A Study On Decorative Metal Button Of Female Apparels In Ming Dynasty

This thesis focuses on the relationship between cover and decorative the body in thefunction of decorative metal button. Decorative metal button is a new and special one of buttonsdoes have never been on before Ming Dynasty. It has two parts to be one that the structure lookslike the clasp/buckle. It accompanied with the standing collar which appeared in the femaleapparels of Ming Dynasty.The standing collar appeared in Ming Dynasty for many reasons. First of all, it may bedirectly caused by the bad natural conditions that the "Little Ice Age" global cold climate in theMing Dynasty that the neck needs warmer than before. Second, it may be directly caused bytraditional Ming Confucianism under the influence of severe female chastity idea that the ethicsdemand forced female need maximum to cover the body that the neck needs severe cover thanbefore. Therefore, the decorative metal button plays the role of shielding the body.However, the decorative metal button in the shielding functions but also in a highlight sight.Usually, the closure member is chosen to be more subtle forms, but the decorative metal buttonchooses the materials and forms in high visually way. It maybe caused by the human natureawake risen in the late Ming Dynasty. In this condition, the female follow the inner decorationneeds in Ming Dynasty also. Therefore, the decorative metal button is the performance ofjewelry and exposed the body for getting attention.Decorative metal button has located in the central visual position and the form is similar tothe Bodhisattva Necklace. Moreover, in the Ming dynasty, the necklace was in the absence offemale. So, the decorative metal button might be the new jewelry of neck in Ming Dynasty.