Analysis on the Shape and Pattern Art of the Baby Bibs in the Republic of China Period (1912–1949)

There are many shape types of baby bibs in the Republic of China, including animal shapes, plant shapes and shapes in daily life objects. These bibs are cut and sewn in one piece or multiple pieces which are spliced and sewn together by strips. Overall, they can be divided into three categories: geometric shapes, plant shapes, and animal or baby shapes, with geometric shapes accounting for the majority. These shapes are mostly in the form of axial symmetry or central symmetry. In order to conform to the human neck circumference, the shape of the inner ring is usually circular, and the opening at the center of the back neck is designed, which is fixed by Chinese knot buttons, buckles, straps, etc. [9].

The patterns of the bibs mainly include flowers, birds, insects, fish, written symbols, and auspicious beasts. This is consistent with the patterns of the embroidery works in the Republic of China exhibited by the Tianshui Folk Museum [12]. The patterns follow the traditional folk spirit that patterns must be intentional and the meaning must be auspicious [13]. The patterns are combined symmetrically and continuously to create a visually balanced beauty. In terms of color, the five elements of black, red, blue, white, and yellow are the main colors, and the colors complement each other, with clear proportions, forming coordination and unity [14].

Table 5 shows the classification of pattern elements of the bibs. These pattern elements can be divided into three categories: plant, animal, and human related items. The plant elements used include peonies, lotus, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums, and grapes. Among these bibs, 48% are embroidered with peony patterns, with peony patterns being the most frequently used. The use of plum blossom patterns is also quite common, accounting for 18%. The two flowers are often praised in traditional Chinese culture and are frequently used on baby’s bibs.

Butterfly and tiger are the most commonly used animal elements, with 30% bibs embroidered with butterfly patterns and 15% bibs with tiger patterns. The combination of flowers and animals is mainly composed of peonies and butterflies, forming the pattern of “butterfly love flowers”, as shown in the no.1, no.2, no.5, no.6, no.15 and no.17 bibs in Table 2 and the no.1 bib in Table 3. “Butterfly Loves Flower” was originally the song name of musical educational institution in Tang Dynasty. It was once called “Magpie Perches on a Branch”, “Phoenix Rests on Parasol Tree”, and “Fish and Water Have Joy Together”. In the Song Dynasty, it was changed to “Butterfly Loves Flower”. Due to its charming shape, it is a commonly used auspicious decorative theme [15]. The butterfly pattern is also presented separately, as shown in the no.18 bib in Table 2 and the no.9 bib in Table 4. Butterflies have been the object of chanting by literati since ancient times, as well as the beautiful patterns of embroidery needlework, which is Chinese people’s pursuit of the ultimate beauty and aesthetic emotions [16, 17].

Plant patterns also appear separately, as shown in no.9 bib in Table 2. This bib is embroidered with the four plants of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. These four plants are regarded as the most noble plants by Chinese people and they are called “Four Gentlemen”, symbolizing the pursuit of elegant life. Grapes and pomegranate have many seeds, symbolizing many children. Thus, the no.11 bib in Table 4 is embroidered grape patterns on the child’s clothing, symbolizing many children and many blessings. The no. 5 bib in Table 2 consists of pomegranate shaped pieces and is embroidered with children pattern have the same symbolization.

The combination of magpies and plum blossoms forms the pattern of magpies perching on the plum, symbolizing happiness befalling, as shown in the no.1 bib and the no.4 bib in Table 2. The combination of lotus and carp, flower and dragonfly, and flower and bird makes the design theme of the bib full of interest and vitality, as shown in the no.8 bib in Table 2. The combination of peonies and phoenix is also reflected, as shown in the no.4 and no.5 bibs in Table 2, which symbolizes auspiciousness, wealth, and nobility. Besides, the no.1 bib and no.2 bib in Table 3 are embroidered with patterns of spider and lotus, and crab and water plant, respectively, symbolizing a beautiful life of happiness descending from heaven and wealth coming from all directions.

Double coins and 卐character patterns are also used in the baby’s bibs, such as embroidered double coin patterns in the no.17 bib in Table 2 and the no.1, no.2 and no.5 bibs in Table 4, and embroidered 卐character in the no.13 and no.14 bibs in Table 2. Double coins symbolizes great wealth. The 卐character is considered a symbol of the sun or fire, symbolizing auspiciousness, blessings, and longevity [18]. Therefore, the use of double coins and 卐character patterns on bibs expresses the mother’s expectations and blessings for their baby’s auspicious and prosperous life.

