Chinese Ribbon Buttons

Ribbon buttons vary a lot in shapes and materials. They include butterfly buttons, bud buttons, and engraving-like buttons, which can have different influences on different types of costumes. A ribbon button decorated on a straight standing collar is likely to add a touch of classical elegance and implicitness, typical ofZhang Ailing, a famous Chinese female writer in the 1930s, who liked to wear the old clothes of the late Qing dynasty; one on a low-cut collar will show the romantic and charming character of modern women, while a row of parallel ribbon buttons on a long dress are exquisite and beautiful; a slightly opened short blouse with several flower-like ribbon buttons can show the beauty and innocence of a girl.

Chinese Ribbon Buttons

Chinese ribbon buttons, also known as right-angled buttons, have always been the most fascinating part of Chinese costumes with their classical beauty and antique flavor. Made of simple cloth ribbons, the buttons have in fact become precious artworks, combining the disposition and wisdom of makers. As a traditional accessory, Chinese ribbon buttons are making a comeback in a larger variety of types, such as long-sleeve buttons, short-sleeve buttons and front ribbon buttons. Even on the back vent of a straight bottom dress are decorations of several ribbon buttons.

Main categories of Chinese kites
Chinese kites may be differentiated into four main categories:
1. Flat-Kites
Flat kites are constructed within a single plane, and are made of a completely rigid bamboo frame. Spars (longitudinal beams) frame all the four sides of the frame or of the frame segements. Most of these kites, which are very easy to fly, are flown with long tails to grant a stable in-flight behavior. Flat kites are built in many forms and types, very often with pictorial motives from ancient myths and religious ideas, or very often with a picture of the ying-yang sign or the "Eight Diagrams" (a kind of ancient philosophy-related Chinese diagram).
2. Hard-winged kites
This kind of kite is made of two bamboo strips attached to a rectangular framework, which is covered with paper or silk to form a triangle to ensure a good wind-catching effect and good flight performance.

Chinese Traditional Kite Craft

Flying includes: selecting site and weather, choosing the kite, launching the kite into the air, adjusting the line, and controlling the kite.
To make a kite, first, the right kind of bamboo strips must be selected for the frame. It should be thick and strong for a kite of large dimensions in order to stand the wind pressure. The regular paper or sometime silk is used to cover the frame. Silk kites, especially, are more durable and generally of higher artistic value. Third, painting the kite may be done in each way.
China has a large area of territory. As a traditional culture and folk art, kite has formed unique style of different regions during its development, among which the most famous ones are the styles of Beijing, Tianjin, Weifang in Shangdong Province, Sichuan and Guangdong Province .
Art genre & characteristics of Chinese kites
The art of Chinese kites has developed endlessly alongside the long history of the nation's cultural traditions. Each kind of kite art has its strong point due to its strong affinity with each rich and colorful historical period. The specific kite art and firmly relates with the music, dance, drama, folk-custom, and religion of their respective areas.
Various art systems and genres have formed over time. Generally, there are six kinds: Beijing kite, Weifang kite, Tianjin kite, Nantong kite, Jiangnan kite, and Taiwan kite.

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group
Silver Chest Bands
A popular silver chest decoration, the bands are usually rectangular or semicircular and evolved from longevity locks. Some smaller ones are made of single pieces, and bigger ones are made up of two or three pieces, covering almost the whole chest and abdomen with a highly decorative effect.
Silver Hanging Decorations
The most common hanging decorations are shaped like butterflies, birds, fish, coins, and riding figures. They usually consist of chains, brands, and pendants arranged in as many as four to five levels, and the longest can be up to 85 cm long.
Hand Decorations
Silver Bracelets
Bracelets are an important part of the Miao people's silver decorations. There are many variations in shape and different styles represent the diversified tastes of various Miao group branches. People usually wear four or five pairs of bracelets at a time up their forearms.
Silver Rings
Miao silver rings are usually large and wide featuring birds, flowers or vines. There is no specific restriction on how many or where to wear rings. The Miao people near Guiyang sometimes wear eight rings at one time - one on each finger except the two thumbs. In comparison with other silver Miao ornaments, there are few patterns and styles for rings, and they are only popular in a small number of regions.

Silver Earrings

There is a much greater range of silver earrings than any other type of Miao silverware. The Museum of Guizhou Province alone has, nearly one hundred kinds in its incomplete collection. There are four types of earrings: drop, circle, hook and wheel. Drop and circle types are the most popular types and earrings use other patterns besides the usual flowers, birds, butterflies and dragons.
Silver Bonnet Ornaments
The Miao people regard silver as talisman against evil spirits, so people living around the Qingshui River have a custom of decorating their children's bonnets with silver ornaments. Traditional bonnet ornaments include lions, fish and butterflies. Chinese characters such as fu (prosperity), lu (high position), shou (longevity), xi (happiness) and changming fugui (longevity with wealth and honor) are also used because of the influence of dominant Han Chinese culture.

