According to anthropologists, hats originated from scarves. The towel was originally a cloth around the neck for sweating when people were working. Due to the disturbance of the human head by the wind, sand and sun in nature, people moved the towel from the neck to the head to wrap the head to prevent wind and sand. To keep out the cold and sun, gradually evolved into a variety of hats today. The invention and use of hats by the ancestors of the Mongolians is no exception. The four seasons of the plateau make the hat an indispensable daily necessities for the Mongolians. Its functions and styles are more abundant, and it is condensed into a profound cultural carrier. In the long process of social development, the function of hats has gone beyond the scope of use value, and has risen to an aesthetic personality and a marker of social identity. Hats of different periods and styles can reflect the material production, processing technology, spiritual realm and artistic level of the Mongolians.
The Mongolian ancestors first made hats from mink, fox, sheep and other animal skins. Later, cotton, linen, silk and other production materials gradually became available. Its material comes mainly from the surrounding agricultural area. Although it is said that the headscarf was produced earlier than the hat, the Mongolians have been using the scarf and the hat together to this day. It's just that the method and style of men's turbans are different from those of women, and they generally don't wear brightly colored turbans.
There are generally two types of Mongolian hats: winter and summer. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Mongolian men put the feathers of sea bluebirds or peregrine falcons on the top of their hats, and designed the styles in the shape of raptors. This is the hat that was later called the eagle crown. The origin of the perching eagle crown is related to the fact that certain tribes in Mongolia regard sea bluebirds as their ancestors - totems. At that time, adult Mongolian men wore eagle crowns with pointed or round tops, and the eagle crowns of nobles or khans (tribal leaders) also paid attention to the texture. In summer, they were made of high-quality brocade, and in winter they were made of fox and mink fur, and they were decorated with gold and jade. top beads. Ladies wear Baogeka (Baoge coated leather or 罟罟) hats.
Mongolian hats were originally divided into different types such as men and women, etiquette, officials, soldiers, and monks. In ancient society, Mongolian hats were one of the most obvious signs of social identity, so there were distinctions between nobles and poor people, golden families and ordinary people. The symbolic meaning of hats in different costumes is the most important, so the Mongolian people have accumulated rich customs and cultures about hats in the long production practice.
One of the main reasons for attaching importance to hats may be related to the belief that among human organs, the head is considered by the Mongolians to be a representative part of the body and the residence of the soul. Ancient Central Asian or North Asian grassland peoples had the custom of offering sacrifices to the heads of important figures. In the "Secret History of Mongolia", there is a record that after the death of Wang Khan (person's name), other tribal nobles found his head to pay homage to him. In Mongolian, leaders with high social status are referred to as "Taolaoqiqi" (equivalent to the leader in Chinese), and proverbs with the meaning of "the crowd has a leader, and the clothes have a collar" abound. The human head is very important. It has gone beyond the meaning of physiology and has special attributes of society. Literally, the Mongolian word "no head" means a person who has no independent opinion, and "I don't know the head" means A person who cannot be his own master.
Because the Mongols attach so much importance to the head—the head, everything related to the head, such as facial features, hair, eyebrows, beard, etc., is not allowed to be touched by others. Naturally, the hat worn on the head also gained supremacy. It represents all that is human and its dignity. If someone accidentally touched one's hat, it was considered that bad luck might happen, and if someone touched one's hat deliberately, it meant insult, and a dignified person would fight back on the spot.
In ancient times, after the death of the Khan, one of the ways for the wives to mourn was to remove the ornaments on the top of the hat to show the loss of dignity or the coming of bad luck. The Mongols sometimes used the same method against their enemies (opponents). The first measure to treat a prisoner is to remove his hat and belt, which is equivalent to deprivation of political rights today, and is a "procedure" to deprive the other party of their dignity. Genghis Khan also took this measure when he punished his younger brother Haser. In the consciousness of the Mongols, the hat and the head are equally important, and sometimes even the hat is a substitute for its owner. "Livestock is good, it depends on who puts it on, and the hat depends on who wears it" (direct meaning: the animal follows the owner, and the hat follows the skull). "When two people walk together, the elder is the best; when there is one person, the hat is the best." If two people visit someone's house, the older person must sit on it, while the other puts his hat on a high place and finds a place for himself to sit down. In this way, the host will immediately understand that you are a polite and cultivated person. At this time, you can say "Put down your hat, it is my home, and it will be your home again when you leave tomorrow." This sentence shows that since you are here, don't be polite, etc. In addition to the straightforward consensus on interpersonal communication, it also emphasizes the important role of hats in social communication.
On any important occasion, Mongolians pay attention to hats and how to wear them. When welcoming guests, both men and women must wear a hat to come out to meet. This has two meanings, on the one hand, to prove one's decency, and on the other hand, to respect the guests. Especially in ancient times, a woman could not appear in front of strangers if she did not have a hat or did not wear it in time. After modern times, there has been a serious gap between the poor and the rich in Mongolian society, but no matter how poor people are, they have to try their best to buy the headdresses of married girls. This has something to do with the Mongolian custom of respecting hats. It is worth mentioning that there are some extreme examples in Mongolian customs and culture. If you meet a particularly important person or hold a memorial service, you should take off your hat instead. This is the case when offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, kowtowing to the Buddha, and seeing respected elders. It is clearly recorded in the history books that when Genghis Khan was a child, he escaped from the pursuit of the three surnames Mierqidi and hid in Burhan Mountain. Kneel down. Therefore, kowtowing nine heads is the most pious etiquette for Mongolians.
Although the Mongols attach great importance to hats, they should avoid picking up the hats thrown by others. It is believed that items with the hole facing down cannot contain good luck, or cover up one's popularity. And you can't put hats on hats - wear them with superimposed hats. This wearing method indicates that it will be subject to many officials. It can be seen that the Mongols did not like too many officials in history. According to folk customs in some places, if a woman wears a double hat, she may marry a man twice and so on. People in some tribes also picked up hats that fell on the ground with the notch up or kicked three times with their feet and then fell to the ground with the notch up. Under normal circumstances, if someone's hat falls off by accident, don't pick it up. This is a sign of bad luck, which is a good thing. In the same way, people who lose their hats will not look for them specifically.
Normal people must wear their hats straight. Children or naughty children, no doubt wearing the hat crookedly or backwards will also be criticized by adults. "This child has no vitality..." "Like a captured soldier..." "I can't even wear a hat well, what can I do when I grow up..." Wait for the reprimand. Young people of the same age used words such as "Is the old man scolding you? My wife doesn't want you anymore?" and other words. The Mongols were especially careful not to drop their hats. If it falls to the ground unintentionally, gently hold it up with your right hand, give it a kiss and then put on the hat. If someone steps on or steps over the hat, it must be "purified" with fire before wearing the hat. When taking off the hat and putting it down, it must be placed on a high place or on top of folded clothes. A man's hat should not be placed under a woman's clothing.
Mongolians cherish and respect hats the most among all the costumes, so when they are particularly busy or at a critical juncture, they will always hear words such as "no time to pick up the hat" (no chance to talk to you). For Mongolians, hats represent their popularity, personality and dignity.
