The queue

[chukhung]

In Dex’s Staff Report What’s the origin of “pigtails” he says

The pigtail was a mark of enslavement to the Manchu dynasty.

I think the word “enslavement” might be the wrong term.

In the 1600s, the Manchus were instrumental in causing the collapse of the Ming dynasty. Eventually, they came to control all of China and established the Qing dynasty. During the period in which the Manchus were consolidating their control and suppressing various groups still loyal to the Ming, they imposed the requirement that all of their subjects (both Manchu and Han Chinese) wear the traditional Manchu hairstyle–the queue–as a symbol of loyalty to the Qing emperor. There’s a short outline of the Qing dynasty at http://www.bartleby.com/67/852.html.

In this context, I wouldn’t use the word “enslavement”–it certainly wasn’t just slaves that had to wear the queue. And the ethinic Manchus even wore it proudly. On the other hand, I’m sure that Ming loyalists at that time would have agreed with Dex’s usage. To them, the imposition of foreign Manchu rule was certainly a political “enslavement”. They were fighting a desperate rearguard action to put a Han Chinese emperor back on the throne.

For another interesting perspective on the meaning of the queue much later in history, take a look at this site: http://www.yorku.ca/iwai/kevinn.html

A bill introduced in the British Columbia legislature in May of 1876 levied a tax of $10 on all "male(s) of 18 years who wears long hair in the shape of a tail or queue."26 This desperate attempt to circumvent federal opposition was ruled out of order and disallowed. Chinese labourers were the obvious target group of the bill, since they wore their hair in queues. Roy points out that "(t)o sinophobes, the absence of the queue on a Chinese head was a symbol of white superiority."27 Granted, the Bill was a legal attempt by whites to assert cultural dominance over Chinese. However, the Chinese were being identified by an explicit cultural allusion, not by inherently racial characteristics. At first glance, it seems rather unclear why the queue stood out as a cultural target. However, the sociology of the hairstyle gives us a clue. "To the Chinese male, the queue was a sign of submission to the conquering Manchu empire; he wore it and defended it as he might uphold a religious emblem."28 While the Chinese migrant may have been dissatisfied with Ch’ing rule, there is no evidence to suggest that they were anything but loyal to the empire.29 Clearly, this was a sore point for British settlers in British Columbia who felt they were building a province on behalf of the British Empire. As well, the issue was an indication that Chinese were unwilling to assimilate. Thus, the queue issue represented a clash of national loyalties within the realm of cross-cultural conflict.

[C_K_Dexter_Haven]

Thanks for the addition, Chu. Yes, I certainly meant “enslavement” as “political enslavement.” I’ll edit the report to make that clear. I tend to have a negative reaction to statements by an emperor that “all subjects must…” So I guess my political orientation was showing.