In East Asia it is called dǒulì (斗笠, literally meaning a "one-dǒu bamboo hat") in China; kasa (笠) in Japan; and satgat (삿갓) in Korea.
In South Asia, it is known as jaapi in Assam (India); in Bangladesh it is known as mathal (মাথাল).[4]
Country
Local Name
In Native Script
Assam
Jaapi
জাপি
Bangladesh
Mathal
মাথাল
Cambodia
Do'un
ដួន
China
Dǒulì
斗笠
Indonesia
Caping, Seraung
Japan
Kasa
笠
Korea
Satgat
삿갓
Laos
Koup
ກຸບ
Malaysia
Terendak
Myanmar
Khamauk
ခမောက်
Philippines
Salakót
ᜐᜎᜃᜓᜆ᜔
Thailand
Ngop
งอบ
Vietnam
Nón tơi, Nón chằm lá
Use
Asian conical hats are, throughout Asia, primarily used as a form of protection from the sun and rain. When made of straw or other woven materials, it can be dipped in water and worn as an impromptu evaporative cooling device.[5]
China
In China, it was typically associated with farmers, while mandarins wore tighter circular caps, especially in the winter.[6] There are several conical hat types worn during the Qing dynasty (see Qing official headwear).
It is also widely understood in East Asia, most notably Japan, where they were known as kasa, as a symbol of Buddhism, as it is traditionally worn by pilgrims and Buddhist monks in search of alms.
Sturdier, even metal, variants, known as jingasa (battle kasa), were also worn by samurai and foot-soldiers in Japan, as helmets.[citation needed]
In the Philippines, the salakót is more commonly a pointed dome-shape, rather than conical, with a spike or knob finial. Unlike most other mainland Asian conical hats, it is characterized by an inner headband in addition to a chinstrap. It can be made from various materials including bamboo, rattan, nito, bottle gourd, buri straw, nipa leaves, pandan leaves, and carabao horn. The plain type is typically worn by farmers, but nobles in the pre-colonial period (and later principalia in the Spanish period) crafted ornate variations with jewels, precious metals, or tortoiseshell. These are considered heirloom objects passed down from generation to generation within families.[7][8]
The salakót was also commonly worn by native soldiers in the Spanish colonial army. It was adopted by Spanish troops in the early 18th century as part of their campaign uniform. In doing so, it became the direct precursor of the pith helmet (still called salacot or salacco in Spanish and French).[9]
In Vietnam, the nón lá, nón tơi (“hats”), nón gạo (“rice hat”), nón dang (“conical hat”) or nón trúc ("bamboo hat") forms a perfect right circular cone which tapers smoothly from the base to the apex. Special conical hats in Vietnam contain colourful hand-stitch depictions or words. The Huế varieties are famous for their nón bài thơ (lit. poem conical hats) and contain random poetic verses and Chữ Hán, which can be revealed when the hat is directed above one's head in the sunlight. In modernity, they have become part of Vietnam's national costume.[10]
Others
In India, Bangladesh[11] and Borneo, the plain conical hat was worn by commoners during their daily work, but more decoratively-colored ones were used for festivities. In Sabah, the colorful conical hat is worn for certain dances while in Assam they are hung in homes as decoration or worn by the upper classes for special occasions.[citation needed]
Gallery
A decorative Assamesejaapi constructed with bamboo while the decorations are felt, threads and tin glitter
^Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Mandarin" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 55–559, see page 558, lines 3 to 5. The term 'mandarin' is ...[applied]... only to those who are entitled to wear a 'button,' which is a spherical knob, about an inch in diameter, affixed to the top of the official cap or hat
^Peralta, Jesus T. (2013). Salakot and Other Headgear(PDF). National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) & Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (ICHCAP), UNESCO. p. 232.