Japan is located in the east of Asia. Although it is a neighboring country separated only by a strip of water from China, its traditional culture has many similarities with that of China, which is reflected in Japanese kimono and other traditions. However, blackening teeth, smearing white powder and plucking eyebrows are unique cultural characteristics of Japan.

From 1603 to 1867, the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan, practiced a closed-door policy and only traded with a few countries, such as China and the Netherlands, so the Japanese rarely contacted foreigners, and foreigners did not know the Japanese. It was not until later that Brigadier General Perry of the US Navy led American ships into Edo Bay and created a "black ship incident" that Japan's closed-door state was truly broken. At this time, the Japanese custom of dyeing black teeth was really understood by foreigners, and foreigners really understood how much Japanese men love makeup.

What is black tooth powder?

Simply put, dyeing black teeth, smearing white powder and plucking eyebrows are all traditional Japanese customs. For example, Japan and Blackpool in Heian period marked adulthood and marriage. Later, dyeing black teeth with white powder gradually became "imperial", and only nobles could dye black teeth with white makeup. It was not until 1874 that the emperor announced that "Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, Imperial Iron Paste ..." Japanese ordinary women were not allowed to dye their black teeth. There are many famous books in Japan that record these customs. For example, books such as Pillow Grass and Diary of Purple Department all record: "Dressing and dressing (women's adult style), celebrating the day, all women are dyed with black teeth and red makeup."

1, iron pulp dyed black teeth

Blackpool is dyed with a special kind of iron slurry, which mainly consists of ferrous acetate and tannic acid. It is about soaking iron filings in wine, tea and vinegar to produce black water, which is a black pool from a chemical point of view. Hei Chi is the benefit of preventing tooth decay from a medical point of view; From a historical perspective, Blackpool is the representative and product of Japanese culture.

Heichi

At that time, there was another proof in Japan that dyeing black teeth was beautiful: dyeing black teeth is not a woman's patent, and men can also dye black teeth. Some samurai have dyed their black teeth and put on makeup, and men's yuan clothes (adult models) have to dye their teeth. The most typical one is a Pingjia warrior named Ping Dunsheng, who had to put on makeup and dye his black teeth before going to war. During the Warring States period, some Japanese officials also had the habit of being infected with black pools to show their dignity and boost their morale. The most typical ones are Imagawa Yoshimoto and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

However, Europeans have very different attitudes towards blackened teeth. Aligo, British consul in Japan, once said maliciously, "The mouth of a woman with black teeth is like an open grave." This evaluation is naturally caused by the aesthetic differences between Europeans and Japanese. Although we may not understand this custom in Japan, we should also respect their customs. Any custom is the result of historical development.

2, a white cover a hundred ugly: white powder

The Japanese custom of whitewashing was influenced by women in China in the Tang Dynasty. Ladies in the Tang Dynasty often painted their faces with various colors, including white powder, so as to "cover up all ugliness". The returning envoys also brought this custom back to Japan. Therefore, on the basis of Japanese self-creation, they gradually formed a unique custom of whitewashing.

There are many kinds of white powder applied to the face in ancient Japan, including white powder, white powder and white powder. White powder makeup is convenient but easy to take off, white powder is suitable for light makeup, and white powder is suitable for heavy makeup. These different kinds and functions of white powder are suitable for different occasions and different people. At first, Japanese women smeared white powder. Later, men were gradually influenced by it and began the process of "becoming beautiful".

Japanese whitewashing was officially abolished after the Meiji Restoration. After that, whitewashing can usually be reflected in the faces of some geisha. /kloc-geisha in the 0/7th century were all male, and the first female geisha did not appear until later 1750. The most striking thing about geisha is its makeup method, which often paints the face and neck with white pigment. This way of makeup is influenced by traditional Japanese customs.

White powder makeup

How much did ancient Japanese men love makeup?

When it comes to male makeup, many people's first impression is unfamiliar, but the fact is that men in ancient Japan were the main force of makeup, which may be incredible. Japanese men love make-up. It was not until the Meiji Restoration and the Emperor ordered the reform that this habit was gradually changed. Before that, the higher the status, the more common the makeup was. In other words, make-up became one of the status symbols in ancient Japan, just like the custom of dyeing black teeth and smearing white powder mentioned above.

1, a brief history of Japanese men's makeup

Japanese men also have a history of makeup. In fact, men didn't wear makeup until 100 years after the Meiji Restoration. Japanese men's makeup is divided into many types, and men's makeup methods for different parts of the body are also different, such as dyeing black teeth, painting white powder and pulling out eyebrows mentioned above. These customs were originally the standard makeup methods and aesthetic standards advocated by Japanese aristocrats, and these standards were originally only used for adult ceremonies of Japanese women, and later gradually developed into makeup methods for various formal occasions, and were greatly sought after.

