China Button Museum (Xue Residence)

China Button Museum (Xue Residence)

Xitang is known as the hometown of buttons in China, with nearly 500 button manufacturing enterprises producing about 40% of the country's total button output. The Button Museum is located on West Street and features six exhibition halls: Ancient Buttons Display Area, Modern Buttons Display Area, Contemporary Buttons Display Area, Shell Button Production Process Display Area, Buttons Application Area, and Chinese Knot Exhibition Area.

Introduction

Shell buttons were the first generation of professional buttons in China. Xitang, a water town located in the Hangjiahu Plain, has an abundant supply of shell materials. In the past, the small shirt buttons were made from the abundant freshwater mussel shells in the region. These tiny shirt buttons underwent processes such as cutting, polishing, drilling, bleaching, and shaping. At that time, most button-making machines were operated by foot pedal and entirely handmade, representing a purely labor-intensive process. The Button Museum features live demonstrations of the shell button production process by skilled artisans.

The Xue Residence was built in 1926 (the 15th year of the Republic of China). It is situated on the narrow northern side of West Street, covering a total area of approximately 350 square meters. Facing the street and adjacent to the river, it is a typical residential and commercial building in the town.

The Xue Residence has three main architectural characteristics. First is its shallowness—when viewed from above, one can see only a small courtyard within the rectangular layout, with no distinct sections, and it is only about 30 meters from the street to the river.

Second is its simplicity—there are no side passages; all entry and exit is through the main gate, with only two staircases leading to the upper floor. Additionally, the overall structure lacks ornate decorations.

Third is its brightness—contrary to the traditional preference for dim interiors believed to guard wealth, all windows are fitted with glass. The glass windows are adorned with floral patterns, which are also quite pleasing to the eye.

Introduction

The entire Xue Residence is built with a brick-and-wood structure and consists of two sections. The front section faces the street and has four bays arranged in a straight line, with three on the east and one on the west. The currently open eastern three bays serve as the main entrance, with display counters for tourist souvenirs and antiques on either side.

The front section of the Xue Residence has walls about 6 meters deep, and its construction methods and structure remain traditional. The roof features a gable design but is much taller than that of ordinary residences. Among dwellings from this period in Xitang, it remains notably prominent.

The rear section is the main hall, with a small courtyard between the front and rear sections. The courtyard is compact, with narrow side rooms on either side that function like corridors. These side rooms have long glass windows overlooking the courtyard. Thanks to the glass, the interior is much brighter than in traditional houses.

The main hall is also three bays wide, with square bricks on the floor and a central pillar. The rear section is divided by long doors, leaving half a bay after crossing the threshold that leads to the river. On the right side are the staircase room and kitchen, making the structure compact. The main hall connects to the side rooms on both sides, resembling the paws of a tiger.

Xitang Town: Xitang, anciently known as Xietang, became a market town during the Ming Dynasty, bordering Yong’an and Qianshan counties, initially called Xietang, and later renamed Xitang. Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn Period, Wu Zixu stationed troops here and dug the Wu Zi Pond to improve water conservancy, diverting water from Xushan directly to the area, hence it is also called Xutang. Xitang Town is located in the northern part of Jiashan County, at the junction of Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces, enjoying a superior geographical location, often referred to as the “corner of Wu and Yue.” It is 90 km east of Shanghai, 110 km west of Hangzhou, 85 km north of Suzhou, and 9 km south of Jiashan County. The town center is geographically positioned at 120°53′ east longitude and 30°56′ north latitude. With access to both land and water… More detailed information about Xitang Town++