Touched by Indigo - Royal Ontario Museum

like design, and the begonia. Although each is endowed with several
different meanings, in the present case, most likely the prunus stands
for longevity,8 the wan symbol signifies ten thousand (another way
of expressing the idea of infinity), and the begonia (haitang) is relied
upon as a homophone to call to mind the idiomatic expression
yutang fugui (a magnificent hall filled with riches). A single motif of
a melon with leaves and vines is embroidered in the middle of the
quilted sole. The melon, which contains many seeds, is a conventional
emblem for abundant descendants. When all the motifs are
considered together, the sock is imbued with wishes for long life,
continuity of the family line, wealth, and an emphatic assurance that
all these wishes will be fulfilled.
All the embroidery is worked in back stitch, using white thread
on a white ground. The only exception to this white-on-white scheme
is the melon motif. The choice of subtle colours indicates that the
socks were made for funerary use.9 Whoever made them followed
the traditional custom of having a best outfit ready long before one's
final moment arrived. This is why the quality of the sewing and stitching
evidenced here is so fine. As to all the decorative motifs, these
have been chosen to express the good wishes the would-be deceased
would like to convey to her descendants. They would not have been
intended for herself.
EACH OF THESE ANKLE-LENGTH CHILD'S SOCKS is made of
a single-layered white cotton upper sewn to a burn sienna-coloured
cotton sole lined with pale blue cotton tabby.
Both decorative scheme and motifs are simply
designed. The top is ornamented with
an embroidered double-outlined dogtooth
pattern on the front-turning hem, a
wide band of rosettes running parallel
with a delicate line on both sides,
and another band of trefoils with
dangling diamonds.10 The front seam is accentuated with a bold
line which crosses a stylized butterfly on the vamp. The embroidery
involves edging stitch, cross stitch, and double running stitch. On
close inspection, the stitches are unevenly worked and sketchy. They
reflect the work of an unskilled embroiderer.
The butterfly (die) is associated with femininity and joy. As a
homophone, it may also suggest the ideas of repetition and longevity,
for both written characters having these meanings sound the same.
THIS PAIR OF CHILD'S TROUSERS is constructed
with loose-fitting legs attached to a wide
unbleached cotton waistband. It opens at the
back where a pair of loops are sewn, one on
each side edge of the waistband at mid-length.
Another pair of loops are located at the upper
edge of the waistband at the front. Because
the waistband is loose-fitting and there is no
other fastening device to hold the trousers
in place, a long tape would have been
used when the trousers were put on.
After the tape has been passed through
the front pair of loops, its two ends
would have been pulled over the
child's shoulders, passed through the
loops at the back, and then knotted.
In this way, this simple device would
34. PAIR OF CHILD'S SOCKS, Cotton, 1900-1925, Gift of Toronto Diocesan
Anglican Church Women, 971166.54 a-b, L. 12.5 cm x W. 17.5 cm
35. CHILD'S TROUSERS, Cotton, 1900-1940, Chengdu, Sichuan province,
980.287.20, L. 51 cm x W. 36 cm