Yin Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Towel (jīn) Zé; Kangxi strokes: 14; Page 336, Entry 01 Pronounced zé Shuowen Jiezi (Dictionary of Explanations of Characters): A cloth used to wrap the hair is called a zé. Yupian (Jade Chapters): Covering the hair bun. Jijiupian Zhu (Commentary on the Quick Reference): A zé is a cloth used to bundle hair, used to arrange messy hair. Yangzi Fangyan (Regional Dialects): Wrapping the hair bun is called a zé towel. Guangya (Broad Refinements): A chenglu zé refers to wrapping the hair bun. Cai Yong Duduán (Sole Determinations): The zé was worn in ancient times by low-ranking officials and those who did not wear a cap. Emperor Yuan of Han had thick hair on his forehead and did not want people to see it, so he began to wear a zé, and his ministers followed suit. However, it did not yet have a top covering; by the time of Wang Mang, a top was added to the inside, which is why it is said that Wang Mang, being bald, wore a zé with a top added. Houhanshu Yufu Zhi (Records of Carriages and Clothing in the Book of the Later Han): In ancient times, there were caps but no zé. During the Qin dynasty, a crimson headscarf was added to the headgear of military officers to distinguish social rank. Later, the forehead portion was gradually developed. The Han dynasty arose and continued this forehead portion, wrapping it toward the back and adding a cloth that connected to the forehead. Covering toward the back—the zé used in funerals today is of this style. Zé means to be stern, making the head and appearance solemn and orderly. By the time of Emperor Wen of Han, the forehead portion was heightened, extended to form ear-like flaps, a top was added to the cloth, and a drawstring was added to the back to secure it from top to bottom; all officials, high and low, wore it. The ear flaps of civil officials were long, and those of military officials were short. The drawstring of the Shangshu (Chief Clerk) zé was three inches wide, called a nayan. The zé worn by young boys did not have a top. Suishu Liyi Zhi (Records of Rites and Ceremonies in the Book of Sui): The zé for civil officials with long ear flaps is called a jie zé. The zé for military officials with short ear flaps is called a pingshang zé. It is the same as the character for zé (teeth meeting). Jiyun (Compilation of Rhymes): Teeth meeting above and below. Also written as zé. Zuo Zhuan (Chronicle of Zuo), Ninth Year of Duke Ding: Pale skin, teeth aligned, and wearing leopard skin garments. Commentary: Zé means the upper and lower teeth meeting.