Guan
Chinese冠
Literal meaningHat/ cap/ crown

Guan (Chinese: 冠; pinyin: guān), literally translated as hat or cap or crown in English,[1] is a general term which refers to a type of headwear in Hanfu which covers a small area of the upper part of the head instead of the entire head.[2]: 16  The guan was typically a formal form of headwear which was worn together with its corresponding court dress attire.[3] There were sumptuary laws which regulated the wearing of guan; however, these laws were not fixed; and thus, they would differ from dynasty to dynasty.[4] There were various forms and types of guan.[2]: 16 

Cultural significance and symbolism

In ancient China, there were various forms of headwear, which included guan (Chinese: 冠; pinyin: guān; lit. 'crown/hat/cap'), mao (Chinese: 帽; lit. 'hat/cap'), jin (Chinese: 巾; lit. 'kerchief'), ze (Chinese: 帻; lit. 'turban'), and mian (Chinese: 冕; lit. 'crown').[5]: 6 

The code of wearing guan forms a crucial aspect of the Hanfu system.[4] According to philosopher Wang Chong in Lunheng;

“衣服，货也。如以加之于形为尊重，在身之物，莫大于冠" ("Clothes fall under commodities. Should they rank higher, for being on the body, then nothing worn on the body is more important than the [guan].")[6]

In ancient China, Han Chinese men had to undergo a capping ceremony called Guan Li as their coming of age ceremony where a guan was placed on their head by a respected elder.[7][4] The Guan Li started by the nobles of the Zhou dynasty and eventually spread to the civilians.[7] The Guan Li was eventually forcefully ended during the Qing dynasty.[7]

When worn together with fu (Chinese: 服; pinyin: fú; lit. 'clothes'), a guan can form a set of attire called guanfu (Chinese: 冠服; pinyin: guānfú; lit. 'hat and clothes'); this set of attire could be used as an indicator of its wearer's social status, age, occupation, and educational background.[7]

As the character guan (Chinese: 冠; pinyin: guān; lit. 'crown/hat/cap') is a homonym another Chinese character pronounced guan (Chinese: 官; pinyin: guān; lit. 'official') which literally means official; the guan (冠) became the symbol of officials.[8]: 167 

History

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In the early history of guan, sumptuary laws regulated the wearing of guan based on one's social status; as such, the poor people with a low social status were forbidden from the wearing of guan.[4] These laws, however, varied from dynasty to dynasty.[4]

Zhou dynasty

Main article: Mianguan

See also: Mianfu and Pien Fu
Early form of guan as seen on Western Zhou bronze chariot ornamental figurine

As recorded in Rites of Zhou and Book of Rites, clothing became one of the principles of rites and ceremony, hence guan became a foundational item for etiquette and ritual. [9] During the Zhou dynasty, the main types of guan used were mianguan and bianguan (弁冠).[10]: 98–99  The mianguan was the highest rank of guan and could only be worn by the rulers, the feudal lords and nobles in sacrificial ceremonies, such as the Heaven worshipping ceremony and the ancestors worshipping ceremony, and in conferring ceremony.[10]: 98–99  The mianguan followed strict regulations based on social hierarchy with the number of beads tassels indicating the ranks of its wearer; for example, the Emperor wore twelve beads tassels while the lowest rank officials wore only two beads tassels.[10]: 99  The bianguan was the second highest guan after the mianguan and was divided into two types: quebian and pibian.[10]: 99  The quebian was red and black in colour.[10]: 99  The pibian was decorated with 12 beams of white deer-skin, had an arched top, wide edges, and was decorated with many colourful jades in its seams.[10]: 99 

Warring States period

Eastern Zhou silk painting featuring a man wearing shenyi and a guan.

