Before entering the customs, the traditional hairstyle of Manchu women was to braid their hair in a bun, that is, to put it on the top of their heads, braid it into a long braid and spiral it up into a plate. Bun, this hairstyle is simple and neat, convenient for long-distance riding and shooting, and can be camped out in the wild. At that time, regardless of status, rich or poor, hairstyles were similar.
After entering the customs, many traditional folk women's hairstyles were preserved because the shaving order of the Qing government was limited to men, excluding women.
On the basis of the gradual integration of Manchu and Chinese cultures, Manchu women's hairstyles were imitated by Han women; The hairstyles of Han women are also imitated by Manchu women to varying degrees, thus forming the hairstyles of Manchu and Han women. You have me and I have your changeable style, which greatly enriches the headdress of Manchu women.
Among them, the main hairstyles are "soft wing head", "second in command", "straight head", "shelf head", "big wing pull", "dovetail" and "sorghum head". , with different names and slightly different forms. Such as "second in command" and "shelf head". Some have evolved on the basis of other hairstyles, that is, they have retained the basic shape of the original hairstyle and made innovations in some places, such as from "two ends" to "big wings". Others keep their own national hairstyles under the influence of other national customs. Hair style features, but also into the styles of other nationalities, forming a new hairstyle, such as the "Ruyi Wheel" of the Han nationality and the "Ruyi Building" of the Manchu nationality.
As for the "sorghum head" combed by ordinary Manchu middle-aged and elderly women, it has a history of thousands of years and can still be seen in Manchu inhabited areas. Compared with Han women's hairstyles, Manchu women's hairstyles are tall and exaggerated, with gorgeous and eye-catching effects, which make hair accessories occupy a more prominent position in Manchu women's clothing and form a unique hairstyle of Manchu women-flag head.
Manchu women not only pay attention to hairstyles, but also pay attention to headdresses. Among many headdresses, the big flat head headdress is the most common. This is a silver hairpin about 30 cm long and 2 or 3 cm wide, across the bun. In the upper class of Manchu women in Qing Dynasty, not only the flag head (a fan-shaped crown made of green velvet and green satin) but also various silver ornaments, such as flower needles, temple acupressure needles, large and small ear spoons, etc. Manchu women's earrings are also different. They have to wear three ears and three earrings. This ancient custom has continued to this day.
Manchu women generally comb two J heads, which is simple in style. They are all' flat' with real hair and jade or jade. "A bun-like square across the bun is 32 to 33.5 cm long, 4 cm wide and 0.2 to 0.3 cm thick. It is ruler-shaped, with a semicircle at one end and a scroll at the other. For example, a disguised horizontal hairpin, whether combing two heads or pulling wings, plays the role of a "beam" connecting the true and false bun. The function of the flat square is similar to the long hairpin used by ancient men to tie their hair. Perhaps the flat square evolved from this. The texture of the square is mostly white jade and sapphire, and a few are gold and silver products.
In the mid-Qing Dynasty, Manchu aristocratic women became popular with "flag head", also known as "flag head board" and "big wing pulling". It is based on the bun on the top of the head and the flag is placed on it. The flag head is similar to what we saw on the stage. It is a flat crown supported by an iron frame, covered with blue velvet or blue satin, decorated with various gems on the front and tassels hanging on the side. The flag head is developed from the "two heads". Because it became popular after entering the customs, people also called it "Dajingxiang".