Up until 1911, Chinese males had to wear what as a symbol of submission?

The pigtail was a mark of political enslavement to the Manchu dynasty, and westerners made fun of the Chinese hair style. The pigtail was abolished in China in 1911 when the Manchu dynasty was overthrown in favor of the Republic. Cutting off a pigtail was a terrible insult to the Chinese as they believed it would hurt them spiritually.

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73 Comments

Scott Morris

I remember an episode of Bonanza when someone cut off Hop Sing's pig tail. He was so ashamed and the Cartrights were equally upset. Man, did I just date myself or what ?

William Laughlin

sailpappy, Nice cut and paste job, but totally unnecessary. I'm fairly certain most of us just read that explanation before getting to the comments.

Joyce Bruns

A ponytail is not braided. A pigtail, or "queue," if you prefer, is braided...or plaited. Either way, I got it wrong.

Romelia Snyder

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't it actually a "ponytail" ?

Keith W. Kimzey

The proper name is "queue".

Jim Gilbert

Romelia Snyder, no it is braided, so it is a pigtail. Ponytails aren't braided.

Pauline Grant

Where I was born it was called a plait.

hazelphyllis

Romelia Snyder, pigtail is a plait ponytail is hair tie close to the scalp

marychap mjchap

No. It's A braid...

joycekingsmith

Scott Morris, yeah, that's what l was thinking too.

Donna Smith

Pigtails...l got the correct answer.

Iancompat

bk, Wrong! The fact that it says "Males" which is plural means that "Pigtails" has to be plural. A "Braided Ponytail" must be something the Americans have made up, it doesn't occur in any other English.

MaryJane D'Annibale

No! It is a pigtail, only recently have they given it the name ponytail!!!

The question is what did Chinese males have to wear as a symbol of submission....the choices were...pigtails..(plural) conical hat...Mao suit....forget the fourth one. So, with pigtails being plural, that is wrong, the hat is wrong etc.....so your writer is incorrect. The correct answer is a braided ponytail....not pigtails (plural)