The earrings were roughly divided into two categories: eardrops with tassels and earrings without tassels. In line of the tradition, the Manchu women usually wore three earrings in one hole of both ears. The earrings were not only characteristic of high quality and beautiful color, but also of ever-changing shapes which registered the natural beauty of jewels or jade materials, or of colorful brilliance of gems or precious stones, and of complicated high arts, for instance, they were shaped like Chinese auspicious characters "Wanshou", which represent longevity, Buddist swastikas symbolizing happiness.