Hairpin with butterfly and flowers

Jade Hairpins
Jade is the most precious of all stones to the Chinese. Even human virtues such as kindness (ren), justice (yi), and wisdom (zhi), are described in terms of jade. In ancient China, married women dressed their hair in fancy twists and rolls. To keep the arrangements in place, they used hairpins made from jade and other choice materials. Prior to the Qing dynasty, men also wound their long hair into topknots, using shorter and thicker hairpins. Used not only for practical purposes, but as personal ornaments, hairpins were decorated with various auspicious motifs. Most of these were pictorial, but sometimes Chinese language characters appeared on hair ornaments.

During the Qing dynasty, men wore queues (braids), and hairpins were no longer in fashion except with Taoist priests.

The butterfly signifies happiness and longevity. Butterflies flying among flowers represent joy, love, and good fortune. The combined motifs frequently appear on women's hairpins, jewelry, purses, robes, and wedding gifts.