In recent years, the Qing Palace drama has been particularly popular, in which those princes and brothers have a big black and bright braid, which looks particularly handsome and handsome, which has fascinated countless audiences. So, did men's braids during the Qing Dynasty really look so good? I'm afraid that's not the case. According to the records in the diaries of some foreign missionaries, the braids of Qing Dynasty men are not only not good-looking, but because they have not been cleaned for a long time, they emit a disgusting and strange smell.
After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty ordered that everyone in the world must wear braids, and even because of the problem of shaving their hair and changing clothes, countless innocent people were mutilated. Shaving his hair and wearing Manchu clothes instead became an important means of consolidating the rule of the Qing Dynasty. Even when the Qing Dynasty fell, many of the Qing Dynasty's widows and widows still held their braids, crying that this was handed down from their ancestors, and refused to cut off the braids. Even if this braid is not washed for many years, it is already dirty and smelly.
In ancient times, the sanitary conditions were poor, and from a health point of view, obviously short hair was more conducive to hygiene and cleanliness. However, all the men in the Qing Dynasty wore a big braid, which not only hindered things when working, but also very inconvenient in daily life. Coupled with the fact that during the Qing Dynasty, the people's lives were very difficult, and they ran all day for their livelihood, where was the time to take care of the braid on their heads? Therefore, the situation of the dark and bright braids in the streets in the Qing Palace drama is completely fictional.
In the mid-nineteenth century, many foreign missionaries came to the Qing Dynasty to preach. In the travel diaries of these missionaries, such a story was recorded. When the missionary passed in front of a family, he happened to meet the man of the family cleaning his braids in front of the door. Judging from the family's house, it is obvious that it is a civilian living on the bottom floor. When the preacher approached the man and tried to proclaim the glory of God to him, he was almost thrown up by the stench that came over him.
During the Qing Dynasty, the life of the people was very difficult, even in the heyday of Kangqian, most of the people were still worried about their livelihood. Many of these civilians living at the bottom do not even have a change of clothes, only the clothes they wear. Because the clothes can not be washed for a long time, the body is full of sweat and odor. Similarly, the taste on the braids is even heavier. It is no wonder that missionaries are stinked by braids, and if a person keeps long braids and does not wash his hair for half a year, the smell is absolutely disgusting.
By the end of the Qing Dynasty, photographic technology had already been introduced to China. Many missionaries in the Qing Dynasty also took many photos of the Qing Dynasty. Judging from the photos, the braids of these Qing Dynasty men are indeed hygienic. Few people may know what lice are now, but during the Qing Dynasty, it was a common thing to have lice on the head. Most Of the Qing Dynasty men's heads were covered with lice. This point has been recorded in many of the notes of the literati during the Qing Dynasty.
In ancient times, the sanitary conditions were originally poor, except for those who were high-ranking officials and dignitaries, ordinary people did not have the energy and conditions to take care of their personal hygiene. How dirty were the braids of Qing Dynasty men? The diaries of foreign missionaries illustrate the truth and are unbelievable. Maybe those royal brothers who lived in the palace did have a dark and bright braid. But ordinary people living outside the palace, in addition to their heads full of lice and dandruff, really do not have the refreshing and clean braids in the Qing Palace drama.