Women all over the world love to adorn themselves with various jewelry: tiaras, earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces and so on. Some decorations had a ritual or protective character, and some were for beauty. In any museum in any country you can find beautiful examples of jewelry for women. But Japan is an exception.
What do the Japanese think about jewelry?
Jewelry equals taboo
You can ask why? The reason is in Japan, until quite recently, there was a law prohibiting the demonstration of a naked body in public places. That is, no chance to demonstrate jewelry on body parts. And even earrings were taboo. For a long time it was believed that there are a very large number of “sensitive” places on the earlobe, the puncture of which can harm human health.
You can ask why? The reason is in Japan, until quite recently, there was a law prohibiting the demonstration of a naked body in public places. That is, no chance to demonstrate jewelry on body parts. And even earrings were taboo. For a long time it was believed that there are a very large number of “sensitive” places on the earlobe, the puncture of which can harm human health.
What did the Japanese replace jewelry with?
The traditional “kanzashi” hair clip was used as the only decoration for girls. Kanzashi from Japanese means "stuck in the hair." Hairpins appeared in Japan after the beginning of the 17th century. Prior to this, the hairstyles of Japanese women were quite simple and were decorated with wooden hairpins. When the fashion for complex hairstyles came, hairpins became a way to inform others about their age, status and class.
The traditional “kanzashi” hair clip was used as the only decoration for girls. Kanzashi from Japanese means "stuck in the hair." Hairpins appeared in Japan after the beginning of the 17th century. Prior to this, the hairstyles of Japanese women were quite simple and were decorated with wooden hairpins. When the fashion for complex hairstyles came, hairpins became a way to inform others about their age, status and class.
Can a hairpin kill?
In turbulent times, kanzashi were a means of self-defense. The weapon was made in the form of a sharp hairpin from wood, brass, cupronickel, less often from iron. Sometimes they were even poisoned, so that even the slightest wound would be fatal for the enemy.
In turbulent times, kanzashi were a means of self-defense. The weapon was made in the form of a sharp hairpin from wood, brass, cupronickel, less often from iron. Sometimes they were even poisoned, so that even the slightest wound would be fatal for the enemy.
Even now, Japanese women do not seek to adorn themselves with jewelry. The trend of jewelry aesthetics is minimalism. For interviews - women go without jewelry at all. And until now - they are afraid to pierce their ears, and for special occasions - they prefer to wear clip-on earrings.
Would you like to have such a hairpin?
