Pan Jinlian's hairstyle

Author: Meng Hui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The book Pang Jinlian’s Hairstyle (Jiangsu People’s Publishing House) is divided into four sections: "Clothing," "Food and Drink," "Daily Life," and "Appreciation." The author demonstrates a deep affection for ancient artifacts and life details, employing elegant prose and subtle insights to uncover charm, evoke joy, cite extensive references, and create a captivating effect. Yet, the author often finds the small in the large. The book is also accompanied by numerous exquisite color illustrations, making it even more perfect. According to the book, Pang Jinlian’s hairstyle was "tied with red silk threads, gathered into a nest of silk, adorned with a silver-thread coiffure." In actuality, the illustrations show that this "silver-thread coiffure" resembles a steamed bun shape. Pang Jinlian wore it atop her head every day, and it was considered "extremely beautiful," though by modern aesthetic standards, it may not be so. Higher in status than the silver-thread coiffure were various "crowns," a privilege reserved exclusively for the principal wives of officials and wealthy families. Pang Jinlian never had the opportunity to wear a crown in her lifetime, as her pinnacle of achievement was merely reaching the level of wearing a silver-thread coiffure. In truth, this book is not solely about this issue, but most people have a curiosity, so it is an interesting book with a compelling title. It organizes and examines the daily life details of the ancients, such as their clothing, food, and living habits, satisfying our desire to "sneak a peek at the past" while also broadening our knowledge. For example, regarding "red bean shaved ice," the book cites evidence that it was already popular in the Song Dynasty—Zhang Zeduan’s Along the River During the Qingming Festival depicts street vendors selling shaved ice in Bianjing. High above their stalls hang signs reading "Aromatic Drink." The Dream of Splendid Times in the East Capital and Old Tales of Lin’an also record other beverages of the time, such as "mung bean and licorice iced water" and "snow-bubble bean water," which indeed resonate with "red bean shaved ice." Reading Pang Jinlian’s Hairstyle is quite enjoyable, akin to appreciating Li Yu’s Random Notes on Leisurely Pursuits, fully showcasing the ancients’ leisurely life interests. Reflecting on the book, it is indeed true that fashion and trends follow a spiral upward process.