Main article: Hufu

During the Warring States period, King Wuling of Zhao adopted the hufuqishe policy and a hufu-style guan, which looks similar to the conical hat of the Scythians, was adopted.[11] King Wuling's hufu-style guan was less pointy than the actual Scythian hat and he decorated his hat with a marten tail to denote his noble status.[11] The King of Qin later give the hufu-style guan of King Wuling to his servant as an insult to King Wuling after the latter had destroyed the regime of the Zhao state.[11] King Huiwen of Zhao later wore the same hufu-style guan as his father, King Wuling; and therefore this type of guan was named zhaohuiwenguan (Chinese: 趙惠文冠; pinyin: zhàohuìwénguān; lit. 'Crown of King Huiwen of Zhao').[11] Many years later, the zhaohuiwenguan evolved into the military cap called wuguan (Chinese: 武冠; pinyin: wǔguān; lit. 'military cap').[note 1][11]

A wuguan decorated with pheasant feathers became known as heguan (Chinese: 鶡冠; pinyin: héguān; lit. 'long-tailed pheasant hat') by the Han dynasty;[12] the heguan was first worn in the state of Zhao to distinguish military officers during the Warring States period.[13]: 293  The heguan was possibly derived from the hufu-style guan adopted by King Wuling through hufuqishe policy.[12] The snow pheasant (Chinese: 鶡; pinyin: hé) was a symbolism of martial valour and courage due to its association with the snow pheasant which would fight its opponent until death.[13]: 293 

Qin dynasty

In the Qin dynasty, the heguan continued to be worn to distinguish military officers; by that time onward, the use of heguan had spread throughout the whole empire.[13]: 293 

Han dynasty

Jinxianguan, Han dynasty
Wuguan, Han dynasty

In the Han dynasty, only people from distinguished background were allowed to wear guan.[2]: 16  During this period, there were many forms of guan, such as tongtianguan worn by the Emperor, yuanyouguan worn by dukes and princes; jinxianguan worn by the civil officials, and wuguan (武冠) worn by the military officials.[2]: 16  The heguan was decorated with two pheasant feathers on either sides and was worn by specialized member of the Han dynasty military.[12]

Sui dynasty

Emperor Wendi of Sui established a new attire system by basing himself on the system of the Cao Wei, Western Jin, and Northern Qi dynasties; however the Sui dynasty system was incomplete.[14]: 132  It was under Emperor Yangdi that more reforms took place in accordance with the ancient traditions and that the appearance of the ritual headwear were reformed.[14]: 133 

The mianguan continued to be worn by the Emperor Yangdi.[14]: 133  He also wore bianguan (弁冠) which was distinguished by a gold mountain-symbol called boshan (博山).[14]: 134  He also wore another kind of guan called wubian (武弁), which was lighter and simpler in terms of designs when compared to the mianguan.[14]: 133  The wubian was traditionally worn by the military officials, and it was derived from the bianguan which was worn by the court officials.[14]: 133  The wubian became the favourite guan of the Emperor Yangdi when he went on cuttings; such as hunting trips, military expeditions, and other related ceremonies.[14]: 133  He also allowed his ministers and the other government officials (military and civil officials) to wear the wubian.[14]: 134 

The jinxianguan (進賢冠) was worn by the civil officials at the court.[14]: 134  The court censors wore the quefeiguan (卻非冠) under the reign of Emperor Wendi as their official headgear, but it was later replaced by the xiezhiguan (獬豸冠) by Emperor Yangdi which would distinguish its wearer's rank through the use of various materials.[note 2][14]: 134 

Tang dynasty

In the Tang dynasty, the guan was replaced by the futou in the official clothing system.[2]: 17 

Song dynasty

Song Dynasty emperor's tongtianguan

In the Song dynasty, the Emperor wore the tongtianguan while the crown prince wore yuanyouguan (遠遊冠).[15]: 91  The guan was worn by the literati which continued the long tradition.[5]: 8  It was also generally worn by the junzi and those who were dedicated to adhere to the ancient courtesies and etiquette.[5]: 8–9  Some literati would also wear the xiaoguan (Chinese: 小冠; lit. 'small crown') on summer days in order to not exposed their topknot.[5]: 8–9  Under the reign of Emperor Huizong, all Confucian temples were ordered to upgrade their images of Confucius by adding a mianguan with 12 beaded-tassels on its depictions.[16]: 807 

