The three hairpins of Fuzhou.

I'm going to tell you about the three hairpins of Fuzhou. I prefer hairpins to knives, because there is indeed a culinary culture with three knives, specifically used in this region (1). This unique style is not unique to mainland China or to this region. Many Chinese from Fujian emigrated to Southeast Asia (ASEAN) in the 19th century, including Singapore (2), which explains the presence of these artefacts among the Peranakans (Nyonyas). While the exact origins of these three pins are lost in the mists of time, we do know that this art form began to develop during the Tang dynasty, then flourished during the Song and Ming dynasties. The shapes and styles of these pins bear witness to the different eras. 

Each of the three pins has a special meaning:

• They symbolise heaven, earth and man, the three fundamental elements of the universe according to Chinese cosmology.
• The motifs are inspired by nature (flowers, birds, animals) or Chinese mythology. They may represent wealth, longevity, marital bliss or, in the case of mythology, protection from evil.
• They must be made of gold, silver or copper. The most expensive are encrusted with precious stones.

They are still made by hand, using traditional tools and age-old techniques to shape, engrave and decorate them. So each pair is unique. 

Despite its cultural importance, the art of the three pins is now threatened with extinction. The modernisation of Chinese society (I'm talking here about Chinese in mainland China and overseas, as well as those in the diaspora) and the emergence of new consumer trends have led to a decline in interest in this type of traditional adornment. What's more, the number of craftspeople mastering ancestral techniques is gradually declining.

Embun.

1: https://www.fujian.gov.cn/zwgk/ztzl/sxzygwzxsgzx/flsxkmh/202409/t20240914_6518063.htm

2: https://www.roots.gov.sg/Collection-Landing/listing/1131965