Dyed black teeth prevailed in ancient Japan. As mentioned above, blackening teeth prevailed in ancient Japan to Taisho period, and also prevailed in Heian period and Japanese men. During the Warring States period, Japanese officials still kept the habit of dyeing their black teeth. During the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese Emperor publicly issued a decree to abolish the custom of Japanese civilians dyeing their black teeth, and stipulated that ordinary Japanese women should not dye their black teeth.

Warring States period

The custom of making up with white powder in Japan continued until the end of the Tokugawa era. During the Warring States period, Japanese samurai imitated officials and publicly smeared white powder. In the middle of Edo period, the custom of smearing white powder in public places was abolished; During the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese mission went to Europe, obviously to change the unequal treaties, but actually to understand Europe and the United States and promote Japan's reform. Finally, influenced by European and American cultures, Japan decided to carry out civilized reform, including abolishing some old systems and customs.

Generally speaking, the custom of dyeing black teeth in Japan had a great influence on the national political situation at that time. For example, during the Japanese war, there was always a struggle for power between military strategists. People like Toyotomi Hideyoshi will try their best to improve their influence in order to reflect their social status, and dyeing their teeth with white powder has become one of the ways to make others forget their original social status and better lead the samurai to unify Japan collectively. Therefore, the change of social customs is based on the reality of the times after all.

2. The reason why Japanese men love makeup.

There is an old saying: "Everyone has a love of beauty." It is recognized that men in ancient Japan loved makeup, and Europeans and Americans have long appreciated their makeup. Although Europeans and Americans can't understand Japanese makeup, they have a close relationship in the future. Then there are often different opinions about the reasons why Japanese men like to make up.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

One of the reasons is that it is a traditional custom for Japanese men to love makeup. In ancient Japan, make-up was not a woman's patent, and men often made up. Men in heian period and the Warring States Period were the main force of makeup. Over time, make-up has become a traditional custom of Japanese men, and it has finally been preserved. The Japanese have always been good at preserving traditional culture. Perhaps Japanese men at that time didn't know why they needed makeup, but only knew that they needed makeup, which was the result of the influence of traditional customs.

Secondly, Japanese men love to wear makeup in order to marry their loved ones and turn them into political auxiliary factors. The ancients often said, "A scholar dies for his bosom friend, and a woman looks after herself." In fact, Japanese men also have factors to please themselves in makeup. However, this is not only a love factor, but also a political factor. There is a feeling that "love sets the stage and politics watches the play". Ancient Japanese men needed marriage as a political means to strengthen their power. This way is very popular in both east and west. For example, Princess Wencheng of Datang married Tubo, and Tudor family henry vii asked to marry Elizabeth, the daughter of English John Edward IV of England.

Third, Japanese men's make-up is a symbol of status. There are many ways to show your status, including makeup. Among Japanese men, officials, nobles and samurai groups love to make up. During the period when customs prevailed, these officials and nobles would not even seek to marry aristocratic women who had never dyed their black teeth and had been smeared with white powder. For example, the heroine in Tale of Genji married the hero after dyeing her black teeth and a series of beauty activities, while those who really work hard for their lives every day naturally don't care about the beauty and ugliness of makeup. Therefore, makeup actually reflects social status. This description reflecting social status is also recorded in other ancient Japanese books, such as Pinghua, Japanese History and Ukiyo-e Painting.

It's not really beautiful.

abstract

Men in ancient Japan liked makeup very much. Dyeing black teeth, smearing white powder and pulling out eyebrows have become the most common makeup methods. In addition, there are other ways such as half-wiping red lips and bun. In ancient Japan, men often used heavy make-up, which was not only the result of Japanese traditional culture, but also the efforts made by Japanese men to protect their status. Japanese men's makeup preference is the product of their cultural accumulation. Although many cosmetic methods in Japan were imported from China, these technologies were localized after they were introduced to Japan, and the most typical one is white powder. The gap between ancient ladies in China before and after makeup was not as great as that in Japan.

It should also be mentioned that there are great differences in aesthetics among countries, so we should respect the beauty advocated by other countries, and should not praise or criticize the cultures of other countries at will for our own selfish interests, let alone criticize them at will, because the culture of every country and nation is the product of years.

References:

1, chrysanthemum and knife

2. Japanese history

3. Genji Tale