一束裸露着的神经——16世纪以来海外华人的发型问题探析

“A Wound That Is Wide Open”——A Study on the Hair Style of Overseas Chinese since the Sixteenth Century

论文对明亡之前华人的发型问题,明末清初中国人的出洋与辫子问题,华人、当地人与西方人的辫子观以及19世纪末20世纪初发型(辫子)观的改变等问题进行了分析阐述,认为历史上海外华人的辫子,并非界定"谁是华人"的唯一要素,然而却是极为显眼的标志。华人的辫子从无到有,以致最终消失,经历了一个被排斥、接受直至"污名化"的历程。而发生在海外侨居地的这一过程比中国本土更早、更复杂,其主体感受也更深刻。小小的发型问题背后呈现的是深刻的文化认同、利益选择以及政策制度问题,是大时代在华人个体及整个族群身上的长长的投射。

This paper discusses the hairstyle of overseas Chinese since the fall of the Ming Dynasty. Since then, Chinese started to go abroad and the ＂braid issue＂ during the period of late- Ming and early -Qing became a critical issue for overseas Chinese communities. After that all the way to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries different perceptions on braid, a cultural symbol referencing to their Chinese roots came into being among local peoples. The braid of overseas Chinese was not the single factor to define ＂who is Chinese＂ rather than a symbolic sign. From appearance to disappearance, Chinese braid experienced a process from being rejected, accepted and even stigmatized. Overseas Chinese experience reflected some deeper cultural conflicts than it in their home country. The braid issue is related to the problems on cultural identity, interest choice and political milieu.