What Does the Hairpin Mean?

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 25, 2024 4 Views 8 Min Read
What Does the Hairpin Mean?



Summary

  • The story uses traditional Chinese customs to dictate the narrative flow, with hairpins symbolizing emotional development between characters.
  • Each character’s relationship with the hairpin reflects their intentions and level of authority, highlighting their status and trust.
  • The value of the hairpins given to Maomao by different characters signifies their gratitude and indebtedness, simplifying the tradition as a gesture of appreciation.

Despite not fulfilling its historical obligations, the story captures the essence of popular Chinese traditions. The writer is shown to use these customs to dictate the flow of the narrative, and the hairpin in particular is associated with many Chinese practices. However, the story mainly uses this tool to portray the emotional development between characters.

This anomaly is introduced with nothing but prevarication and only continues to get incoherent as the story progresses. Proving to be one of the franchise’s only misunderstood traditions, the average viewer can only partly decrypt its historical value. Thus, it’s important to understand the intent behind every distribution of this gift.

Apothecary Diaries Ep 16 Maomao thinking

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The First Hairpin: Jinshi and Maomao

A Blend of Affection and Protection

After Jinshi lends a hairpin, a crimson shade overcomes the prince’s face, giving off subtle clues about the pin’s intended purpose. However, this act only ends up obscuring the protagonist, who later misinterprets the wearable as a free get-out-of-jail card. After all, not everyone is big on exploring their customs, and Maomao’s certainly no exception.

With the hairpin’s plethora of connotations, only one was ever highlighted by Xiaolin. An instance that led Maomao to call for Lihaku without ever understanding what else the pin had to offer. Nevertheless, historical data puts things in place as it suggests that the tool acts as a symbol to indicate that the wearer has reached adulthood.

And frankly, this could justify Jinshi’s actions, considering how guilty the prince felt after learning of Maomao’s past. This may have been Jinshi’s way of honoring Maomao for withstanding the horrors of this world.

But naturally, this would be considered a contradictory belief to what the plot has led fans to acknowledge. As even the most empathy-lacking viewer understands, Jinshi’s feelings for Maomao are more than an “I pity you” moment. Episode 8 builds on this claim, when Jinshi’s depressive tone is publicized as the prince confronts Maomao for choosing Lihaku to be her guarantor.

So, I lost to a consultation prize? Huh?

Therefore, it can be concluded that, in this context, the hairpin hints at Jinshi’s affection for Maomao. After all, history does suggest that hairpins are closely connected to the idea of romance in Chinese culture.

A Second Hairpin: Lihaku and Maomao

Courtesy of a Knight in Blue

Apothecary DIaries: Lihaku and MaoMao together

In the very next episode fans are shown Maomao owning not only Jinshi’s hairpin but also the rising Imperial Lihaku’s. However, between the two, the value of the gift cannot be the same. This diversity stems from the beauty of late China, and from the writer’s knowledge of Imperial courts which gives the aspect of status to the wearable.

This means the hairpin gives Maomao access to perks that cannot be employed without. This is because the wearable portrays the trust the sender has in the wearer. And the higher the rank of the sender the higher the authority is granted to the receiver.

For instance, if Maomao had used Jinshi’s hairpin instead of Lihaku’s, the number of days granted would’ve been far more than what was originally bestowed. Fans can substantiate this claim by recognizing that Jinshi, as the person with a higher status, would naturally have an authority that supersedes an imperial officer like Lihaku:

Hairpins with Rose Quartz and Silver!? They’re obviously from people who far outrank me

As far as the officer’s intention goes, Lihaku is a simple man who views it as his rightful duty, to give out hairpins so that no one feels left out during the garden party. This can be observed from the Imperial Officers’ thoughtless demeanor while circulating these hairpins. This lack of mindfulness also explains why Lihaku agreed to be Maomao’s guarantor over a simple bribe. Hence, concluding that Lihaku’s intentions share little to no similarity with Jinshi’s.

The Final Hairpin: Lihua and Maomao

Repayment of Favors of the Past

Mao Mao and Lishua

The Hairpin factor doesn’t end with Lihaku, because Maomao receives yet another pin from the Concubine Lihua right after. And as the plot suggests, viewers can understand that Lihua has no romantic interest in Maomao. Infact, unlike Lihaku, there’s no evidence of the concubine mindlessly circulating hairpins either. Now, this may bring up the question as to why Lihua would even put forth this gesture, but if fans were to re-watch earlier episodes, this act would begin to make sense.

From the events of episode 4, it becomes evident that Lihua holds Maomao in high regard for saving her life. This sense of being indebted to someone prompts the concubine to make this transaction, despite the risk of upsetting the concubine Gyokuyou and the concerns of her ladies in waiting.

A Simplification Of The Concept

Modern Day Philosophy

According to the narrative, it only makes sense to declare that the intention gives value to this tradition. This claim is backed by observing how the meaning has always been directly proportional to the sender in the mentioned instances. However, if the concept is still too difficult to grasp, fans should consider the hairpin the equivalent of modern-day chocolates that people receive on Valentine’s Day.

The diversity of chocolate is such that it can mean platonic appreciation from a friend, a gesture of romance from your significant other, and a polite gesture from a stranger. Not only does this interpretation streamline the concept, but it also applies to all three instances, leaving no room for confusion.

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