№.87 An Itinerant Barber 剃頭匠

During the Qing Dynasty, the term “shave the head” referred to the hairstyle requirements imposed by the Qing government on Han Chinese. The Manchu people, who founded the Qing Dynasty, traditionally wore long braided hair, known as “queue,” while the Qing government required Han Chinese to shave the hair on the front of their heads, leaving only a small patch at the crown, known as the “pigtail.” The remaining hair at the back was combed into a long braid. This policy aimed to distinguish between the Manchu and Han ethnicities and to strengthen Manchu control over the Han population. The head-shaving policy persisted throughout the Qing Dynasty, with Han Chinese being forced to adhere to these hairstyle regulations, or they could face severe punishments. This policy continued until the downfall of the Qing Dynasty, after which the queue was no longer enforced.