When Lin Xinru (林心如) recently reappeared on screen, audiences did more than just welcome a familiar face back. They witnessed a style moment that felt both fresh and deeply familiar. Her hair, arranged in two delicate buns at the sides of her head, sparked widespread curiosity and admiration. It wasn’t an entirely new invention but a modern nod to a classic Chinese hairstyle known as the Pearl-Clasp Bun. This look, which evokes the elegance of a bygone era, proves that some aesthetic ideas are truly timeless, seamlessly connecting past and present.
Gentle Beauty of Pearl-Clasp Buns
The Pearl-Clasp Bun is characterized by its distinct shape, resembling two smooth pearls or shells nestled near the temples. Its origins can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty, where it was particularly popular among young Han Chinese women. The style was cherished for its ability to frame the face softly, offering a look that was both youthful and elegant. Unlike more formal, tightly wound buns, this style suggested a gentle, approachable beauty.
While it flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its visual roots go back even further. Ming Dynasty sculptures, like those of the maidens in the Water Mother Pavilion of the Jinci (晋祠) Temple in Taiyuan (太原), show early iterations of the style. The Ming version was often set slightly higher on the head and sometimes anchored with a row of floral hairpins, creating a look that was simple yet charmingly playful.
The hairstyle shares a philosophical kinship with ancient styles meant to signify youth, such as loose, hanging curls or side buns worn by girls before they came of age. The Pearl-Clasp Bun masterfully captures this essence of youthful innocence. The dark buns resting beside the ears help to soften facial contours while highlighting delicate features like the forehead and jawline. It represents a beauty that is implicit and introverted, rather than overtly dramatic.
Iconic Buns on Screen
The Pearl-Clasp Bun found a powerful second life in modern media, becoming a favorite for filmmakers and costume designers seeking to evoke a specific nostalgic grace. It frequently appeared in productions set in the Republican era, helping to define the visual language of the time on screen. In the 1985 television adaptation of The Ba Jin's Trilogy (家春秋), actress Chen Xiaoxu (陈晓旭), who played Cousin Mei, wore a softened version of the hairstyle. Her look, with its low-swept buns and wispy front hairs, became iconic, perfectly mirroring her character’s melancholic and refined nature.
Other screen legends also helped popularize modern interpretations of the style. In the classic film Peking Opera Blues (刀马旦), Cherie Chung’s character sported a playful and spirited take on the look. Likewise, Jiang Qinqin’s (蒋勤勤) portrayal of the legendary courtesan Xiao Fengxian (小凤仙) featured a variation that maintained the hairstyle’s elegant spirit while adapting it for a contemporary audience. These appearances cemented the Pearl-Clasp Bun as more than a historical relic; it became a recognizable symbol of a certain poetic, resilient femininity.
This was not a style confined to mere replication. Designers and stylists intelligently adapted it, often simplifying its form while retaining its core essence. The goal was never to create a perfect museum piece but to spark a dialogue between classical aesthetics and modern storytelling. This approach allowed the hairstyle to communicate directly with viewers, conveying character traits and historical setting through a shared visual language.
Modern Echoes
Today, the influence of the Pearl-Clasp Bun is visible far beyond period dramas. Its design philosophy resonates deeply within the growing Guochao (国潮) trend, a movement celebrating modern interpretations of Chinese cultural elements. On fashion runways, in photography, and in everyday style, we see echoes of its signature balance—a harmony between concealment and revelation, structure and softness.
Modern interpretations might involve simpler, looser buns or incorporate the use of contemporary accessories, but the central idea remains. It is that same preference for subtlety and suggestion over literal representation. This is a key tenet of Eastern aesthetics: the power of leaving blank space and metaphor. The hairstyle doesn’t demand attention; it invites it, offering a beauty that reveals itself gradually.
The enduring appeal of the Pearl-Clasp Bun teaches a valuable lesson about design and cultural continuity. Truly impactful style is rarely created from nothing. It builds upon the foundation of tradition, reinterpreting it for a new context. As audiences delight in Lin Xinru’s return and her evocative hairstyle, they are participating in a silent, cross-generational conversation about beauty. This conversation values depth, history, and the subtle power of a well-chosen detail.
