Lingzi

{{Short description|Traditional Chinese pheasant feathers decoration on headwear}}

{{Infobox Chinese

| c = 翎子

| p = Língzi

| pic = Yang wenguang in Beijing opera.JPG

}}

{{Transliteration|zh|Lingzi}} ({{Lang-zh|c=翎子}}), also called {{Transliteration|zh|zhiling}} ({{Lang-zh|c=雉翎}}), refers to a traditional Chinese ornament which uses long pheasant tail feather appendages to decorate some headdress in {{Transliteration|zh|Xifu}}, Chinese opera costumes.{{Cite web |title=Shawl 1885–1910 |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/158192#:~:text=Both%20the%20faces%20and%20the,feathers%20signify%20the%20warrior%27s%20rank. |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=www.metmuseum.org}}{{Cite book |last=Wang |first=Ningning |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1285973778 |title=A history of ancient Chinese music and dance |date=2019 |others=Zhengshuan Li, Xin Wang, Yundi Gao |isbn=978-1-63181-634-5 |location=Salt Lake City. UT |oclc=1285973778}}{{Rp|page=487}}{{Cite web |last=laitimes |date=2021-12-01 |title=Chinese Costume Knowledge 1 - What is the long strip on the helmet in the opera costume |url=https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1atxc_1c7ir.html |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=laitimes |language=en}} In Chinese opera, the {{Transliteration|zh|lingzi}} not only decorative purpose but are also used express thoughts, feelings, and the drama plot.{{Rp|page=487}} They are typically used on the helmets of warriors,{{Cite web |title=Beijing Opera |url=http://en.chinaculture.org/created/2005-12/05/content_76657_6.htm |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=en.chinaculture.org |page=6}} where a pair of pheasant feathers extensions are the indicators that the character is a warrior figure; the length of the feathers, on the other hand, is an indicator of the warrior's rank. The {{Transliteration|zh|lingzi}} are generally about five or six feet long. Most of the time, {{Transliteration|zh|lingzi}} are used to represent handsome military commanders.{{Rp|page=487}}

Origins

It is suggested that the use of {{Transliteration|zh|lingzi}} originated from the {{Transliteration|zh|wuguan}} ({{Lang-zh|c=武冠|p=wǔguān|l=military cap}}), a form of {{Transliteration|zh|guan}} used by the military officials since the ancient times. Similar headgear decorated with pairs of {{Transliteration|zh|lingzi}} worn the military can be seen in paintings dating to the Ming dynasty.

= Wuguan =

File:武冠 han stone relief guard found in Deng county Henan 河南邓县出土东汉画像砖上的佩剑执笏武吏.jpg.]]

During the Warring States period, King Wuling of Zhao adopted the {{transliteration|zh|hufuqishe}} policy and a {{transliteration|zh|hufu}}-style {{transliteration|zh|guan}} which looks similar to the conical hat of the Scythian was adopted.{{Cite book |last=Rui |first=Chuanming |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1225977015 |title=On the ancient history of the Silk Road |date=2021 |isbn=978-981-12-3296-1 |location=Singapore |pages=23–26 |oclc=1225977015}} King Wuling's {{transliteration|zh|hufu}}-style {{transliteration|zh|guan}} was less pointy than the actual Scythian hat and he decorated his hat with a marten tail to denote his noble status. The King of Qin later give the {{transliteration|zh|hufu}}-style {{transliteration|zh|guan}} of King Wuling to his servant as an insult to King Wuling after the latter had destroyed the regime of the Zhao state.

King Huiwen of Zhao later wore the same {{transliteration|zh|hufu}}-style {{transliteration|zh|guan}} as his father, King Wuling; and therefore this type of {{transliteration|zh|guan}} was named {{transliteration|zh|zhaohuiwenguan}} ({{Lang-zh|c=趙惠文冠|p=zhàohuìwénguān|l=Crown of King Huiwen of Zhao}}). Many years later, the {{transliteration|zh|zhaohuiwenguan}} evolved into the military cap called {{transliteration|zh|wuguan}}.{{NoteTag|The wuguan (武冠) is often translated as "military cap" in English language literature and sources.}}

By the Han dynasty, a {{transliteration|zh|wuguan}} decorated with pheasant feathers became known as {{transliteration|zh|heguan}} ({{Lang-zh|c=鶡冠|p=héguān|l=long-tailed pheasant hat}}){{Cite book |last=Wallace |first=Leslie |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1090702934 |title=The art and archaeology of bodily adornment : studies from Central and East Asian mortuary contexts |date=2020 |others=Sheri Lullo, Leslie V. Wallace |isbn=978-1-351-26832-5 |location=Abingdon, Oxon |pages=161–175 |chapter=Does a feather in your hat barbarian make? Headgear and hairstyles in Han dynasty tomb murals in the Ordos |oclc=1090702934}} and was used by the military officials of the Han dynasty.{{Cite book |last=Feng |first=Ge |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/935642485 |title=Traditional Chinese rites and rituals |date=2015 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |others=Zhengming Du |isbn=978-1-4438-8783-0 |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |oclc=935642485 |access-date=2022-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611205015/https://www.worldcat.org/title/traditional-chinese-rites-and-rituals/oclc/935642485 |archive-date=2022-06-11 |url-status=live}}{{Rp|page=16}} The {{transliteration|zh|heguan}} was first worn in the state of Zhao to distinguish military officers during the Warring States period.{{Cite book |last=Cua |first=A. S. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/862613166 |title=Encyclopedia of Chinese Philosophy. |date=2013 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=978-1-135-36748-0 |location=Hoboken |oclc=862613166}}{{Rp|page=293}} The {{transliteration|zh|heguan}} was possibly itself derived from the {{transliteration|zh|hufu}}-style {{transliteration|zh|guan}} adopted by King Wuling through {{transliteration|zh|hufuqishe}} policy. The snow pheasant ({{Lang-zh|c=鶡|p=hé}}) was a symbolism of martial valour and courage due to its association with the snow pheasant which would fight its opponent until death.{{Rp|page=293}}

Skills and manipulation

The skills required to manipulate the two pheasant feathers are known as {{Transliteration|zh|Lingze}}. These skills include shaking and swinging; sometimes the {{Transliteration|zh|lingzi}} are shaken with one hand but sometimes two hands are used. The skills of {{Transliteration|zh|Lingze}} are used by many roles; however, they are especially used in the {{Transliteration|zh|Xiaosheng}} role.

When combined the movements of the head and body of the actor, the movement of the {{Transliteration|zh|lingzi}} express the feelings and dispositions of the character, which include the expression of surprise, hatred, happiness, and frivolity.