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Secrets of Women's Underwear in Ancient China
 Bold colors
The arrangement of colors on the articles also helped to distinguish one from
another. Some chose bright colors that combined to make a striking contrast -
for example, red and green, yellow and blue, while adopting black, golden or
silver selvage to strengthen the visual effect. Others preferred bland colors:
similar hues and gradual changes in color from light to dark combined to
generate an harmonious effect.
Patterns and ornaments
As in other traditional forms of art, women in ancient China decorated their
underwear with almost every subject that they could imagine, including
landscapes, flowers, birds, clouds, myths, legends and characters in literature.
Usually the designs expressed certain ideas. For instance, the combination of a
magpie on plum blossoms represented happiness, since the design reminded people
of a Chinese idiom suggesting someone radiant with joy. Other designs include
bats, representing good fortune, and lotus with fish, suggesting affluence.
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