Ming dynasty

In the Ming dynasty, the guan was only reserved to the Emperor and the members of the royal family; they were only suitable on formal occasions.[2]: 18  The emperor wore yishanguan (翼善冠).[note 3][2]: 18 

Types of historical guan

See also: List of Hanfu headwear

Gallery

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The wuguan (武冠) is often translated as "military cap" in English language literature and sources.
  2. ^ Materials which were used to make the Sui dynasty's xiezhiguan were gold or rhinoceros horns or antelope horn.
  3. ^ The yishanguan of the Ming dynasty is also a kind of futou

References

  1. ^ Jia, Jinhua (2018). Gender, Power, and Talent : the Journey of Daoist Priestesses in Tang China. La Vergne: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-54549-5. OCLC 1024284417. Archived from the original on 2022-06-11. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Feng, Ge (2015). Traditional Chinese rites and rituals. Zhengming Du. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4438-8783-0. OCLC 935642485. Archived from the original on 2022-06-11. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  3. ^ "What is Chinese Headdress - Hanfu Traditional Hats Introduce - 2022". www.newhanfu.com. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Evolution of Caps in China". en.chinaculture.org. Archived from the original on 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Zhu, Ruixi; 朱瑞熙 (2016). A social history of middle-period China : the Song, Liao, Western Xia and Jin dynasties. Bangwei Zhang, Fusheng Liu, Chongbang Cai, Zengyu Wang, Peter Ditmanson, Bang Qian Zhu (Updated ed.). Cambridge, United Kingdom. ISBN 978-1-107-16786-5. OCLC 953576345.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Lunheng; "vol. 24" "chapter 70"p. 70 of 118
  7. ^ a b c d "Coming of Age Ceremony in Chinese Culture | ChinaFetching". ChinaFetching.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  8. ^ Eberhard, Wolfram (1986). A dictionary of Chinese symbols : hidden symbols in Chinese life and thought. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 978-0-203-03877-2. OCLC 569597341.
  9. ^ Book of Rites, "vol. 43" 冠義 quote: "凡人之所以為人者，禮義也。禮義之始，在於正容體、齊顏色、順辭令。容體正，顏色齊，辭令順，而後禮義備。以正君臣、親父子、和長幼。君臣正，父子親，長幼和，而後禮義立。故冠而後服備，服備而後容體正、顏色齊、辭令順。故曰：冠者，禮之始也。是故古者聖王重冠。" 1 of 4
  10. ^ a b c d e f Gu, Weilie (2022). A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO CHINESE CULTURE. US: American Academic Press. ISBN 9781631815379.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Rui, Chuanming (2021). On the ancient history of the Silk Road. Singapore. pp. 23–26. ISBN 978-981-12-3296-1. OCLC 1225977015.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  12. ^ a b c d Wallace, Leslie (2020). "Does a feather in your hat barbarian make? Headgear and hairstyles in Han dynasty tomb murals in the Ordos". The art and archaeology of bodily adornment : studies from Central and East Asian mortuary contexts. Sheri Lullo, Leslie V. Wallace. Abingdon, Oxon. pp. 161–175. ISBN 978-1-351-26832-5. OCLC 1090702934.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. ^ a b c Cua, A. S. (2013). Encyclopedia of Chinese Philosophy. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-36748-0. OCLC 862613166.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Xiong, Victor Cunrui (2006). Emperor Yang of the Sui dynasty : his life, times, and legacy. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 1-4237-6251-7. OCLC 65174948.
  15. ^ Fang, Alex Chengyu (2016). The Language and Iconography of Chinese Charms: Deciphering a Past Belief System. Fran?cois Thierry. [Place of publication not identified]. ISBN 978-981-10-1793-3. OCLC 966360040.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  16. ^ Modern Chinese religion (2 Vols.) Song-Liao-Jin-Yuan (960-1368 AD). Vol. 1. John Lagerwey, Pierre Marsone. Leiden. 2015. ISBN 978-90-04-27181-4. OCLC 890011365.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  17. ^ a b Nanjing Municipal Museum (2015). "琥珀束发冠" [Amber shufaguan]. www.njmuseumadmin.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
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