Handkerchiefs, also called handkerchiefs and handkerchiefs, have a long history. In our country, handkerchiefs first appeared in the pre-Qin era, when people called them "jin". In the Han Dynasty Yuefu poem "The Peacock Flies Southeast", there is a sentence: "A girl is silent, her handkerchief covers her mouth and cries." It can be seen that the handkerchief at that time was obviously used to wipe tears. The name "handkerchief" officially appeared in the Tang Dynasty. Wang Jian, a court poet (and lyricist) in the early Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem in "Gong Ci": "I got a red handkerchief and drew a pair of cicadas in the center." The title "handkerchief" continued to be used in the Song Dynasty, and there was a saying of "wiping tears with a handkerchief".
With the passage of time, handkerchiefs are not only used to wipe tears, but also have the function of expressing friendship. After the middle of the Ming Dynasty, some women would meet in groups of twenty or thirty to become sworn sworn friends, and they were known as "Handkerchief Sisters" among the people. In the fifth scene of "The Peach Blossom Fan" by Kong Shangren, "Visiting Cui", there is this line: "My husband does not know that the famous prostitutes in this courtyard have become handkerchief sisters, just like incense brothers."
Du Fu, the great poet of the Tang Dynasty, once wrote a poem: "The red sweat grows a little white snow hair, but the silver saddle is covered with fragrant ropa." In today's opera performances, handkerchiefs are often a must-have prop for male actors: the actor throws the handkerchief upwards , catch it again, and then walk off with broken steps, vividly painting the image of a girl who is charming and lively; if Xiangkou bites the corner of the handkerchief, it is the wonderful expression of a young girl in love with her lover, falling into lingering contemplation; if she holds the handkerchief with both hands and twists it, her face Being shy and reluctant to talk to your lover adds infinite tenderness to the girl in love. On the opera stage, the most popular handkerchief dancers are the Northeastern duo.
Among the people, handkerchiefs are not only daily necessities and decorations, but also have a symbolic role. In Nanping and Youxi areas of Fujian Province, there is a custom of "throwing handkerchiefs to attract relatives" on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, a colorful platform will be set up in the open space. Some unmarried girls will dress up as "Chang'e" and board the colorful platform. First he sang with everyone, and then he threw some handkerchiefs embroidered with different colors to the audience, and the onlookers scrambled for them. If the handkerchief you grab has the same color as the remaining handkerchief in the hand of "Chang'e", you can "receive the reward"; if the recipient is an unmarried man and falls in love with this "Chang'e", he should take the initiative to get the handkerchief. Return it to her in person, and when the girl acquiesces, the young man can give her a gift to express his love.
With the development of the times, handkerchiefs have gradually been replaced by paper towels and toilet paper. Now fewer and fewer people carry handkerchiefs with them. However, in Western banquets, opera performances, embroidery, etc., the role of handkerchiefs cannot be replaced by other items.
In the 3rd century BC in the West, the hot climate and social etiquette at that time made handkerchiefs first appear in the lives of senior officials and dignitaries in ancient Rome. At that time, the main function of handkerchiefs was to wipe away sweat. And nose wiping must be done in private, otherwise it will be regarded as lack of education and ridiculed. Handkerchiefs in ancient Greece were made of linen and were tucked into the belt when going out. By the 17th century, French handkerchiefs were extremely exquisite. At that time, court officials, prominent families and even boudoir ladies all used handkerchiefs edged with thin sheets of gold foil. In the 18th century, it became a custom for women in Western countries to wear makeup, and colorful handkerchiefs also appeared.