步摇

Mandarin

Etymology

步 (step) + 摇 (to sway back and forth)

this type of headpiece had dangling gold and pearl pieces which would sway back and forth as one walked.

Noun

步摇 (simplified, Pinyin bùyáo, traditional 步搖)

1. (archaic) a type of head ornament that was inserted just beneath a hair bun, it had gold and pearls which dangled from it as one walked
   • 806: Bai Juyi, Song of Everlasting Regret

     云鬓花颜金步摇

     She had dark black hair, and the face of a flower, with golden jewelry dangling from her hair

Derived terms

• 金步摇

References

• "步摇" (in Mandarin), Guoyu Cidian On-line Mandarin Dictionary (國語辭典). URL accessed on 2008-06-19.
• 2007, Hanyu Da Cidian 3.0 (in Mandarin), Hong Kong: Commercial Press, ISBN 9789620702778: