Chinese jacket and trousers
1900-01-01/1930-12-31
Migration Museum
Adelaide, Australia
Purple damask silk jacket with applique of black silk satin on cuffs, neck and hemline. Black silk satin applique is shaped into pomegranates on hemline. Large pink, blue applique peony flower on right chest. Black applique edged with green silk piping. The trousers have a wide band of blue linen at waist line. Attached to fine, transparent fabric with pattern woven on it. Applique of black silk satin on trouser cuffs, also appliqued embroidered silk band. Coloured silk bands, very thin, tucked into black satin applique. The embroidery symbols include peony flower symbolises spring; wealth and advancement in life. Pomegranate symbolises fertility in one's offspring. Butterfly is a symbol of summer, happiness and marriage. It is a rebus for die, meaning 70 or 80 years of age or a long life. The 'endless knot' or 'intestines' represents the everlasting love of Buddha and is a symbol of long life. 'Chang' meaning intestine is a visual pun on 'chang' meaning long and continuous, hence a long life. The 'swastika' symbol on the buttons was originally a mystic symbol of Buddha's heart. It was a Sanskrit term and was adopted into the Chinese language in 693 by Empress Wu of the Tang dynasty (618-906). It was held to mean 'ten thousand' and also longevity.
- Title: Chinese jacket and trousers
- Date Created: 1900-01-01/1930-12-31
- Provenance: This costume was given to aunt of Dame Roma Mitchell in 1910-11 when she was 13-14 years old by Chinese community in Darwin where her father, Samuel James Mitchell, was Administrator and Chief Justice. She was told that it was what a young girl of her good status and position would wear in China. Jacket and trousers were part of the Chinese women's/girls' informal dress in China, especially away from the court in Peking. Sometimes these costumes were embroidered by the women themselves. All women in China were trained from childhood to embroider. Jacket and trousers all hand stitched.
- Rights: History Trust of South Australia, CC-0, photographer: Rachel Harris, Bit Scribbly Design
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