![]() Though it’s unclear exactly when Chinese gained the habit of growing their nails long, there are stories of the significance of fingernails dating back to the Warring States period (475 – 221 BCE). The Classic of Filial Piety, a compilation of discussions between Confucius and his disciples about filial piety, attributed to Confucius and written in the Spring and Autumn period (770 – 476 BCE), records that “the hair, skin, and body come from one’s parents and we must not harm them this is filial piety.” Portraits of Confucius also often depict the famous thinker with extremely long nails. In ancient China, this was a serious display of affection, as fingernails carried great symbolism. ![]() When contemplating how best to show her beloved the depth of her feelings, the narrator doesn’t resort to love letters or jewelry, but instead gives the most heartfelt gift of all - her well-groomed fingernails, trimmed off and sent to her lover in a delicate silk bag. In “Song in Midnight,” a verse by the female poet Chao Chai of the Tang dynasty (618 – 907), a lonely woman leans by an open window, looks wistfully outside, and longs for the lover she hasn’t seen for an age.
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