5.1 cm long

Tiaoxin is a hair ornament that women of the Ming Dynasty wore in their bun. The top of it is usually shaped like a Buddhist statue, an immortal, a Sanskrit word, or a phoenix. The top of this Tiaoxin-hairpin has the pattern of the Chinese character “寿” (longevity), which is carved on thin gold flakes. On the waist of the character is a cloud scroll pattern on each side, and at one end is transformed into a cloud pattern. These cloud patterns add a touch of beauty to the hair ornament that is believed to convey the implied message of well-being and happiness.