Children under the age of three often experience drooling. When a baby reaches four or five months old, the eruption of deciduous teeth stimulates the gums and causes increased saliva. Since young babies have shallow oral cavities, they cannot swallow excess saliva in a timely manner, and excessive saliva will flow out along the corners of the mouths. Traditional Chinese medicine refers to this phenomenon as “Zhiyi”, commonly known as drooling [19]. Infants and young children’s skin is very delicate, and their chin is close to the front clothes due to a short neck. Excessive saliva can moisten the front clothes and cause the skin of the chin red and rot. The scholar named Yixing Hao in Qing Dynasty mentioned in his book named “Zhengsu Wen” that bibs shaped like an embroidered collar are cut in six or seven silk pieces, and are sewn together, and applied to the neck (Figure 1). The end of the bib is decorated with buttons.

Fig. 1.

As shown in Figure 1, baby bibs can be used to prevent from salivate and is changed to another when wetted by salivate [2]. Besides, when infants and young children eat, food can easily fall off onto the clothes. The use of bibs can effectively prevent saliva and food from getting wet and dirty the under clothing, protecting the skin of children’s chin and neck.

During the Republic of China period, there were continuous wars and social unrest, which made the medical condition at a low level, and the survival rate of infants and young children was relatively low. Tigers and dogs were often used as themes by mothers to sew clothes and clothing accessories for their children, with tiger being the most commonly used pattern. The word “tiger” is also commonly used in infant names, such as tiger baby (Huwa), tiger girl (Huniu) and tiger boy (Huzi), etc. The folk people believed that tigers are the king of all beasts, capable of defeating evils and devouring ghosts and devils. Children wearing tiger shaped bibs, hats, and shoes could ward off evil spirits, eliminate diseases and disasters, and grow healthy. Therefore, mothers used tiger shaped clothes or embroidered tiger patterns to pray for the healthy growth of their children.

Tiger pattern is also commonly used in children’s hats and shoes, as shown in the Chinese Spring Festival pictures in Figure 2. The children in the pictures wear tiger shaped hats and shoes. In addition, the child in Figure 2(a) is wearing a circular Ruyi bib, while the children in Figure 2(b) are wearing a large bib with a dog pattern. From this, it can be concluded that the tiger, as a symbol of auspiciousness, is a commonly used theme in folk clothing accessories, and children’s bibs are often paired with tiger hats and shoes.

Fig. 2.

In the traditional agricultural society of China, the family life model is men farming and women weaving, with men managing external affairs and women managing internal affairs. This model has continued for thousands of years. Engaging in female labor activities such as weaving, sewing, and embroidery were the most important production activity for ordinary women in feudal society [20]. Spinned yarns, woven fabrics, and embroidered handicrafts were both commodities for a source of household income and as well as a source of clothing for family members. In the old era when the commodity economy was not yet developed enough, women usually had to sew all the clothes for their family members throughout the four seasons. In this family life model, the wise mother of Mencius (a great master of Confucianism in the Warring States Period of ancient China.) is achieved, whose family education story of breaking the loom when Mencius did not learn in his childhood is known by almost every Chinese people. Also in this family life model, the tragic love and marriage of the heroine, Lanzhi Liu, happened which was recorded in the Music Bureau Poem “Peacock Flies Southeast” in Han Dynasty.

During the Republic of China period, under the influence of the new trend of women’s liberation and gender equality, a portion of urban professional women formed, but the society still demanded women’s roles as traditional women. In rural areas, although also influenced by the modern enlightenment movement, the rural areas still retained and continued the traditional agricultural society and family moral way of life, and women still focused on supporting their husbands and children and family affairs were their main life affairs [21]. The government of the Republic of China in Nanjing has repeatedly emphasized that the goal of women’s education was to cultivate virtuous wives and mothers. In November 1931, the Fourth National Congress of the Kuomintang reiterated that men and women should have equal educational opportunities, and women’s education must cultivate sound moral character maintaining maternal characteristics, and build a good family and social life [22]. Women’s education focused more on family matters, with the curriculum mainly focusing on gardening and sewing, etc.

During the Republic of China, the famous journal “Women’s Magazine” also created a column named “Superficial Knowledge and Shallow Skills”, advocating for women to transition from old-fashioned women to modern women through the cultivation [23]. The shallow skills here mainly referred to traditional handicraft techniques, including weaving and sewing. Women’s Magazine also published technical knowledge such as “Women’s Clothing Tailoring Skill” in volume 1, no.7 and “Embroidery” in volume 1, no.9 [24]. It can be found that the requirements of the government and society of the Republic of China for women’s roles, as well as the promotion of handicraft skills, have greatly promoted the development of the needlework in the Republic of China. Therefore, women play an important role in family life by using looms, needles, and thread, and have nurtured this needlework culture into a rich and colorful art of weaving and embroidery. These embroidery arts still exude charming charm in modern times, allowing future generations to read, explore, and inherit.