| Red Head Covers | |
At a traditional Chinese wedding, the bride is often seen with a red veil
on her head. It covers the bride's face. Chinese people call the veil,
made of a laced silk square, red head cover.
This practice dates back to the Qi Period (479-502) of the Northern and
Southern Dynasties. The head cover was used by women farmers to protect
their heads against cold wind or hot sunshine while working in the fields.
It could be a cloth of any color and was big enough to cover the head top.
For its practical use and ornamental function, the head cover became a
widespread custom.
This custom lasted about a thousand years. From Later Jin Dynasty (936-946),
a veil became a must for bride at the wedding. But the color of the bride's
veil is always red as it is the symbolic color of happiness.
Written by our column writer Ye Qinfa.
Related Links: 
By the beginning of Tang Dynasty (618-907), the cover had become a long
veil down to the shoulder. And it was no longer a privilege of working
women. Later, Emperor Li Jilong made a decision. He demanded that all
maids-in-waiting in the palace add a piece of gauze to the head covers
to cover their faces. It soon became a fashion among the commons.
But the commons made a difference of the cover's function. In those days,
women's faces were thought of as a lure to men. A husband did not want his
beautiful wife to be an attraction to men. He wanted her to behave bashfully
and look too shy to see men. A veil could realize his wish. And the wife
readily accepted the veil to show her loyalty to her husband. Gradually
the veils became popular among both married and unmarried women who were
eager to demonstrate their virtues. Veils are not unique in China. Even
today veils can still be seen in some other places in the world.
A list of articles about Chinese wedding and traditions.