The Khitan nationality is a nomadic people in the north of ancient China. It originated from the Wuhuan and Xianbei of the Donghu ethnic group, and emerged in the Xilamulun and Laoha rivers. (There are different opinions on the origin of Khitan. The mainstream opinion in academic circles is that it originated from Wuhuan and Xianbei of the Donghu family.)
In 907 AD, Liao Taizu Yelu Abaoji unified the Khan of the Khitan tribes. In 916 AD, it was established. The Khitan Kingdom was named "Liao" in 947 AD. In 1125, Liao was destroyed by the Golden State established by the Jurchen tribe, which lasted more than two hundred years. During the heyday of the Liao Kingdom, its territory bordered Yanyun in the south, the Waixing'an Mountains in the north, the Sea of Japan in the east, and the Altai Mountains in the west.
Liao Dynasty gold cladding (burial objects) collected in the Inner Mongolia Museum
The Khitan nationality has continuously accepted and integrated the art and culture of the surrounding areas in the course of history, forming a unique Khitan culture. "髡 (kun) hair" is one of the most representative Khitan symbols.
The so-called "shaven hair" is mainly to shave the hair on the top of the head, leaving only a small amount of extra decoration on the temples or forehead, or drooping and drooping the temples around the ears, or braiding them into small braids. In the Northern Song Dynasty, Shen Kuo recorded in his "Xining Envoy Tucha": Khitan "cuts his hair and has two fashionable dresses."
The Khitan hairstyle described by Shen Kuo is like the following, which is very similar to hair loss. "Mediterranean Sea":
(a copy of the Liao Dynasty murals collected in the Inner Mongolia Museum)
For the Qidan people’s hair-raising custom, the ancient literature records are relatively simple, while the murals unearthed from the Liao Dynasty tombs are just fine Make up for this shortcoming. Existing murals show that Qidan people, regardless of male or female, have hair .
Qidan men's hair styling
Qidan men's hair styles are different: ① some only shave the top of the skull, and the hair around the skull hangs down and draped back; ② some are on both sides of the skull Leave two locks of long hair, naturally drooping or braided drooping; ③Some shaved the middle of the front skull, and the posterior hair also naturally drooped and draped back; ④Some shaved both sides of the top of the skull, with the middle part of the top of the skull facing away. After combing.
Khitan man with shaved hair
Kulunqi tomb No. 2 Liao (Sun Jianhua "Inner Mongolia Liao Dynasty Mural")
Khitan woman with hair style
Regarding the hair of Khitan women, the historical record "The women of the good family are all heads, and they are allowed to marry, and they will leave their hair." That is to say, Khitan women wear hair when they are not married, but start to grow their hair after they are married, with a high updo. . The historical records of the customs of Khitan women's hair are obviously less than those of men. In the known frescoes of the Liao Dynasty, the images of Khitan women with shaved hair are usually shaved off the front of the skull, while other parts are bundled or decorated with various ornaments.
The image of a Khitan woman with haircut
In the 1980s, a female body of a Khitan female from the Liao Dynasty was unearthed from the Liao Tomb No. 6 of Haoqiying, Chayouqianqi, Inner Mongolia. The female corpse's hair is well preserved, and the hairstyle shown is the first one from the left in the first row of the picture.
The origin of Qidan hair
In the traditional concept of the Central Plains, the skin, hair and body are affected by the parents and cannot be easily destroyed. Only criminals will be punished with hard labor and become slaves. The difference with the hair of the Central Plains is that the hair custom of the Khitan people of is inherited from their ancestors, Wuhuan and Xianbei.
Liao Dynasty murals in the Inner Mongolia Museum collection
According to the "Latter Han Dynasty · Wuhuan Xianbei Biography", it is recorded: "Wuhuan... Shi Nai nourishes hair, divided into buns, decisively, and decorated with gold and green..."," Xianbei... Its language and customs are similar to Wuhuan. Only marriage is the first to go, and the spring and moon meeting is held in Rao Le Shui. , After the banquet, then cooperate.”
A copy of the Liao Dynasty murals collected in the Inner Mongolia Museum
can be seen, Wuhuan and Xianbei both have the custom of hair and hair , it is just that when Wuhuan women are unmarried, they must grow their hair and split their hair after marriage. Xianbei women grow their hair when they are unmarried and get married. Stool again. On the wall paintings of Helingerhan’s tomb, there are Wuhuan people and Xianbei people with shaved hair. Their shaved hair style is to shave around the head and keep the head hair .
It can be concluded that the Khitan people have inherited the custom of haircutting in Wuhuan and Xianbei, but the style of haircutting has undergone great changes.
Liao Dynasty murals in the Inner Mongolia Museum (replica)
The reason why the ethnic groups in the northern grasslands are hairy is mainly caused by the living environment. Winter is cold and snowy, summer is short, hot and humid and rainy, and wind and sand are invaded all year round. Simply shave your hair to avoid the trouble of grooming.
It is worth mentioning that the Khitan people's haircut custom had a certain influence on the later Jurchens and Manchus. The state of Jin asked the newly seized area to cut off the soldiers who did not conform to the regulations. Such severe punishment was exactly the same as the policy of "retaining hair but not head" in the early Qing Dynasty.
References:
1. Hou Yanwen, "Small Discussion on the Liao Fa-Taking the Liao Tomb Murals as a Clue"
2. Liu Guixin, "Khitan Folk Customs-Unique Charm of Chinese Culture 》
3. Yang Chunfen, "An Inquiry into the Hairstyles of Men of Minority Nationalities in Ancient Northern China"
4. Fu Ning, "Khitan and the Mongolian People's Hair"
5. Zhang Zhiyong, "Foundation of the Liao Dynasty" A Textual Research on the Culture and Customs of the Former Khitan Nationality
6. Wang Wei, "The Customs of the Qidan Nationality"
7. Zhang Guoqing, "A Study of the Hair Customs of the Qidan People in the Liao Dynasty"
8. Tian Guanglin , "A Brief Account of the Etiquette and Customs of Khitan Hairstyle"
