CHARACTER HOME PAGE

hair on the head
Kanji 1706

Thank you for visiting this Character Home Page. Below you'll find a synopsis of the essay. If you wish to read the full text, the PDF of the essay is available for purchase to the right.

Synopsis

Learn about historic Japanese hairstyles, including those resembling peaches or ginkgo leaves and one inspired by prostitutes, as well as a boxy pillow women used so as not to muss their hair. See what unexpected roles Edo-era barbershops played. Find out why you should grab the goddess's bangs, where to pray for your hair, and what Japanese men said about Marilyn Monroe.

Revision history:

Jan. 28, 2021:

p. 2: Etymology Box: Replaced the old Henshall etymology with the new one and completely rewrote that sidebar.

p. 12: Changed the definition of 亭主 from “household head” to “husband.”

p. 25: Added a link to the Kanshudo games
 

Feb. 9, 2019:

p. 1: The sound-alikes line was missing! It’s now there. 

pp. 2, 4, 19, and 20: Fixed broken links. 

p. 12: Revised the Otomi lyric translation and the discussion of that lyric. 

p. 19: Redefined “Kofun era” as “the third through the seventh centuries.”
 

Apr. 4, 2014: Originally published.

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Kanji PDF
Mini Profile
JOYO ON-YOMI
ハツ
JOYO KUN-YOMI
かみ
STROKES14
RADICAL髟 (190: long hair)
JLPTN1
HALPERN1821/2477
HENSHALL1706/1856
SPAHN3j11.3