From daily tool to rite of passage: The Ji hairpin in ancient China

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From daily tool to rite of passage: The Ji hairpin in ancient China

The Ji (笄), a simple hairpin used by ancient Chinese people for tying up hair and securing caps, was an everyday necessity. As early as the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), the Ji was taken on certain ritual significance. By the Zhou Dynasty (1046- 256 BC), it gave rise to an important ceremony symbolizing a girl's transition to womanhood – the Ji Li (笄礼, hairpin ceremony). On the day of the ceremony, parents would invite a virtuous and respected elder woman to comb their daughter's hair into a mature bun and solemnly insert a Ji. From that moment onward, the Ji hairpin became a symbol marking a girl's transition into adulthood.

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