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group

There is a great demand for Miao silverware but all the craftsmen are amateurs who can often only work during the farming off season. Then in some regions unique "silver villages" or large compound silver workshops appear.
Because the Miao silverware producing regions have no natural silver resources, the hardworking Miao people used to melt almost all the silver coins and ingots they earned. This led to different levels of silver purity as currencies differed from region to region. From the 1950s, the government began to regularly allocate special silver to the Miao people to as a sign of respect for their tradition and customs.

The design of the silver decorations is largely inspired by other art forms such as embroidery and wax printin. The silversmiths consistently improve and enrich the patterns while keeping the traditional designs.
The rich varieties, elegant patterns, and exquisite craftsmanship not only demonstrate the colorful world of Miao people's art, but their spiritual life as well.

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group

Silver Ornaments of the Miao Ethnic Group
The Miao ethnic group's silver ornaments are second to none, both in terms of quantity and variety. Miao women's festive attire includes a variety of silver decorations, weighing as much as 15 kilos! The purpose of wearing all this silver is of course primarily aesthetic, but it also shows affluence and is thought to wards off evil spirits.
While usually worn by women, the Miao ethnic minority's silverware is made by men. Categorized by functions, there are hats, clothing, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. The level of craftsmanship ranges from relatively basic styles seen in some of the bracelets and neckbands to very delicate skilful work used to make silver bells, flowers, birds, butterflies, needles, bubbles, chains, and earrings.
There are three basic varieties of Miao silverware distinguished by area. The first type is represented by eastern Guizhou Province where people wear silver ornaments made with a high degree of craftsmanship. The main works are silver hats and clothes. The hats are made of dozens or even more than a hundred parts, topped by tall horn-like decorations. The second style is from the Songtao and Tongren regions, and features silverware inlaid on kerchiefs, shawls, and clothes. Delicate earrings are also made with a high degree of craftsmanship although there is now less silver decoration than before. The third type, from the regions west of Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province, features comparatively few varieties of silverware. Only hairpins, combs, and flower decorations are made there. All three areas make earrings, neckbands, and bracelets.

Chinese Qipao

The Qipao had another side: simplicity and purity. Girls from ordinary families also wore qipaos, but these were made from sackcloth or yarn. Wearing their qipaos, they bustled in yards of blue tile and white walls, on small bridges over rivers or in narrow strttes paved with flagstone. Although lacking in sophisticated handiwork and exquisite adornment, the qipaos worn by these humble maidens were full of purity and earthiness.
An oradinary qipao can easily enhance the warer's bearing. Female college graduates during the early 20th century wore blue cotton qipaos. White scarvets were draped loosely over a shoulder. An air of refinement, as well as the vigor and warmth of youth were conveyed with simple dress.
The qipao, interpreted by Chinese women in different times and for occasions, will never lose its charm.

Taichi II

Tai chi chuan was created as a form of traditional Chinese martial arts of the Neijia (soft or internal) branch. Since the first widespread promotion of tai chi's health benefits by Yang Shaohou, Yang Chengfu, Wu Chien-ch'uan and Sun Lutang in the early twentieth century, it has developed a worldwide following among people with little or no interest in martial training for its benefit to health and health maintenance. Some call it a form of moving meditation, as focusing the mind solely on the movements of the form purportedly helps to bring about a state of mental calm and clarity. Besides general health benefits and stress management attributed to tai chi training, aspects of Traditional Chinese medicine are taught to advanced tai chi students in some traditional schools。Some martial arts, especially the Japanese martial arts, use a uniform for students during practice. Tai chi chuan schools do not generally require a uniform, but both traditional and modern teachers often advocate loose, comfortable clothing and flat-soled shoes。

The physical techniques of tai chi chuan are described in the tai chi classics (a set of writings by traditional masters) as being characterized by the use of leverage through the joints based on coordination in relaxation, rather than muscular tension, in order to neutralize or initiate attacks. The slow, repetitive work involved in the process of learning how that leverage is generated gently and measurably increases and opens the internal circulation (breath, body heat, blood, lymph, peristalsis, etc.).

Chinese Qipao

Qipao (Ch'ipau) is one of the most typical, traditional costumes for Chinese women. Also known as cheongsam, it is like a wonderful flower in the Chinese colorful fashion scene because of its particular charm.

Like other costumes, the beauty of Qipao comes first. Simplicity is one of its features from the collar, loop, chest, waist and hips to the lower hem, and a Qipao almost varies with a woman's figure. It not only lays stress on the natural beauty of a female figure, but also makes women's legs appear more slender. Mature women in Qipaos can display their graceful refined manner.
Besides its simplicity, Qipao provides designers with vast, creative space: some short, some long, with low, high, or even no collars at all.
Practicality always goes with beauty. Qipaos are worn in both urban and rural areas, its long-standing elegance and serenity making wearers fascinating.