Liangbatou
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Liangbatou () or erbatou () is a hairstyle/headdress worn by
Manchu The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic peoples, Tungusic East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized Ethnic minorities in China, ethnic minority in China and the people from wh ...
women. It is a tall headdress that features two handfuls of hair, parted to each side of the head, sometimes with the addition of wire frames, extensions and ornamentation. Liangbatou was made famous by
Empress Dowager Cixi Empress Dowager Cixi ( ; 29 November 1835 – 15 November 1908) was a Manchu noblewoman of the Yehe Nara clan who effectively but periodically controlled the Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty as empress dowager and regent for almost 50 ...
and her Manchu court ladies, becoming popular and evolving starting from the
Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
through the Republican Period (1910–1940s). It was known nationally and internationally for its towering shape and ornamentation, and was influenced by the theatrical representations of non- Chinese ethnicities. It was used to reveal a woman's social and marital status, and became symbolic of Manchu identity. It was eventually used as imperial propaganda to show support for the Qing dynasty and strengthen Manchu ties.


History

During the 19th century, the Manchu man's queue hairstyle was mocked around the world, and symbolized national shame to anti-Manchuists in China. In contrast, the liangbatou captivated onlookers worldwide. Many were entranced by its size and the fact that it was not seen anywhere else in Asia. One of the most famous images of the liangbatou is shown in the postcard "Manchu Ladies", photographed by John D. Zumbrum. It captures two ladies in
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
wearing the headpiece while walking down a road. Scottish photographer John Thomson photographed the hairstyle in 1894. Another known depiction was an unauthorized oil painting of Empress Cixi by Katherine A. Carl. In diplomatic paintings, it evolved from a simple hair arrangement, to reflecting purpose. The practice of wearing the liangbatou to diplomatic functions was started by Cixi and her court ladies. They would wear it paired with ceremonial robes as a satire on political views. It acted as a means of re-consolidation of power in spite of criticism. While the
Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
failed to revive the headdress, it became increasingly popular on stage. ''Silang Tanmu'' ( ''Fourth Son Visits his Mother'') was the most famous play to feature the liangbatou. The headdress, which was once the Manchu's symbol of power, became a comical prop. In theatrical shows, the image of the liangbatou worn by "boy actresses" served as imperial propaganda. The liangbatou then began to represent the customs, traditions and desire to reinstate the
Qing The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
to power. Unlike its predecessor the queue, the liangbatou became a symbol of the Manchu and continued to attract the curiosity of the population.


Material and style

The liangbatou was originally created by twisting the wearer's hair up and around a flat strip (also known as the ''bianfang'') usually consisting of ivory, wood or precious metal. Eventually, the liangbatou evolved from a hairstyle into a headpiece with added structural components. The hair was held together by silk cording. The satin follows the original direction of the hair. The headdress frame was wrapped with stiffened black satin, which gave it a defined angle and sharp edges. A wire-mesh base was placed atop the wearer's head for support. Because of the additional assistance from the wired frame, styles of the headdress became more decorative and elaborate. The bianfang began to evolve from function to fashion, allowing higher and wider headpieces that demonstrated social status. Particularly during the
Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
, the headpiece spread into a fan shape that sat on the wearer's head like a flat crown. It featured flowers like the
peony The peony or paeony () is any flowering plant in the genus ''Paeonia'', the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. Peonies are native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America. Scientists differ on the number of species that can be distinguish ...
and
chrysanthemum Chrysanthemums ( ), sometimes called mums or chrysanths, are flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. They are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia, and the center of diversity is in China. Co ...
and silk tassels. Court ladies usually preferred intricate floral arrangements with jade, pearl, coral and other stone. Common women preferred a more demure look that featured inlaid metals and velvet flowers. Hairpins used to attach the headdress often emphasized wealth and beauty. Jade and stone hairpins were usually worn by the wealthy, while commoners donned pins made of silver and bone. The liangbatou's two styles were the ''yizitou'' () and the ''dalachi'' (). The simpler yizitou takes after the Chinese character for "one" (). The more elaborate dalachi is the more elaborate, reflecting the characters for "stretched wings" ().


Culture

In the eyes of foreign visitors, the liangbatou marked the wearer as
Manchu The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic peoples, Tungusic East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized Ethnic minorities in China, ethnic minority in China and the people from wh ...
. The liangbatou was distinctly different depending on group, class and region within the multi-ethnic
Qing military The Qing dynasty (1644–1912) was established by conquest and maintained by armed force. The founding emperors personally organized and led the armies, and the continued cultural and political legitimacy of the dynasty depended on their abilit ...
social organization. This headdress combined
Mongol Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, China (Inner Mongolia and other 11 autonomous territories), as well as the republics of Buryatia and Kalmykia in Russia. The Mongols are the principal member of the large family of M ...
and Chinese practices of adornment. Manchu women decorated their liangbatou with fresh and artificial flowers that made the headdresses significantly different from the Mongol's, which lacked flowery accessories. The liangbatou did not appeal to all Chinese women, especially the Han. Cixi had been trying to downplay the difference between Han Chinese and Manchu because of the anti-Manchuism movement. After the Qing dynasty was overthrown in 1911, Manchu women adopted Han style clothing and adopted the Chinese chignon.


Modern entertainment

The Qing dynasty is a popular subject in entertainment and media. Dramas such as ''Legend of Zhen Huan'' (2011) and ''My Fair Princess – Huan Zhu Ge Ge'' (1998) spread knowledge of the look of royal court ladies. Other period dramas featuring this headdress include ''The Story of Yanxi Palace'' and ''
Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace ''Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace'' () is a 2018 Chinese television series based on the novel ''Inner Palace: The Legend of Ruyi'' by Liu Lianzi. Starring Zhou Xun and Wallace Huo, it chronicles the marital relationship between the Qianlong Emp ...
''. These productions often used the styling of the liangbatou to define the characters. For example, in ''Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace'', Ruyi, the main character and later
Empress The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...
, wears a simple liangbatou on first entering the
Forbidden City The Forbidden City () is the Chinese Empire, imperial Chinese palace, palace complex in the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City in Beijing, China. It was the residence of 24 Ming dynasty, Ming and Qing dynasty, Qing dynasty L ...
. As the plot develops, her personality changes and she rises in rank, reflected by her liangbatou becoming more expensive, complex and dramatic.


See also

*
Kokoshnik The kokoshnik ( rus, коко́шник, p=kɐˈkoʂnʲɪk) is a traditional Russian headdress worn by women and girls to accompany the sarafan. The kokoshnik tradition has existed since the 10th century in the city of Veliky Novgorod. It sprea ...


References

{{reflist Chinese headgear Qing clothing Hairstyles