In the novel "Water Margin", you can see that Ximen Qing always has a flower on his head. Many readers believe that Ximen Qing is too affectionate, which is why such a "mother cannon" behavior has appeared. But after reading through the novel, everyone found that in addition to Ximen Qing, the short-lived Erlang Ruan Xiaowu, a branch of flowers Cai Qing, the prodigal son Yan Qing and other people all like to arrange flowers on their heads. What surprises readers the most is that The straight man of steel, Wu Song, once had similar behavior. Was this a trend in the Song Dynasty, or was it something else? Today Xiaobian will reveal the mystery to you.
According to historical records, the emperors of the Song Dynasty especially liked to give flowers to their courtiers. Moreover, the schadenfreude Imperial Historian also suggested that the minister who had been rewarded must happily take the flower from the emperor's hand and wear it on his head. Because Yushi rebelled against the emperor's will for many years, he rarely received flowers from the emperor. Now that there is an opportunity for the whole emperor to favor his subjects, how can they let it go? Therefore, under the supervision of Yushi, the emperor's favorites planted flowers behind the hood of their hats on the back of their hair.
At first, there were also some backbone literati who objected. But their arms could not twist their thighs, and with the support of the emperor, they could only do things according to the rules. Gradually, the ministers also corrected their mentality and regarded the hairpin flower as an honor. After Wugong killed the tiger in Jingyang Gang, the county order personally draped him with red and flowers on his head. Later, this custom gradually flowed to the people, and some young children also began to use hairpin flowers to attract the attention of others.
In addition to showing honor, the hairpin on the head should also be used on some particularly important occasions. For example, during the Song Dynasty, whenever a prisoner was released after completing his sentence, he had to kneel on the ground and wait for the jailer to give them a flower on their head. Only those who have flowers on their heads indicate the end of their sentence and can be released at the behest of the will. For example, in the Southern Song Dynasty Wu Zimu's "Record of Dreams", it is mentioned: "To see the prisoners of the sin of forbidden rods, dressed in brown clothes, lotus shackles, with jailers kneeling under the door with flowers, and preaching release." ”
The "Song Shi Youfu Zhi" records that every time Song Huizong went out to play, when he returned to the palace, his dress was "royal wrapped small hat, hairpin flowers, riding horses". The emperor did this, and the courtiers below naturally followed suit. Later, the emperor of the Liao Dynasty also learned this set, but whenever there were envoys of the Song Dynasty, they first gave a flower. Let the envoys of the Song Dynasty also cry and laugh.