Butterfly-Shaped Silver Bellyband Chain of the Miao People

It is popular in minority regions in Southwest China to make silver bellyband chain or silver waist chain as main ornaments. The links of these silver chains are mostly in the shape of plum blossom or rings, which are made into single or double layers. Two ends of the chain are usually designed with auspicious patterns. The butterfly pattern used here is a common pattern used by the Miao people. In the legendary tale The Ancient Song of Miao, the Goddess of Butterfly is called Meibangmeiliu. She is the common ancestor of the Miao people.