COMPARE HAIRSTYLES OF 4 NATIONS IN THE SINOSPHERE
Since the ancient time, women have found various ways to beautify themselves. Naturally, hair, their pride, is also fully cared. According to this regulation, women in four countries: China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam have their own hairstyles.
During Qing Dynasty, unmarried women often wore pigtail, which was wound with a red cord or a bead made of gold, silver or jewelry while married ones must arrange their hair into a bun (1). Another common hairstyle among Manchu women was Qitou. Also, big colorful flowers, ornamental sticks or tassels were once very prevalent. (2)
In Joseon, elaborate ŏnchŭn mŏri, which were made of false hair, were considered beautiful. However, they were so expensive that only the rich or the noble could afford to have them. Girls under 15 often braided their hair and tied with a chebiburi tanggi (swallow-beak-shape ribbon) or t’omak tanggi (short ribbon). Only after their debutante ball did they wear tchok mŏri (braided chignon). (3)
During the Edo period, the noble or Buke ladies wore the long unbound hair. Common women, especially Kabuki actresses and courtesans, often tied their hair at the back. At that time, Japanese women’s hairstyles underwent lots of changes. In the early period, women often tied their hair in hyōgo mage style.In the mid-Edo period, tabo, which then developed into shimada mage and Shōzan kyoku were the most popular. In the latter part of the period, maru mage became fashionable. (4)
Annam women’s hairstyles had some differences between Tonkin and Cochinchine. In Tonkin, women often wrapped their hair around the crown of the head, left a ponytail dangling down( tóc đuôi gà), which was considered attractive. However, Cochinchine women preferred to roll their hair into a bun or cover the hair with a headscarf.(5) Noble women, regardless of their rank, normally wore turbans. (6)
In conclusion, women in the four countries had their distinctive hairstyles in each period. As time goes by, women’s opinions on a fashionable hairstyle has been gradually changed. Consequently, there are now only a few people preoccupied with the ancient ones.
Writen and tranlated by Trần Thị Mỹ Art by Đăng Thiên
