A History of the Hair

Hu YunyuNanhai Publication Company · ChinaSep 2023

2.8

Word count: 7.8K words
Chapters: 34

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Summary

This book is Fa Shi (A History of Hair), by Hu Yunyu.

Editor's review

Fa Shi, by Hu Yunyu, uses hair—an everyday thing—as a thread to connect discussions of institutions, customs, and political change. The title is simple, but it points to a large question about bodily discipline and identity: how hairstyles were incorporated into ritual systems and how they became a symbol of forced allegiance in dynastic change. The book is short but takes a distinctive angle, and is suitable for readers interested in cultural history and the history of social customs. While reading, it is worth focusing on how the author draws grand themes from small objects and on the choices made in using materials. It is more a window for observation than a comprehensive general history, and should be read alongside related works on social and cultural history for a fuller picture.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in cultural history and the history of customs
Readers who want to understand historical change through everyday objects
Secondary school history teachers looking for classroom enrichment material
Readers who enjoy short, thematic works of history writing

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic general history or grand narrative
Those who only want to read political and military history
Casual readers with no interest in customs and institutions

Reading tips

First look through the table of contents to grasp the thread, then read chapters according to interest; it need not be finished in one sitting.
When reading passages on hairstyles and ritual systems, jot down questions and look up materials afterward.
Read alongside background material on Ming-Qing social and cultural history for a more complete understanding.
After finishing, try to retell the main thread in your own words to check whether you have grasped the core questions.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
序
孔文骠
周齐曾
诸士奇
傅冠
常太爷
陈箕南
陈遘
姜应甲
浑融僧
范上右
周志达
姜一洪
吴闻礼
郑为虹
徐矿
黄明邦
许士俭
李拗机
王毓蓄
华允诚
费纬祥
沈光文
钱肃典
顾咸建
张九临
侯记原
任民育
邢疯子
左懋第
画网巾先生
麻三衡
绣花针王兴

FAQ

What period of history does Fa Shi cover?

Judging from the title and the common threads of cultural history, the book discusses the relationship between hairstyles and ritual systems, customs, and political change, involving related phenomena in traditional periods. The exact periodization and range of materials should be determined from the main text; it is best to read the table of contents and introduction first to clarify the temporal and spatial boundaries the author discusses.

Is this book a scholarly monograph or a popular work?

Judging from its length and style, it is closer to a thematic essay on cultural history, balancing materials with readability. Readers can treat it as an introductory window, but should note that it is not a comprehensive general history, and important judgments should be compared with other studies.

Can readers without a history background understand it?

Yes. The book starts from hair, an everyday object, so the threshold is relatively low. When encountering terms from ritual systems or official titles, consulting reference works as needed is enough. Reading with questions, rather than insisting on word-by-word close reading, suits general readers.

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About the author

Hu Yunyu Author · Chinese · 1878–1947

Hu Yunyu (1878–1947), originally named Yunyu and styled Pu'an, went by his courtesy name and was a native of Jing County, Anhui. A noted philologist, exegete and bibliophile of the Republican era, he was also a poet of the Southern Society and a member of the Tongmenghui. He served as president of the Republican Daily and as director of the Shanghai Local Gazetteer Office. His writings span language studies and literary-historical biography, including A History of Chinese Philology, A History of Chinese Exegesis, A Dictionary of Colloquial Expressions and A Survey of Chinese Customs. Thirty-three of his works are held in this collection, among them Mr. Hua Wangjin, Zuo Maodi, Fu Guan, Chen Gou, Zheng Weihong, the Monk Hunrong, Zhou Qizeng and Wang Xing, the Embroidery Needle. Most take Ming and Qing figures as their subjects, falling under comprehensive biography and touching on Eastern philosophy and classic works. Concise and fact-centered, they reveal his narrative skill beyond textual scholarship.