Qing Dynasty men had long nails and wore armor like women, the secret behind it was shocking

Not only concubines, but even noble men during the Qing Dynasty (and Ming Dynasty) in China often grew long nails. This surprises many modern people.

Long nails: A sign of "non-worker" and upper class status

The popular belief today is that the ancients kept their fingernails long to show their "filial piety" and not to cut their bodies at will. However, in reality, the deeper and more common reason is completely different. In feudal times, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, keeping long and pointed fingernails became a symbol of civilization and nobility.

The ancient concept of nobility and nobility was associated with people not having to lift a finger or do any work. This meant that all the hard work was done by others. Manual labor at that time was considered lowly work, reserved for the common people.

Therefore, having long nails is a living proof that a person does not need to work hard, does not have to touch heavy work. This immediately distinguishes them from low-class workers and affirms their noble status in society.

In addition, some scholars also believed that their bodies were given to them by nature and their parents, and therefore they should be preserved. Although this may have been a supporting factor, it was not the main reason behind this trend among the nobility. The main purpose was still to show off wealth, leisure, and power.

In the novel Later Journey to the West in the Qing Dynasty, there is a passage that describes this type of person in a very figurative way: "The faces of the scholars are as white as egg whites, their fingernails are long and pointed, their heads are wrapped in scarves, they wear floral clothes, their gait is as light as riding a somersault cloud, this must be the type of person who is good at literature and writing." This passage not only describes their appearance but also implies the leisurely, unencumbered life of the intellectual and aristocratic class.

The Unspoken Rules and Disadvantages of Long Nails

The custom of keeping nails this long also has certain unspoken rules to suit daily life, although it is somewhat inconvenient. For example, having nails that are too long makes it difficult to hold things or do heavy work.

Therefore, people usually only grow nails on their non-dominant hand, and use the other hand to at least hold a pen or perform some basic personal activities. This shows that they still have to have a certain level of flexibility, but at the same time still maintain the symbol of leisure.

In his work "The Detective Dee Case" (a collection of detective short stories based on real characters set in China) by Dutch diplomat, musician and writer Robert Hans van Gulik, he also discussed the Chinese custom of growing long fingernails.

He commented: "Chinese people especially like to keep their nails long, which is very different from Western culture. This custom of men in ancient times was to show luxury and nobility, and at the same time implicitly implied the upper class, not needing to work." This shows that this custom not only exists within China but also makes a strong impression on people from other cultures.

Although it caused many inconveniences in life, such as difficulty in holding, eating or personal hygiene, in order to show class and power, many men living in the Ming and Qing dynasties still accepted to grow very long and sharp nails.

Some people even use nail protectors made of gold, silver, jade or ivory, which are intricately carved to protect these precious nails, while adding to the luxury and ostentation of wealth. These nail protectors also become a status jewelry in themselves.

The custom of growing long fingernails among Qing Dynasty noblemen is not only a unique cultural trait but also a vivid demonstration of the social hierarchy and values that the upper class at that time promoted. It shows that even the smallest details on the body can become a tool to assert an individual’s power and status in a complex society.

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