Today is a special sharing session about cheongsam pankou buttons. In the process of making a cheongsam, these buttons are not only the finishing touch but also the starting point, just like the opening of a perfect work. A surprising or unexpected start can always spark more attention and appreciation later. Meanwhile, these buttons, which are linked to the essence of traditional Chinese culture, are an important way for us to rediscover Chinese characteristics. They are small, delicate, and a vivid symbol of the ancient people's aesthetics.
In ancient times, our ancestors needed to use ropes or belts to tie knots or fasten buttons to fix the front of their clothes and keep warm during work. This kind of knot can be regarded as the earliest origin of the frog buttons. Later, with the development of dynasties, the knots also changed accordingly. For example, the "ribbon" in the Zhou Dynasty, the "silk ribbon" in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the "silk knot ribbon" in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, and the "jade ring ribbon" in the Song Dynasty. These are all the step - by - step changes of the knot ribbons evolving into frog buttons. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, frog buttons finally took shape. They originated from the customs of the Manchu people and eventually became an indispensable artistic crystallization on the cheongsam.
A set of frog buttons consists of a button head, a button loop, and a button flower. Due to the rich variety of frog buttons, they can be roughly divided into two categories:
1. According to the craftsmanship, they can be divided into coiled - incense buttons, inlaid - wire hard - flower buttons, and filled - core buttons.
2. According to the shape, they can be divided into plant - shaped frog buttons, animal - shaped frog buttons, lucky - character frog buttons, and geometric - shaped frog buttons.
Now, let's talk about the beauty and craftsmanship features of frog buttons.
Coiled - Incense Buttons
Coiled - incense buttons are a relatively basic type of cheongsam buttons. They are made by coiling a cloth strip in a spiral shape, looking like a coil of mosquito - repellent incense, hence the name. Coiled - incense buttons can also have various shape changes. For example, the button made by surrounding a pearl with a coiled - incense is called a pearl - wrapped button, and the one with two coiled - incenses side by side is called a double - round button.
Inlaid - Wire Hard - Flower Buttons
Also known as hard - strip flower buttons, different from the soft - strip coiled - incense buttons, the key of hard - strip flower buttons is to wrap a cloth strip around a copper wire, which increases the hardness of the cloth strip. Then, it can be bent into any shape according to the design, enhancing the three - dimensional beauty of the button. Generally, hard - strip flower buttons have diverse shapes and can be divided into hollow and filled - core types. The hollow ones are inlaid - wire hard - flower buttons, which are hollow and three - dimensional, with the ends hidden. They can be used for both the collar and the front of the cheongsam.
Filled - Core Buttons
Also called solid buttons, they are based on inlaid - wire hard - flower buttons. The hollow parts are filled with cotton, pearls, etc. If the inlaid - wire hard - flower button is regarded as a closed - loop outline, the filled - core button is like the soul that enriches the details, making the button more plump and lovely. In addition, there are single - color and multi - color filled - core buttons.
Geometric Frog Buttons
Whether they are geometric frog buttons or other more complex and diverse shaped frog buttons, they are all derivatives and creations based on the basic frog buttons. Geometric frog buttons generally include straight buttons, triangular buttons, and diamond buttons.
The straight button, also known as the straight - line button, as the name suggests, has a straight body. It is the most common button in cheongsams and also the one that shows the most skill in hand - stitching. A pair of straight buttons are centered on the button head, with the same length at the button tails, and there is an appropriate space between the button loop and the button head for unbuttoning. The button head is usually a mushroom button or a pearl button made of other materials. Moreover, in traditional Chinese culture, the straight line represents the beginning and the root of all things, and it also implies good meanings such as whole - heartedness and smooth sailing.
Plant - Shaped Frog Buttons
Plant - shaped frog buttons generally include flower buttons and leaf buttons. Among them, there are many kinds of flower buttons, and some are second - created on the original basis.
The orchid button has a beautiful flower shape and elegant temperament. It is made in the form of inlaid - wire hard - flower plus filled - core. The two - color filled - core adds a finishing touch to the flower shape, and a light - colored round bead as the button head makes it extremely delicate.
The lily - of - the - valley button is inspired by the lily - of - the - valley. With light - colored branches, green stems and leaves, and small and lovely white flowers, it is lively and delicate as a whole.
There are also some free - style small flower buttons. For example, this white - and - blue color - blocked filled - core button with a pearl as the finishing touch is elegant and quiet.
The ruyi flower button is made by inlaying a filled - core flower button in the shape of ruyi. Since the ruyi is shaped like a ganoderma and has a symmetrical structure, implying good luck, this type of button is often used on the front and collar of the cheongsam.
The leaf button is mainly shaped like a leaf. On the basis of the coiled - incense button, the sharp - corner shape of the leaf is created, making it lifelike and delicate. It adds the soul of craftsmanship to the cheongsam when placed on the collar and front.
Animal - Shaped Frog Buttons
Animal - shaped frog buttons are also a common type among cheongsam buttons. They are mostly inspired by butterflies, swallows, phoenixes, and fish, bringing unexpected surprises and interesting beauty to the elegant cheongsam.
The rabbit button is inspired by the little white rabbit. It is pure white all over, with a pearl button head that sets off the red eyes of the rabbit, making the image of the chubby and round rabbit vivid.
The butterfly button is also common in cheongsams. Inspired by the butterfly, when placed on the collar or front of the cheongsam, it looks like a fluttering butterfly, lively and pure.
The phoenix - tail button has special significance because the phoenix is a noble and auspicious symbol in cheongsam culture. Inspired by the phoenix feathers, it has a slender and light shape. With a jade button of the same color system, its natural beauty is highlighted.
The double - fish button, inspired by fish, implies wealth and harmony. The use of two - color contrast enhances the attractiveness of the button, achieving a lively and gentle shape.
