Hello! This isn't really ATLA related, but you were the first person I thought of trying to look this up.
I'm trying to figure out the name and purpose of the tasseled stick these women are holding- I see it associated with Tang Dynasty fashion in particular, though none of the resources I've found on the topic mention it at all.
I believe the tasseled stick is likely meant to be a fuchen (拂塵 / 佛尘), also known as a "horsetail whisk" or "Buddha duster". The tasseled part is traditionally made from animal hair such as cow, horse, or yak. The Wikipedia article for it puts it best:
Originally used as a tool to shoo away flies from livestock without injuring them, it eventually came to be adopted by Buddhism and Taoism as it was perceived as having the power to sweep away desires and evil influences both in the environment of the holder and within their own thoughts, bringing them closer to enlightenment (in Buddhism) or transcending the mortal realm (in Taoism).
Since these dusters were able to sweep/swat away bugs without killing them, they came to be symbolic of Buddhism's precept against taking life. It's likely that Tang Dynasty women sought out this accessory as a way showcasing their devotion to the religion and demonstrating a gentle nature. This is also why you see it depicted in illustrations of Chinese deities like Guanyin.
As for why it's specifically associated with the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism was strongly promoted during this period, particularly by Empress Wu Zetian. Of the three major religions of China, Buddhism was viewed as offering the most legitimacy to female authority. Empress Wu Zetian promoted herself as a divine, universal monarch—the reincarnation of Maitreya or a Bodhisattva. It is believed that the face of the Vairocana Buddha in the Longmen Grottoes is modeled after her features.
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