From Pre-Qin to Modern Times: The Millennial Evolution of Sachets

From Pre-Qin to Modern Times: The Millennial Evolution of Sachets—Stories You Never Knew!

🪷Sachets, these ancient and mysterious accessories, evolved from the "rong xiu" of the Pre-Qin era to the "fragrant balls" of the Song Dynasty, and later became tokens of love during the Ming and Qing dynasties. They not only carry the wisdom and emotions of the ancients but also serve as an important symbol of Chinese culture. Did you know that the fragrances inside sachets were so meticulously chosen? How did they transition from being exclusive to the nobility to becoming talismans for the common people? Today, ✨Star8s takes you on a journey through millennia to uncover the cultural secrets behind sachets!

The Origin and Evolution of Sachets

Sachets, also known as "pei xiang," "pei wei," or "rong xiu," are what people today commonly refer to as "fragrant pouches" or "fragrant bags." Alongside jade pendants and silk handkerchiefs, they were among the most important accessories for the ancients.

Sachets in the Pre-Qin Era

Tracing the origin of sachets takes us back to the Pre-Qin era. According to "Er Ya: Shi Qi," "The adornment of women is called 'li.'" The "li," also known as "fragrant tassels," were accessories made of multicolored silk threads, symbolizing married women. According to ancient etiquette, brides had to wear such ornaments when meeting their in-laws.

Sachets in the Northern and Southern Dynasties

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, "fragrant bags," also called "sachets," emerged. As described in "The Peacock Flies Southeast," "Red silk curtains hang over the bed, with sachets dangling from the four corners." This marked the early combination of fragrant bags and spices, and they were no longer exclusive to women. Even high-ranking officials wore them to signify nobility and refinement.

Sachets in the Tang Dynasty

In the Tang Dynasty, women's accessories evolved further, giving rise to "fragrant balls" filled with spices. Bai Juyi's poem "Drunk and Gifting a Friend" mentions, "The fragrant ball spins with the rhythm, and the flower cups fly in turns."

The Craftsmanship and Fragrances of Sachets

Ancient sachets were often made of brocade, embroidered with exquisite patterns, and filled with fragrant plant materials. Over two thousand years ago, during the Pre-Qin era, "The Book of Rites: Internal Rules" stipulated, "Before reaching adulthood, at the first crow of the rooster, everyone should wash and groom themselves... tie their hair, wear sashes, and carry sachets to greet their parents in the morning." Here, "rong xiu" refers to sachets, with "xiu" meaning "scent." This practice symbolized respect for elders.

Fragrances in Sachets

What fragrances did people use in sachets? A glimpse can be found in Su E's "Du Yang Miscellany" from the Tang Dynasty: "In the fourth year of Xiantong, Princess Tongchang married... riding a seven-treasure palanquin adorned with multicolored sachets. The sachets contained fragrances like cold-repelling, evil-repelling, auspicious unicorn, and golden phoenix."

Archaeological Discoveries of Sachets

Thanks to archaeology, we can see actual sachets from ancient times. In 1975, seven sachets worn by women from the Song Dynasty were unearthed from the tomb of Huang Sheng in Fuzhou, Fujian. These sachets were nearly square, measuring 5 cm in length and 4.8 cm in width. The front was embroidered with a pair of mandarin ducks, surrounded by lotus flowers and leaves. The edges were adorned with gold and iron threads, and the opening featured a 6.7 cm tassel made of brown double-threaded silk. Inside was a small pouch with phoenix patterns and raised flowers, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. Huang Sheng was the wife of Zhao Yujun, a member of the Song royal family, reflecting the upper-class women's fondness for sachets.

The Popularization and Cultural Symbolism of Sachets

By the Song Dynasty, sachets became even more widespread. The poet Lu You wrote in "Old Scholar's Notes," "In peaceful times, royal relatives entered the palace in ox-drawn carriages. Women held small fragrant balls in their hands and sleeves. As the carriages passed, the fragrant smoke lingered for miles, perfuming the dust." The fragrances typically included realgar, mugwort, borneol, patchouli, and atractylodes. The Ming Dynasty's "Shan Tang Si Kao" records, "During the Dragon Boat Festival, mugwort is shaped into tigers or cut into tiger shapes and adorned with mugwort leaves."

Sachets in the Ming Dynasty

In the early Ming Dynasty, the writer Song Lian mentioned in "Preface to Sending Ma Sheng of Dongyang," "My classmates wore embroidered silk, hats adorned with red tassels and jewels, white jade pendants at their waists, knives on their left, and sachets on their right, shining like deities." This illustrates how sachets were essential accessories at the time.

Sachets as Tokens of Love

The ancients often used sachets, pouches, and handkerchiefs to express and convey love, a tradition that continues to this day. The Qing Dynasty poet Zhu Yizun, in his famous "Two Hundred Rhymes of Romantic Feelings," described the role of sachets in romance: "With a brush in hand and a sachet at the elbow, parting at the ditch, entwined with jade pendants." Here, sachets and jade pendants were exchanged as tokens of love, highlighting their significance. The Ming Dynasty play "The Sachet Chronicles" also revolves around sachets, emphasizing their role as symbols of love, which became their primary function in modern times.

The Folk Significance of Sachets

Since the Qing Dynasty, it has been a folk custom to hang bundles of mugwort and calamus shaped like swords on doors or beds. Elderly people often embroidered colorful sachets for children to wear, symbolizing protection from evil and disease. The tradition of wearing sachets around the Dragon Boat Festival is practical, as the weather warms and diseases become more prevalent. Sachets were believed to kill germs, eliminate sweat odor, and refresh the mind. In Shaanxi, sachets are an essential item for brides, serving both practical and aesthetic purposes while embodying the people's wishes for happiness and good fortune.

🪷The Cultural Symbolism of Sachets

The history of sachets reflects the evolution of traditional customs in daily life. Initially decorative, they became essential for the nobility, then cultural symbols for worship and the pursuit of a better life, and finally tools for warding off illness and evil.

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If you are captivated by the millennial culture of sachets, check out ✨Star8s' Chinese Element series! Inspired by traditional sachets, we combine modern design to create unique sachet accessories and fragrant pouches that preserve classical charm while incorporating contemporary fashion. Whether for personal use or as gifts, they bring the unique elegance of Chinese culture. Come and explore ✨Star8s' collection, and let us bring you the grace and blessings of the East!👛

Keywords

Sachets, Chinese Elements, Star8s, Traditional Culture, Fragrant Pouches, Tokens of Love, Talismans, Chinese Culture, Fashion Design, Gift Recommendations