![]() The badge of conquest has changed to a mark of national pride but it is strange to find that the Chinese themselves and the most patient inquirers among sinologues are unable to say what was the origin of the pig-tail. This is the first historical reference to a practice that is now universal throughout China, and that has become what may be called a national characteristic. Those of the townspeople who wished to save their lives had to shave their heads in token of subjection. ![]() The garrison was massacred to a man, Yuen Yingtai, brave, if incapable, committed suicide. The Manchus gave it no time to recover the confidence it had lost, and, by either treachery within the walls or skilful engineering, making a road across the moat, gained an entrance into the city. He was defeated, losing some of his best soldiers, and compelled to shut himself up in the town with a disheartened garrison. That officer, unwarned by the past, and regardless of the experience of so many of his predecessors, weakened himself and invited defeat by attempting to oppose the Manchus in the open. The defence of this important town was entrusted to Yuen Yingtai, the Court favourite and incompetent successor of Tingbi. Of course, the reasoning for this decision is purely speculative and this is just one of many possible explanations for this decision.In 1621 the Chinese sent several armies to recover Moukden but they met with no success, and the Manchu commander Noorhachu made it the base of his plan of attack on Leaouyang, the capital of the province. Yet, despite this, there is little evidence discussing why exactly the Queue was imposed on Han Chinese men but not the Liangbatou on Han Chinese women. The main measures of achievement for women within the Qing dynasty were determined by one’s ability to provide male heirs and then practise abstinence upon their husband’s death in order to honour them (with this even being heavily rewarded). One theory for this is that laws on women’s hair weren’t necessary to substantiate the Qing dynasty’s ascension to power on account of women’s pre-existing lower standings within society. Whilst there existed a hairstyle for women in Manchu culture called the Liangbatou (pronounced Lee-ang-ba-toe), it wasn’t enforced on Han Chinese women as the Queue had been on Han Chinese men. These stereotypes are still prevalent today, and were especially prominent within the 20th century, with numerous films, television shows, books and video games portraying stereotypical Chinese characters as having this hairstyle, among other negatively stereotyped characteristics.Īlternatively, no laws were created pertaining to the hairstyles of Han Chinese women during this time period. The Queue acted as a ‘signifier’ of an individual’s Chinese ethnicity, as well as being very significant in the conception of negative stereotypes. It should also be noted, however, that with the globalisation of China around this time period, Chinese people were also influenced in their abandonment of the Queue by a rise in anti-Chinese sentiment (otherwise known as Sinophobia). This change in belief highlights the change in cultural values as a result of life under Manchu oppression. Since then, shorter hair has been the predominant style of men in China. Upon the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912, Han Chinese men were reported cutting off their braids to signify defiance against Qing rule and liberation from the Queue order, choosing to adopt shorter hairstyles instead. ![]() Determined to enforce this hairstyle and to evidence Han Chinese submission to Qing rule and the Manchu people, Han Chinese men were given an ultimatum adopt the hairstyle or face execution ![]() This resulted in substantial resistance from Han Chinese people as it was believed that this was entirely against their philosophical and cultural practices. However, with the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, the Queue order was implemented, decreeing that all Han Chinese men (with the exceptions of monks) were to adopt the Manchu hairstyle of the ‘Queue‘ (a hairstyle categorised by shaving the front of the head and plaiting the remaining hair at the back of the head). Han Chinese culture was oriented around this belief and so, Han Chinese people would not cut their hair, instead wearing more beautiful, intricate hairstyles. Thus, the cutting of hair was thought to be damaging to the body (which was gifted by the parents), causing disrespect to them if carried out. The Han Chinese people heavily embraced Confucianism and its notion of ‘filial piety’ (in simple terms: to be respectful to one’s parents). Hair was hugely significant within China. It’s important that we first understand what the ‘Queue’ was and the context behind it.
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