In modern times, people often think of bangs as the only way to decorate the forehead. However, in ancient China, there were various methods such as sticking Huadian (花钿), wearing forehead scarves, headbands, or applying forehead decorations. Today, let's talk about Yunbin (云鬓), a hairstyle made directly from one's own hair to cover the hairline.
Yunbin, commonly seen in the Song Dynasty, is also known as Yun Jian Qiao E (云尖巧额). It involves curling a few strands of hair on the forehead or temples to create a layered, cloud-like effect. This not only helps to cover the hairline and temples but also adds a touch of elegance and grace to a woman's appearance. As described in The Ballad of Mulan: "She combs her cloud-like hair by the window and adorns her forehead with yellow flowers."
According to Feng Chuang Xiao Bu from the Song Dynasty, "During the Chongning period, people preferred large bangs and square foreheads. By the Zhenghe and Xuanhe eras, tight buns hanging to the shoulders were in vogue. After the Xuanhe period, Yun Jian Qiao E and golden phoenix hairpins became popular." This shows how ancient Chinese used their own hair to create various styles, including Yunbin, to cover the temples.
Yunbin got its name from its resemblance to layered clouds. It could be adorned with various hair combs, such as the Lianshu (帘梳) commonly seen in the Song Dynasty. The back of these combs could be carved or inlaid with pearls and other jewels, or even decorated with beaded curtains.
In The Mystery of the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, actress Zhang Xinyu's noblewoman look cleverly incorporated Yunbin from classical makeup to conceal her hairline, making it more refined than modern bangs. Instead of altering their natural hair or skin, ancient Chinese used their own hair or accessories to enhance their hairstyles and facial contours.
In the drama Five Blessings, the character Da Jie (大姐) often wears this type of decoration. It's clear that in Song Dynasty makeup and hairstyling, Yunbin not only covered the hairline but also added width to the hairstyle, making the face appear smaller—similar to modern high-crown hairstyling techniques. This shows how the aesthetic wisdom of ancient Chinese has long been integrated into our daily lives.
