Asian conical hat

TheAsian conical hatis a simple style ofconicallyshapedsun hatnotable in modern-day nations and regions ofChina,Vietnam,Korea,Japan,Philippines,Indonesia,Malaysia,Thailand,Cambodia,Laos,Myanmar,Bangladesh,India,Nepal,andBhutan.It is kept on the head by a cloth or fiber chin strap, an innerheadband,or both.

Capingworn by a farmer in Indonesia

These women at theAwa Dance FestivalinJapanwear the characteristic kasa of the dance

Vietnamesenón tơi

Regional names

English terms for the hat includesedge hat,rice hat,paddy hat,bamboo hat,and—historically but nowonly offensively—cooliehat.

InSoutheast Asia,it is known asdo'un(ដួន) inCambodia;capingorseraunginIndonesia;koup(ກຸບ) inLaos;terendakinMalaysia;ngop(งอบ) inThailand;khamauk(ခမောက်) inMyanmar;salakót (ᜐᜎᜃᜓᜆ᜔), sarók, sadók, s'laong, hallidung, kallugong,andtabungawamong other names in thePhilippines;andnón tơi or nón chằm láinVietnam.

InEast Asiait is calleddǒulì(Đấu lạp,literally meaning a "one-dǒubamboo hat ") in China;kasa(Lạp)in Japan; andsatgat(삿갓) inKorea.

InSouth Asia,it is known asjaapi(জাপি) inAssam(India); in Bangladesh it is known asmathal(মাথাল).

Use

Asian conical hats are, throughout Asia, primarily used as a form of protection from the sun and rain. When made of straw or other woven materials, it can be dipped in water and worn as an impromptu evaporative cooling device.

China

InChina,it was typically associated with farmers, whilemandarinswore tighter circular caps, especially in the winter.There are several conical hat types worn during the Qing dynasty (seeQing official headwear).

Japan

Main article:Kasa (hat)

A straw cone hat worn by a Japanese buddhist monk

Japanesejingasaworn by samurai

It is also widely understood in East Asia, most notably Japan, where they were known askasa,as a symbol ofBuddhism,as it is traditionally worn bypilgrimsand Buddhist monks in search ofalms.

Sturdier, even metal, variants, known asjingasa(battle kasa), were also worn bysamuraiand foot-soldiers in Japan, as helmets.

Philippines

Main article:Salakot

Spanish military uniforms in thePhilippinesin 1862 showing thesalakot(right) worn as part of thetraje de campaña(campaign uniform) andRayadillo.This later evolved intopith helmetinBritish India.

Filipina farmer wearing asalakot

In thePhilippines,thesalakótis more commonly a pointed dome-shape, rather than conical, with a spike or knobfinial.Unlike most other mainland Asian conical hats, it is characterized by an inner headband in addition to a chinstrap. It can be made from various materials includingbamboo,rattan,nito,bottle gourd,buristraw,nipaleaves,pandanleaves, andcarabaohorn. The plain type is typically worn by farmers, but nobles in the pre-colonial period (and laterprincipaliain the Spanish period) crafted ornate variations with jewels, precious metals, ortortoiseshell.These are considered heirloom objects passed down from generation to generation within families.

Thesalakótwas also commonly worn by native soldiers in theSpanish colonial army.It was adopted by Spanish troops in the early 18th century as part of their campaign uniform. In doing so, it became the direct precursor of thepith helmet(still calledsalacotorsalaccoin Spanish and French).

Vietnam

Main article:Nón lá

InVietnam,the nón lá,nón tơi( “hats” ),nón gạo( “rice hat” ),nón dang( “conical hat” ) ornón trúc( "bamboo hat" ) forms a perfect right circularconewhich tapers smoothly from the base to the apex. Special conical hats in Vietnam contain colourful hand-stitch depictions or words. TheHuếvarieties are famous for theirnón bài thơ(lit. poem conical hats) and contain random poetic verses andChữ Hán,which can be revealed when the hat is directed above one's head in the sunlight. In modernity, they have become part of Vietnam's national costume.

Others

In India, Bangladeshand Borneo, the plain conical hat was worn by commoners during their daily work, but more decoratively-colored ones were used for festivities. InSabah,the colorful conical hat is worn for certain dances while in Assam they are hung in homes as decoration or worn by the upper classes for special occasions.

Gallery

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  A decorativeAssamesejaapiconstructed with bamboo while the decorations are felt, threads and tin glitter
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  A farmer inBangladeshwearing amathal(মাথাল)
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  A selection of conical hats inHainan,China
• 
  Souvenirnón tơifor tourists from Vietnam
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  Ricefarmer in northernCambodiawearing ado'un
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  Conical hats of theDusun peopleinSabah,Malaysia
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  A silver inlaid Filipinosalakót
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  A Korean man in traditional mourning clothes andsatgat
• 
  Making conical hats (nón tơi) inHuếcountryside, Vietnam
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  ThreeSama-Bajauwomen wearingsarukfrom Jolo, Sulu, Philippines, c.1900
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  Tortoiseshelland silversalakótfrom thePhilippines
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  APhilippineSalakót

Fresco by 15th century Italian artistPiero della Francescadepicting a Persian soldier as an East Asian wearing a conical hat.

See also

• Fulani hat
• Gat
• List of hats and headgear
• Mokoliʻi,an island in Hawaii with a nickname "Chinaman's Hat"
• Ngob
• Pilgrim's hat
• Pointed hat

External links

• Conical hats in Vietnam
• Conical straw hats gallery