Dian Cui is a traditional Chinese jewelry making technique that combines the craftsmanship of gold and silver with the art of feather inlaying. It originated during the early Han Dynasty specifically, the Western Han Dynasty: 206 B.C. ‒ 9 A.D.) in the imperial court and has a history of approximately two thousand years. During that time, the dyeing technology was not advanced, which led to natural feathers being highly valued by the royal nobility.
Dian Cui was primarily used for creating head pieces, which featured vibrant colors paired with sparkling gold bases. These luxurious accessories adorned the dark hair and became a major fashion trend of the era. Among all the options, kingfisher feathers in shades of green-blue and pale blue were considered the most exquisite and colorfast choices.
In the late 17th century, the practice of cutting feathers from live kingfisher birds was deemed excessively cruel. As a result, when the enamel technique was introduced to China from Europe, people started to adopt the use of "burnt blue" as an alternative. Nowadays, peacock feathers or dyed goose feathers are also used as substitutes for kingfisher feathers, and the effect is quite satisfactory.
In the design of Dian Cui jewelry, various traditional elements are incorporated, most of which symbolize a beautiful life and represent the longing for a better future.
In 2013, the Chinese government included the kingfisher in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, designating it as a second-class protected animal.
When beautiful kingfishers encounter compassion, birds survive and beauty endures. Now kingfishers can hunt by the riverside anytime and sing on the branches freely. Now, kingfishers can hunt by the riverside at any time and sing freely on the branches.
