What is the name of Liu Shishi's beautiful headdress? The production team of Huai Shui Zhu Ting, in which Liu Shishi stars, recently released a video. In the footage, Liu Shishi appears wearing a pearl - studded headdress, presenting a unique blend of exotic and traditional Chinese beauty. Did such accessories truly exist in the past, and what were they called? To put it simply, similar ornaments were found in both the Central Plains and the Western Regions, belonging to the category of Yingluo (璎珞) headdresses. Their origins can be traced back to before the Warring States period, possibly due to East - West exchanges. Here, we'll focus on the Chinese names for such accessories: Luosuo (络索), Lianshu (帘梳), Zhuyingluo (珠璎珞), or Weiji (围髻). Let's take a closer look at these names.
Luosuo
Originally, 'Luosuo' meant 'rope,' and later it was extended to refer to hanging ornaments. According to Guangya·Shiqi, 'All connected ropes are called Luo.' Xilin Yinyi Volume 6 states that 'Suo is another name for rope.' Huang Geng of the Song Dynasty wrote in Gui Qing Xiao Xiang Lian Ti, 'The golden Luosuo with coral pendants, standing alone in the spring breeze admiring peonies.' The Southern Song engraved edition Sui Jin·Fu Shi Pian also records it under the 'head ornaments' section.
Lianshu
Unearthed Song Dynasty artifacts suggest that Lianshu likely consisted of two parts. 'Lian' refers to the hanging Luosuo decorations, and 'Shu' denotes the comb - like fixture at the top for securing the hair accessory. Over time, these evolved into Ming Dynasty terms like Weiji or Zhuyingluo. Weiji generally refers to ornaments encircling the hair bun, with longer pendants draping over the forehead without obstructing vision. Usually, what can be truly called 'Yingluo' are mostly netted pearl strands. Although there are few unearthed artifacts, similar accessories have appeared in ancient paintings and can be broadly categorized as Lianshu or Luosuo, which vary in width and length.
The possible wearing styles include: 1) On the forehead; 2) At the temples; 3) At the back of the hair bun; 4) Encircling the bun. When worn on the forehead, these accessories can help adjust hairlines, especially flattering for those with wider foreheads or higher cheekbones. When worn elsewhere, they can conceal stray hairs or add highlights to hairstyles. Draped like a curtain, they add a dynamic charm when one moves. Such ornaments are often used in period dramas for characters portraying ethnic minorities to signify their status. They may draw inspiration from the turquoise headdresses of the Warring States - era Majiayuan ruins, which are among the earliest discovered Luosuo - like artifacts.
Why do they have an exotic vibe? Many associate it with India's traditional Maang tikka, a forehead ornament related to the belief that the 眉心 (third eye) harbors wisdom. That's why people adorn it with red dots or pendants. Similar headdresses exist in neighboring cultures. Some argue that period dramas borrow directly from Indian or Bohemian styles, or that Chinese versions were influenced by Buddhist imagery. Interestingly, forehead - encircling headdresses appeared as early as the Shang Dynasty, though no physical artifacts survive, only jade figurines suggest their existence, which was before external influences. Thus, while their origins vary, the common goal was to enhance beauty. Headdress cultures don't have to be about copying; at a certain level of civilization, aesthetics naturally converge.
