Xiuhuaxie
Xiuhuaxie | |||||||
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Chinese name | |||||||
Chinese | 绣花鞋 | ||||||
Literal meaning | Embroidered shoes | ||||||
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English name | |||||||
English | Chinese shoes/ Chinese-style embroidered shoes/ Chinese slippers |
Xiuhuaxie (Chinese: 绣花鞋; pinyin: xiùhuāxié; lit. 'embroidered shoes'), also known as Chinese shoes,[1] Chinese-style embroidered shoes,[1] and Chinese slippers,[2] are a well-known sub-type of traditional Chinese cloth shoes (
Cultural significance and tradition
[edit]The traditional social division of labour in ancient China has been based on the concept of Nangeng Nüzhi (Chinese:
Chinese embroideries have reflected and expressed the subtle changes in aesthetic concepts, cultural traditions, ethics and morals of the Chinese people throughout the millennia.[1] Similarly, the xiuhuaxie also reflect Chinese aesthetics through the use of beautiful embroidery patterns in the shoe cover. Basic embroideries patterns tend to be flowers, birds, animals, scenery, and figures from traditional Chinese opera; it can also be decorated with more auspicious patterns such lotus seeds, which symbolizes the birth of a child, pomegranate which symbolized multiple offspring, and the Longfei fengwu (Chinese: 龙飞凤舞; pinyin: lóngfēifèngwǔ; lit. 'flying dragon and dancing phoenix'), which is a symbol of marital bliss.
Tradition
[edit]According to the popular Chinese tale, Jinguo Xie《
In the past, Han Chinese brides' sewing skills were best reflected in the making of shoes.[3]: 111 For example, in Jinzhong county, Chinese brides used to sew and embroider shoes, known as kanxie (
United States
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Slippers_MET_1980.297ab_F.jpg/220px-Slippers_MET_1980.297ab_F.jpg)
In the early 20th century, the xiuhuaxie manufactured in China were imported to the United States where they were sold in American stores to American women as boudoir shoes; none of this imported xiuhuaxie were sold to Chinese people.[2] Chinese shoes firms in the United States, on the other hand, would mainly sell the xiuhuaxie to Chinese people who were living in the United States. A tariff system was implemented in the United States in order to curb the sales of Chinese shoes in the United States; customs appraisers at that time would place a tariff of 60 per cent on these shoes as they were classified as articles of silk embroidery; this tariff was so large that it prevented the general sales of the xiuhuaxie in the United States.[2]
Related items
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Embroidered Shoes: Making a Comeback". en.chinaculture.org. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
- ^ a b c "Chinese slippers sold in American stores as Boudoir slippers". Boot and Shoe Recorder. 1909. p. 21. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
- ^ a b Evy Wong, ed. (2012). Chinese auspicious culture. Singapore: Asiapac Books. ISBN 978-981-229-642-9. OCLC 818922837.