Popular silver accessories among ordinary people include many famous pieces handed down from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the Republic of China (1912-1949); the earliest works can be traced back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). There is a large collection of silver accessories at the Yunnan Provincial Nationalities Museum, Yunnan Provincial Art Gallery and the Museum of Yunnan Provincial Nationalities College, and there are some private collectors, too. Perhaps it is only in Yunnan Province that so many traditional silver accessories in various types can be found today.
Silver production in Yunnan Province began long ago. According to The Book of the Han Dynasty - Record of Geography, Zhuti Mountain, situated northeast of the Zhaotong area, produced much silver. The several major silver production areas in the Han Dynasty (25-220) -- Lugao (east of present-day Luliang County), Bengu (southeast of present-day Jianshui County) and Shuangbai - are all located in Yunnan Province. During the reign of Tianli (1328) of the Yuan Dynasty, tax on silver paid by Yunnan Province alone reached 36,780 taels, accounting for 47 percent of the country's total (77,560 taels). During the reign of Tianshun of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the tax jumped to more than 100,000 taels, accounting for one-half of the country's total. During the reign of Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Yunnan had 19 silver processors and its tax on silver held a top position in China.
A large part of silver accessories are used by children, particularly silver locks. Since children are more vulnerable to disease and accidents, it is believed that wearing locks can "lock" life and drive away evil. Children of the Han people, Yi, Tibetan and Hani ethnic minorities also share in the custom of wearing silver locks and silver chaplets.[Photo/Yan Jianshe]
These silver accessories incorporate white jade, jasper, topaz, emerald, turquoise, malachite, agate, amber, crystal, ivory or teeth of musk deer for inlaying.[Photo/Yan Jianshe]
A silver accessories selling store in Kunming Flower and Bird Market.[Photo/Yan Jianshe]
Delicate silver tableware.[Photo/Yan Jianshe]
Delicate silver tableware.[Photo/Yan Jianshe]
Little girls of Yunnan Province's ethnic minorities wear silver bracelets and silver earrings and more dainty headdresses when they grow up. Such silver accessories are mostly handed down from their mothers and grandmothers, like rings and bracelets sent by their lovers or fiancés as keepsakes.[Photo/Yan Jianshe]
Delicate silver bracelets.[Photo/Yan Jianshe]
Delicate silver bracelets.[Photo/Yan Jianshe, editor: Ada Zhang]
