The Full Accessory Glossary
Hairpins (Zan) & Buyao
The foundation of Hanfu hair. Single pins, two-prong chai, and the dangling buyao ("step-shake") anchor the hairstyle and mark age and status. Full hairpin guide →
Fan (Shan)
The folding fan and round tuanshan. In summer a practical item, in court a social language — how you held the fan said something. Artists and scholars of the Song favored the folding fan. Full fan guide →
Shoes (Lu / Xue)
Embroidered cloth shoes (xie) with flat soles or cloud-head toes, varying by gender and occasion. Brides wear red embroidered shoes; scholars favor simple flat styles. Full shoe guide →
Belts & Sashes (Yao dai)
The functional fastening and a display item. Some belt ends are ornamented with jade, gold rings or more. In every dynasty, the belt marked rank from the common belt of leather to imperial clasped belts. Full belt guide →
Sachets & Beaded Pendants
Fragrant sachets (xiangbao) hung at the waist scented the space round the wearer. Jade pebi and other pendants (pei) were worn at the belt, their symbolism layered with auspicious motifs.
Jade and Metal Jewels
Jade collars, earrings, hat ivory, and belt buckles. Jade was the gentleman's stone — worn by men for virtue, by women for beauty. Beyond jade: gold, silver, and wood varied by dynasty and budget.
Accessories by Dynasty
| Dynasty | Key Accessories |
|---|---|
| Han | Jade pendants, simple hairpins, belt plaques |
| Tang | Hairpin sets, gold ornaments, necklaces, fans, perfume sachets (cosmopolitan exchange) |
| Song | Subdued jade, silver hairpins, scholar's fans |
| Ming | Ornamentation peaked — gold filigree, pearls, the phoenix crown, complex belts |
Dive Into Each Accessory