读链接：https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=C4JADW50D8ujFF2Y2esq83739vfPD9UzDzdVGLHdBAxf6QyAPuqOIZAb90i20R9F80ocHXZqlX3MV9s23h1STwoFtelGABDqzarp9LxXUdSaE4LquNQRcfBL9DSfJoaXQGAYqr3lSv4OgAE5V0n2fqH4VLxoyMqROE05L2Dpxrv0aMMc9Zdd5Q==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS

[4]李国宏.蟳埔簪花围：穿越刺桐港的千年芬芳[J].东方收藏,2025,(01):9-13.

阅读链接：https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=C4JADW50D8vdZbzTglGRcEtofuV50RsdCwEhDD2ijJly5bu0QPM8A7qq0EbAMnoq4NOkNrRdw4y2V6QchgVPF4N321PmaTs6quHNkPK2IM7J_K562GHLgkMN4t4rvmxtg_Ol2gRA6pw6kPzBhk0RHg4cY1IMmeD5DGbfJAwa__xPteEDpSZ5Lg==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS

[5]贾丹.唐代簪花在当代服饰设计中的应用[J].西部皮革,2025,47(01):105-108.DOI:10.20143/j.1671-1602.2025.01.105. 阅读链接：https://kns.cnki.net/kcms2/article/abstract?v=C4JADW50D8vNBm-oMqvLFMnm_qJ2r2H9-pzrpRaJCQ-eBZ_Eepo-CLQprNpoV3rlJJMYnEoJ4GWN1HBFa6_NlLPg5GX6IgjojsKTo1o2gz6BKRjBExK3hB20D9Q5jJVuxho023q2gDKXQCHEDiru9PUHTlDej4kNw_y24sKAiLUmgRo6Cv2clw==&uniplatform=NZKPT&language=CHS

AI statement

To help me to write my final paper, I have used the following AI chatbot: DeepSeek, Kimi and Doubao. I have the following prompts: "Please introduce hairpin flowers to me", "Please translate the following text", and " Please help me restructure my passage". During this process, I have also read some materials and learned more about hairpin flowers. After their translation, I have also modified some mistakes and their wrong information about hairpin flowers.

Note

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簪花

簪花是中国古代用于装饰发髻的传统饰品。其起源可追溯至远古时期，当时人们出于实用、审美或信仰目的，在发间佩戴植物花卉、兽骨、贝壳等制成的简易装饰物。《诗经》中 “投我以木瓜，报之以琼琚。匪报也，永以为好也” 的诗句，虽不能确定 “琼琚” 是否为簪花，但可窥见当时人们对发饰的珍视。

从魏晋南北朝时期开始，簪花的使用逐渐兴盛。西晋时期，士族阶层的女性便常用鲜卑头饰，其中有类似簪花的装饰。唐代是中国古代文化的繁荣时期，簪花文化也达到了一个高峰。永泰公主墓的壁画中，公主侍女们头上的簪花，或如盛开的牡丹，或状似灵动的蝴蝶，展现出当时贵族女性的奢华与精致。宋代的簪花则更多地融入了文人情趣与审美意趣。宋徽宗赵佶的《听琴图》中，人物发髻上的簪花简洁而雅致，与整体画面的清幽意境相得益彰。

明清时期，簪花的制作工艺更加精湛，种类更为丰富。金银、玉石、宝石、珍珠、珊瑚等被广泛用于簪花的制作，同时，点翠工艺在明代得到了极大的发展，使饰品色彩鲜艳、光泽独特，成为贵族女性追捧的对象。随着近现代生活方式的转变和西方文化的冲击，簪花逐渐从日常生活中淡出，但在一些传统节日、民俗活动以及戏曲舞台等特定场景中，簪花依然发挥着重要作用，成为传统文化的重要符号。

簪花的文化内涵

在古代，头发被认为是父母给予的身体的一部分，应当珍惜和装饰，簪花的佩戴体现了对身体的尊重和爱护，与孝道观念紧密相连。此外，簪花在不同的场合和情境中承载着不同的寓意。

在传统婚礼中，新人头上的簪花往往象征着美好与吉祥。新娘佩戴的 “凤冠霞帔” 上装饰着精美的簪花，其中不乏龙凤、牡丹等元素，寓意着夫妻和谐美满、生活富裕幸福。在春节、元宵节、中秋节等传统节日里，人们也会佩戴特定的簪花来表达对新年的祈愿和对生活的美好期望。

同时，簪花还与古代的礼仪制度密切相关。不同的身份、地位和场合有着不同的簪花佩戴规范。在皇家宫廷中，皇后的簪花与妃子的簪花在材质、工艺和造型上都有严格区别，彰显着至高无上的地位和权威。

簪花的制作工艺

古时制作簪花的材质丰富多样，包括金、银、铜、玉石、宝石、珍珠、珊瑚、木、骨、象牙等。每种材质都有其独特的特点，满足了不同层次、不同风格的需求。

簪花的制作过程中，多种传统手工技艺相互结合，如锻造、镶嵌和雕刻等，展现了工匠精湛的技艺和丰富的想象力。

簪花在现代社会的传承与创新

在文化传承层面，簪花作为传统文化的重要载体，其传承意义重大。一方面，一些地区的手工艺人依然坚守着传统的簪花制作工艺，通过师徒传承、家族传承等方式，将古老的技艺传承下去。另一方面，簪花文化逐渐走进校园、走进课堂，成为传统文化教育的重要内容。

在现代社会，簪花也在不断创新和应用。在时尚领域，设计师们将传统的簪花元素与现代时尚元素相结合，设计出具有时尚感和个性化的首饰。在文创产品方面，以簪花为主题开发了一系列产品，如书签、笔筒、手机壳等，让更多的人在日常生活中接触和了解簪花文化。在影视作品和舞台表演中，簪花也频繁出现，为观众呈现出传统文化的独特魅力。

术语对照表

簪花 Hairpin flowers

凤冠霞帔 Phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes

点翠工艺 Kingfisher-feather technique

金银簪花 Gold-silver hairpin flowers

文化传承 Cultural inheritance

文创产品 Cultural and creative products

问题

1.古代制作簪花的主要材质有哪些？

2.根据传统文化，簪花在婚礼中具有哪些象征意义？

3.制作簪花的关键步骤有哪些？请举例说明。

4.在现代社会中，列举两种传承和推广簪花文化的方式。

5.哪部古代文献中提到了簪花的使用？

答案

1. 金、银、铜、玉石、宝石、珍珠、珊瑚、木、骨、象牙等。

2. 在传统婚礼中，新人头上的簪花往往象征着美好与吉祥。

3. 锻造、镶嵌和雕刻等。

4. 在时尚领域，设计师们将传统的簪花元素与现代时尚元素相结合，设计出具有时尚感和个性化的首饰。在文创产品方面，以簪花为主题开发了一系列产品，如书签、笔筒、手机壳等，让更多的人在日常生活中接触和了解簪花文化。

5. 《听琴图》。

参考文献