古代冠蝉考释

On the Ancient Cicada Hat

在等级森严的中国封建社会,头冠是社会等级身份的重要标识物,冠上的饰物尤其讲究,如皇帝冠上的龙饰,皇后冠上的凤鸟、翟饰等。考察官宦重臣的冠饰,还发现从秦汉至明代重要的冠上饰物还有昆虫类的蝉。蝉为古人如此器重,有特殊的含义在内,那就是蝉的特性吻合了帝王对重臣近侍应具备的品质要求,所以冠蝉也就作为权贵的象征而流传下来。

In ancient Chinese, the hat was an important identification of social rank, so the ornament on hat is very particular. Researching the ornament of higher officials＇ hats, we discover cicada as ornament was decorated on some hats from Qin and Han to Ming dynasty. Cicada was regarded highly by the ancients, because the special characteristic accords with the moral quality requirement of the emperor to his higher officials and close attendants. Thus crown cicada as a symbol of power hands down.