Changzhou Shubi
Changzhou Shubi in History
Changzhou is Shubi's hometown. In Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD), the Jinghang Grand Canal crossed through Changzhou city. At that time, all streets and alleys on both banks of the canal were jammed with comb workshops, and won titles of Mushu Street (Wooden Comb Street) and Biji Alley (Fine-toothed Comb Alley).
Standing on Wenheng Bridge with a right moon above and the Flower Street and Biji Alley below, one might enjoy the reflection of moonlight and lamps in the waves, and hear an ensemble of water, voices, steps , sculls and bamboo being split. The ancients named it the "Wenheng across the moon and comb shops lighting," and listed it as the first one of eight sights in the west suburbs of Changzhou.
In the region of Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799) during the Qing Dynasty, almost every family in Changzhou made Shubi. In the Guangxu age, in July of every lunar calendar year, Suzhou Weaving Office would order 60 pieces of Changzhou boxwood combs and 60 pieces of first-class, fine-toothed combs with plum backs and eburnean teeth. Then, in October, together with six dragon robes and 600 royal flowers, they would be sent to the Forbidden City and presented to the emperor. This was the origin of royal combs. It was said that Queen Mother Cixi especially cherished combs from Changzhou.
After the Republican Revolution of 1911, the demand for fined-toothed combs rapidly increased as more and more people began to cut their braids. At that time, a kind of small fined-toothed comb named " Liuhai Shubi" was very popular. Many people hung it from their pocket, and it became a fashion style.
Later, the Changzhou comb and fined-toothed comb were gradually introduced to the world. In 1915 they won the silver award in Panama International Exposition, and in 1926 won the gold award at the Philadelphia International Exposition in the United States.
Changzhou Shubi Enjoys Good Reputation
In Changzhou, there are nearly 1,000 special technicians in the comb and fined-toothed comb manufacturing sector, and more than 10,000 assistants. The output of fine-toothed combs is about 1,3 million pieces, while wood combs number nearly 2 million pieces every year. Each year there are several million combs exported throughout the world from Changzhou.
Changzhou combs -- used only by royals in the past -- are now are routinely used in daily life, and are also a national and traditional treasure.
