Sinking Fish Beauty, Xi Shi, China, Chinese, Historical, Legend, Fantasy, Fish, Flower, Blue, Green, Brooch, Kanzashi, Hairpin, Hair Ornament, Crystal Glass, Pisces

This brooch is inspired by the kanzashi (hair ornament) of Xi Shi, known as the "Sinking Fish Beauty," one of the Four Beauties of ancient China, whose legendary tales have been passed down through history. Xi Shi was a woman from the late Spring and Autumn period (5th century BCE). Her given name, "Xi," is said to have originated from the fact that families with the surname Shi lived on both the east and west sides of her village, and she was from the western side. Her full name was Shi Yiguang. Although born the daughter of a poor firewood seller, she was discovered by King Goujian of Yue as a beautiful woman to be presented to King Fuchai of Wu, with whom Goujian was in conflict, as part of a strategic ploy for revenge. The plan was to intoxicate Fuchai with her feminine charm and bring his kingdom to ruin. It is said that she was discovered while washing clothes by a river, and her beauty was so captivating that the fish forgot to swim, earning her the epithet "Sinking Fish Beauty." As Goujian intended, Fuchai became infatuated with Xi Shi's beauty and neglected his state affairs, ultimately leading to his defeat in a later battle against Goujian. As her moniker is "Sinking Fish," we chose fish-shaped metal charms. With two fish, one might also think of the Pisces zodiac sign. Drawing from her connection to fish due to her beauty that could topple a kingdom, we've layered the image of a mermaid, a creature that can allure people. This piece is generously adorned with crystal glass from Swarovski of Austria, renowned for its high quality. The large, heart-shaped centerpiece is in a special color called "Light Azore Moonlight." This unique surface treatment creates a soft, white shimmer, like moonlight, against a pale sky blue. The center of the lotus-like flower is in "Blue Zircon." The small flowers sparkling above the fan are in "Bermuda Blue" and "Heliotrope." Dangling from the two fish are Swarovski Crystal Pearls in "Jade" color, which have been discontinued. White pearls are used to fill the spaces between the main motifs, like bubbles drifting in water. When it moves, the dangling ornaments create a gentle rustling sound. Perhaps the kanzashi that adorned the hair of ancient beauties also made such subtle sounds as they walked, mirroring their elegant steps... We hope this piece will inspire you to reflect on the romance of ancient history.^^ Also, accessories with fish motifs are not very common. We hope this piece reaches those who love fish, or those born under the sign of Pisces. To ensure you can use it with peace of mind, a silicone brooch stopper is included. The 6th photo shows the brooch placed on a tray approximately the size of an adult woman's hand. Please take a look at the other designs in our Chinese Kanzashi Brooch series. Rakugan Beauty: https://jp.pinkoi.com/product/qMY4cWU6 Closing Moon Beauty: https://jp.pinkoi.com/product/6hNFmC63 Shy Flower Beauty: https://jp.pinkoi.com/product/p6xzEusK Zhuo Wenjun: https://jp.pinkoi.com/product/ciHRcEJV Xiangfei: https://jp.pinkoi.com/product/LayUbg9K Two Qiaos of Jiangdong: https://jp.pinkoi.com/product/VJgd9cb7 We have strived to make each piece in the Chinese Kanzashi Brooch series unique. We chose the kanzashi, a hair ornament, as a motif to represent these women because it would have been a cherished item, offering insight into the wearer's personality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhPeRnoQrjQ ◇ ◇ ◇ This is a delicate piece, so please handle it with care. Due to its structure, the dangling ornaments may become tangled. If this happens, please gently untangle them. In this piece, the "shower base" (the mesh-like foundation to which parts are attached) has been intentionally left visible as part of the design. Please be aware of this in advance. The components are attached to the base with nylon thread. They may feel slightly loose, but they are securely fastened to prevent detachment, so you can use them with confidence. All metal parts are plated. When cleaning, please be careful not to polish them too hard with a polishing cloth containing abrasives. When not in use, store the item in a resealable plastic bag to maintain its condition for a long time. If left exposed to air, the metal parts may tarnish. Czech beads may have small indentations, scratches on the surface, or small air bubbles inside. Also, the shape and color of each bead may vary slightly. We ask for your understanding of these characteristics of Czech beads. Product images are taken in natural light unless otherwise specified. Materials: Glass, Metal, Nylon Size: Approximately 7.5 cm (height) x 4.5 cm (width)