Fengguan


Fengguan is a traditional type of Chinese headgear for women. It was worn mainly by noblewomen during the Ming dynasty for ceremonies or official occasions. It is also traditional headgear for brides.
Fengguan means "phoenix crown", a name that originates from its adornments: phoenixes made of inlaid kingfisher feathers, as well as gold dragons, beaded pheasants, pearls, and other gemstones. One of the earliest phoenix crowns that has been excavated belonged to Empress Xiao of the Sui dynasty. The type became most popular during the Ming Dynasty, with many changes made over time.

Design

Kingfisher feathers were extremely rare during the Ming Dynasty and were potentially sourced from Cambodia. The numbers of phoenixes, dragons and precious gems on each crown is different. For example, the phoenix crown of Ming Empress Xiaoduanxian has 6 dragons, 3 phoenixes, 5,449 pearls, 71 rubies, and 57 sapphires. Other phoenix crowns of empresses excavated from the Ming tombs have 9 phoenixes, between 12 and 9 dragons, more than 3,500 pearls, and more than 150 gemstones. The pearls, gemstones and kingfisher feathers were made into ornamental flowers, leaves, clouds, and temple ornaments. The weight of the entire crown can range from.

Styles

There are different varieties of phoenix crown. The number of dragons, phoenixes and pheasants, in addition to the presence of certain ornaments was dictated by rank.

Empresses

Decorated with 12-dragons-9-phoenixes crown, 9-dragons-9-phoenixes crown, 9-dragons-4-phoenixes crown, 6-dragons-3-phoenixes crown, and the 3-dragons-2-phoenixes crown. Only the crowns of empresses and crown princesses can have temple ornaments adorned, with the empress's crown having 6 blades of temple ornaments.

Imperial concubines and princesses

9-pheasants crown, 7-pheasants crown and 5-pheasants crown, adorned with beaded pheasants and gold phoenixes, are worn by royal concubines and princesses, with the number of pheasants representing the wearer's royal rank. The crown princess can only have 4 blades of temple ornaments

Noblewomen

All other noblewomen/wives and daughters of officials wear the pearl-and-emerald crown, where the crown is just adorned with pearls and gemstones. Phoenix crowns worn with diyi have no strings of pearls by the sides of the head. Noblewomen cannot have temple ornaments on their headdresses.

Gallery

Cited works