(Ecns.cn) -- In ancient China, the tradition of young lovers pledging to each other with tokens of love is a long and diverse one. These love tokens largely were comprised of bracelets, hairpins, finger rings, and even fruit. They could also be various small articles handed down from beloved ancestors, or souvenirs that were meticulously chosen. No matter what they were and how valuable they might be, tokens of love represented the promise of loyalty in the relationship.
Hairpin: symbol of the dignity of the principle wife
Ancient hairpins were long needles used to fix a wispy bun or fasten a hat onto the head. Women in love in ancient China would send hairpins to their beloved men as a token of their love.
Since the Western Zhou Dynasty (1100 BC- 771 BC), hairpins have also represented the dignity of the principle wife in a polygynous society. The story behind this goes like this: As her husband was distracted and obsessed with entertainment, the queen of King Zhouxuan took off her hairpin and let down her hair, an indecent gesture for a woman at that time. She then kneeled down in the palace to admonish the playful king and remind him of his duty to rule the kingdom.
Another story from Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) may better represent the symbolism of a hairpin in a relationship. In the story, a woman had given a hairpin as a gift to her lover to show her passion and affection. Later, when she heard news of his infidelity, she burned the hairpin and ended the relationship.
Jade pendants: gentlemen's love
With its beauty and wide-ranging expressiveness, jade in ancient China was compared to modest gentlemen. Confucius, China's greatest sage once said, "The beauty of jade is similar to that of the morality of honorable men." For such a reason, men in love would choose jade pendants to give to their beloved women. This showed not only their love, but patience and politeness as well.
Sachets: affection stuffed with aroma
Sachets, also called "fragrant bags" in ancient China, were bags usually sewn with cloth or weaved with multicolor silk threads and stuffed with aromatic herbs. The sweet-smelling bags were initially used to absorb sweat, repel insects, and ward off evil spirits.
Back in the Qing Dynasty, a scented sachet became a token of love. A girl would make one herself and send it to the one she fell in love with.
